Apple Music vs Spotify: I’m Switching… Oh am I?
“Apple Music is the best. Huge library, very good deal.” My words (May 2020) talking to a good friend of mine, Bruce (@Fred_Apina), who also happens to be a Spotify user. I preached to him how convenient Apple Music was to me, almost trying to lure him to subscribe.
“The day that I’m able to install Spotify from the App Store… I’m switching!”. Also my words (Dec 2020) talking to myself wishing Spotify was available in Tanzania.
Bear with me as I’m making a point. It will take only 3 minutes, so uskonde!
Apple Music Convenience
I subscribed to Apple Music when they first launched in Tanzania, April of last year. I chose Family Plan, which offered me up to 6 accounts for just 9,600 tzs (~ $4). Apart from the price, other convincing factors were:
- the ability to sync my existing library across devices,
- not needing VPN every two weeks to sign in (which happened when I was using Spotify before they lauched in TZ),
- seamless integration with Siri and Apple ecosystem as a whole,
- and of course, it was the only obvious choice available on the App Store (for iOS users).
Spotify Charm
Leaving the buyouts of podcast creators and companies aside, you have to admit, the wizards of Spotify does know the spells to curate playlists and make recommendations. I listen to electronic music a lot more when I’m on Spotify. It usually goes like this: playing the first song of a playlist, then reach to the 4th or 5th song that hits different and makes you go to the artist page, which inturn takes you to discover another ‘nother artist and/or playlist. It’s that dang good! Don’t believe me, Fresh Price of Bell-Air will tell you (@prince__yg).
Clarification
Don’t get me wrong, Apple is doing a good job with their algorithms. However, I haven’t found playlists that got me so hooked on Apple Music so I just make my own playlists instead. I created my own playlists on Spotify as well, but I find myself having to work a bit extra to discover songs on Apple Music more often than not.
For example, last Friday morning, I had to click “See All” under the “New Music” section, and then scroll to the end of the list to find Scary Hours 2. Get a glimpse?
Another thing is, it appears Apple Music recommends songs and artists based more on user location rather than their personal listening/liking. Hence, I ended up discovering African artists that I never even heard of before. You can see the last new EP that I added to my library is “Kitenge” from Nviiri the Storyteller.
Verdict
The answer to which one is better — Apple Music or Spotify — is not a straight A or B type. It’s more of a situational type. For someone who is a big Apple bundle — already pay for Apple TV+, Fitness+ and/or other Apple services — or own Apple devises like HomePod, then Apple Music is the obvious choice for them. For others, say Android users, Spotify may be more appealing.
Wahenga walisema “be careful what you wish for”, now that Spotify is here it really poses one of the biggest dilemmas, for me at least. Not to label myself an audiophile but, I listen to music a lot. Like a — lot — lot! Been curating my library for years and it’s gotten pretty big.
With more than 80 gigs of music with over 140 playlists, I’m only following my “I’m switching” statement with one question now… “Oh am I?”
