What app do Android users use for music?
Music apps are a very popular category of apps for Android users. With so many options available, Android users have a variety of ways to listen to music on their devices. Selecting the right app often comes down to personal preferences around features, price, content selection, and ease of use. This article will provide an overview of the most popular Android music apps to help users decide which one is the best fit for their needs.
Google Play Music
Google Play Music comes preinstalled on most Android devices. It provides both a music streaming service and options to purchase songs and albums to own (1). The streaming service offers over 50 million songs that can be accessed ad-free with a monthly subscription (2). Without a subscription, users can still stream radio stations and access playlists generated via machine learning based on listening history and preferences. Purchased songs do not require a subscription and can be downloaded for offline listening. Features of Google Play Music include intelligent recommendations, playlist sharing, and the ability to upload up to 50,000 personal audio files to the cloud that can then be accessed anywhere (3).
Sources:
(1) https://www.statista.com/statistics/691256/leading-google-play-music-worldwide-downloads
(2) https://www.soundguys.com/google-play-music-review-25458/
(3) https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/google-play-music
YouTube Music
In May 2020, Google shut down its Google Play Music service and transitioned users to YouTube Music, their new flagship music streaming app. YouTube Music replaced Google Play Music by importing users’ libraries, preferences, playlists etc. Although some users were initially frustrated with losing Google Play Music, YouTube Music provides some advantages.
YouTube Music is deeply integrated with YouTube, allowing users to switch seamlessly between music tracks, albums, playlists and music videos. The connection to YouTube gives YouTube Music a large catalog of official songs, covers, remixes and live performances beyond what’s available on other streaming services. YouTube Music also makes personalized recommendations based on a user’s YouTube video viewing history and subscriptions. Overall, the integration with YouTube gives Android users a unique music streaming experience that Google hopes will compete with Spotify.
Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services available on Android. According to a 2022 survey by Statista, Spotify has a 45% market share among music streaming services in the United States, making it the most widely used service. This popularity extends to Android users, who make up a significant portion of Spotify’s user base.
One of the main draws of Spotify for Android users is its free, ad-supported tier. This gives users access to Spotify’s full music library and playlists without paying a monthly subscription fee. Of course, the free tier includes audio ads between songs. But for many Android users, this is an acceptable compromise. According to Spotify, roughly 60 million of its monthly active users are on the free tier.
Amazon Music
Amazon Music is one of the top music apps available for Android users. The app is tightly integrated with Amazon Prime, allowing Prime members to access a catalog of over 100 million songs without ads at no extra cost (1). This gives Android users a huge library of music to stream or download for offline listening.
A key advantage of Amazon Music is its large song catalog, made possible by Amazon’s licensing deals with major and independent labels. According to Amazon, Prime members have access to over 2 million songs more than the leading streaming services (2). This makes it a great option for Android users looking for an obscure or hard-to-find track.
Overall, with its Prime integration and expansive catalog, Amazon Music is a compelling choice for Android users who want a premium music experience.
Sources:
(1) https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GW3PHAUCZM8L7W9L
(2) https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GW3PHAUCZM8L7W9L
Pandora
Pandora operates on a streaming radio model, offering users customized stations based on songs, artists, or genres they select. It relies on its proprietary Music Genome Project that analyzes songs by their melody, rhythm, instrumentation, song structure and lyrical content to generate a unique “genetic code” for each track [1].
This technology allows Pandora to make personalized music recommendations and enable music discovery through its thumbs up/down feature. Users give a thumbs up to songs they like and thumbs down to ones they don’t. Based on this feedback, Pandora fine-tunes the stations to match the user’s taste [2].
Pandora had approximately [statistic] monthly active users in [year] and generated [dollar amount] in annual revenue, capturing [x]% of the music streaming market share [cite source]. It offers both free, ad-supported and premium subscription options without any limits on skips or replays.
[1] https://www.businessofapps.com/data/pandora-statistics/
[2] https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/pandora-radio-statistics.html
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a popular music streaming service that focuses on emerging and independent artists. With over 140 million registered users, SoundCloud has become a community for artists to share their music and connect with fans.
One of the unique aspects of SoundCloud is its focus on remixes and covers. Artists are encouraged to put their own spin on existing songs, adding to a collaborative music community. This allows lesser known artists to gain exposure by doing remixes of popular songs. There are many Android users who share their remixes and covers through SoundCloud profiles.
SoundCloud offers a free streaming app on Android as well as premium subscription plans. The app makes it easy for Android users to access SoundCloud’s catalog of emerging artists and original content.
Tidal
Tidal is known for its high quality, lossless audio and its focus on curated musical expertise. The streaming service offers lossless CD quality music at 16 bit/44.1kHz FLAC as well as high resolution lossless audio up to 24 bit/192 kHz for premium subscribers (source). This provides audiophiles with studio quality sound that captures every detail of the original recording. Though Tidal has a smaller catalog compared to Spotify or Apple Music, its editors hand-pick tracks and curate playlists to spotlight up-and-coming artists and surface music you may not find elsewhere. With its high fidelity audio and human-curated approach, Tidal appeals to music lovers who want a more intimate, quality listening experience.
Apple Music
Apple Music is available for both iOS and Android devices. It launched on Android in November 2015, several months after debuting on iOS [1]. As of 2024, 28% of Apple Music’s monthly active users are on Android [2].
One of Apple Music’s standout features is Beats 1, Apple’s 24/7 live radio station. Launched in 2015, Beats 1 is anchored by popular radio hosts like Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. It features exclusive shows hosted by high-profile musicians and other cultural figures. Beats 1 is available for free to all users, even those without an Apple Music subscription.
Conclusion
Android users have several excellent options when it comes to music streaming apps. The top choices are Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, and Tidal. Each app has its own strengths – Google Play Music and YouTube Music offer tight integration with the Android ecosystem, Spotify has the best social and discovery features, Amazon Music provides access to a large catalog of songs, Pandora is great for music discovery through its radio stations, SoundCloud is focused on emerging artists and original tracks, and Tidal has lossless audio quality. Ultimately the best option comes down to an individual user’s priorities and preferences around features, price, and music library. Any of these services can provide a great listening experience on Android devices.
