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Log #14 || 1/31/2022 || Rare in-office work day || Gemini PDA
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Streaming Music Services
Like lots of streaming music users, we're working on migrating from Spotify to an alternative streaming service.
We kicked off trials of Qobuz & Tidal, based on them both having the majority of our favorite music and device
compatibility. So far, Tidal appears to be in the lead for general usability (mobile app, smart speaker, works on
Linux and the lone Windows machine in the house).
Qobuz was my first choice for what to move toward due to it
working on OpenBSD and having a nice, lightweight mobile app. Having used it for a bit I'm noticing some artists I
follow not present, at least yet. I'm predicting that with the exodus from Spotify taking place that the other
services will start adding artists and closing any feature gaps.
Deezer seems like a very similar service offering to Tidal: Similar pricing, HiFi/Premium music, smart device
compatibility and discounts for family plans and students. Unless Tidal or Qobuz fails specatularly, I think this
will be the first free trial we bow out of - not because there's anything wrong with the Deezer service at all, it just
seems like Tidal compensates artists the best out of the two. I'm very curious to see how their recommendation system
works, though. They tout "Flow", their music algorithm - described as an "AI" (mark that on your buzzword bingo
cards!) and the ability to just 'set it and forget it' with music, whether it be home, work or out and about is kind
of a nice feature.
Finally, the search for the "best" streaming service really drives home the age-old debate about licensing music vs.
owning a physical copy. It's make me look long and hard at buying albums in a high quality format or finding the CD and ripping it to wav or flac again. It drives home how one doesn't actually get to keep any of this music nor utilize it
without internet connectivity and how these services could just up and disappear at any time (or make using their
service unpalatable). There will most likely always be streaming music in some form or fasion, but I've started to
browse ebay and craigslist for old CDs just to hedge my bet.
Links:
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/discover
https://tidal.com/
https://www.deezer.com/us/
Post Script:
Pour one out for the Internet radio / streaming services that aren't with us anymore:
Rdio
Rhapsody
The 9,000 different iterations of the "Groove"-branded Microsoft services
Last.fm (which still appears to be around but doesn't stream music?)
Slacker Radio
