Music lovers often find themselves entangled in the ongoing debate surrounding the best streaming service to use. While some swear by Spotify’s user-friendly interface and discovery playlists, others prefer Tidal’s higher audio quality and unique features. As a music enthusiast, I find myself on the opposite end of the spectrum. My partner and I have different preferences when it comes to streaming services, with them opting for Spotify and me choosing Tidal. He likes Spotify’s interface, Release Radar playlist, and the familiarity of using the service through standard AirPods, whereas I value the improved audio quality and calibre of headphones I typically use.
While this may not be a major conflict, it’s a clear indication that each of us values different aspects of a streaming service. For instance, my partner only uses Spotify’s catalogue through standard AirPods and isn’t bothered about the lack of high audio quality. On the other hand, I prefer Tidal’s higher audio quality, which is particularly important for my hobby and job that involve music production and audio engineering. I also appreciate the discovery playlists offered by Tidal, which has somewhat caught up with Spotify’s algorithmic curations. In the past, I had access to both paid-for Spotify and Tidal subscriptions, but I rarely used the former. I eventually stopped using it for personal use, and I’ve never looked back. However, recently, I felt a rare tinge of jealousy for my partner’s choice of streaming service due to its brand-new feature, the Concerts Near You playlist. This playlist is a game-changer for live music enthusiasts like myself, as it takes the gig integration further than Spotify’s live music events.
The Concerts Near You playlist comprises 30 or so ‘top’ songs from artists you might like based on your listening habits that are playing near you. It’s updated every Wednesday and features a diverse range of genres, including indie rock, indie folk, and alternative rock. In my partner’s case, this playlist has led to the discovery of ’80s pop-rockers Boom Crash Opera, playing 4km from our house later this month! This has also reminded me of an artist we do know – Sigur Rós, who are playing with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra next month. The latest rumors about ‘Spotify HiFi’ suggest that the service could be looking to introduce unique gig benefits, such as access to presales or better seats, which could give fans a genuine upper hand over competitors. With its new Concerts Near You playlist, Spotify may well be poised to gain a significant advantage over its rivals, especially for music enthusiasts like myself who value the live music experience.

In conclusion, while there are many pros and cons to each streaming service, our personal reasons for using them are clear. Spotify’s Concerts Near You playlist has the potential to be a game-changer for live music enthusiasts like myself, and its potential to introduce unique gig benefits could give it a significant advantage over competitors. As music lovers, we must carefully consider our options and choose the streaming service that best suits our individual needs and preferences.

“Music is a powerful force that can evoke emotions and create connections.