Spotify is here (US)

[Easy Mac]

Right now it's free, unlimited streaming (with ads) of any song in it's library. It's basically like rdio/mog/rhapsody, but free. Mobile streaming and no ads costs extra. It requires an invite for free, but there are hundreds of invites in the comments of Engadget.

Or sign up at Spotify

It will likely change to the European model in the future, where it remains free, but only for 10 hours and 5 plays per song, but enjoy while it lasts.

[JonInMiddleGA]

‘Spotify’ Free Music Service Launches Today in the U.S. - Techland - TIME.com

Spotify's service will offer three pricing plans, including a free version, provided that users won't mind the ads so much. The cheapest paid plan, for $4.99 per month, allows you to enjoy Spotify without ads. The last level, for $9.99 per month, lets you enjoy the service offline and on your (Android or iOS) phone. It's comparable to what the company charges its European users per month.

[JonInMiddleGA]

FWIW, bleepingcomputer just posted about this, indicated the limited model was already in effect for the free ... meaning it isn't worth my time. Our use of streaming music around here tends to happen in bursts of several hours at a time, so the trial wouldn't last as long as the time it took to set up a few decent playlists. And the chance of me paying anyone for streaming music is precisely 0.0%

Spotify launches in the United States

The first is a free subscription service, which is currently invite only, that allows you to listen for 20 hours a month for the first 6 months and then it drops down 10 hours/month and a total of 5 plays of a particular track.

[Easy Mac]

According to Gizmodo, they state Spotify has confirmed the free tier is unlimited for the time being, but I haven't seen that reported anywhere else.

Spotify Has Arrived On US Shores

UPDATE: Spotify has confirmed to us that free accounts have unlimited streaming, unlike European accounts which were recently capped at 10 hours per month.

[Matthean]

You can also get in if you have Klout, which I don't, so I found the extra step annoying since it forced me to signup for Klout as well, and even after I did, I was at Klout's page. I still haven't gone back to see if I'm actually signed up for Spotify, or not.

[LastWhiteSoxFanStanding]

From what I understand, you can also integrate mp3s that you already have, but Spotify doesn't offer into playlists. This feature is going to be what drives me from Rdio to Spotify. Although I loved Rdio, it bothered me that if I wanted to listen to the Beatles or Metallica, I would have to stop the service and open up itunes. With Spotify, the whole thing seems more seamless so I am going to give the 4.99 service a try which is the same price as Rdio.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Matthean

You can also get in if you have Klout, which I don't, so I found the extra step annoying since it forced me to signup for Klout as well, and even after I did, I was at Klout's page. I still haven't gone back to see if I'm actually signed up for Spotify, or not.

I went back and checked only to see they ran out of invites.

[Easy Mac]

Seems Chevrolet of all places is giving out invites on its facebook page.
Incompatible Browser | Facebook

[Comey]

I got in this morning; I'm enjoying it so far. I haven't really used a streaming audio site (like Pandora) before...but my music collection has disappeared, and I like listening to music. This will introduce me to new music easily, so I'm down with that.

[3ric]

I have five invites to share if anyone wants one.

[hoosierdude]

Originally Posted by 3ric

I have five invites to share if anyone wants one.

If you have one, I could use it.. PM me and I will send you the email address.

If you are out, thanks for offering though!

[Lathum]

I could use on also, pm me for email if you have any left

[3ric]

Two invites sent, three to go

[britrock88]

I'd gladly accept one...

[zums]

i'd take one if you have any left.... thanks!

[3ric]

PM me with your email address and I'll send the two I have left.

[Easy Mac]

coke is giving out invites

An exclusive invitation to join Spotify from Coca Cola - Spotify

[Scoobz0202]

Tried the Coke thing and haven't received an email, so until I get that if anybody has an extra invite I'd appreciate it.

homan9118 AT gmail

[DanGarion]

If anyone has an invite I'd love to get one.

daniel at dangarion dot com

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Tried the Coke thing and haven't received an email, so until I get that if anybody has an extra invite I'd appreciate it.

homan9118 AT gmail

Ended up finding one.

[stevew]

No mobile streaming with the free option? *click* delete.

[stevew]

Dola-

Why would I pay 10 bucks a month for this shit?

[Lathum]

Yeah. I'm confused. I thought the whole concept was free streaming music.

[Lathum]

Dola

On my phone

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Yeah. I'm confused. I thought the whole concept was free streaming music.

I'm pretty sure the main concept is streaming music you pay for. The whole free thing is supposed to be like the first crack rock.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Having gotten an invite from Chevy I figured I might give this a look just for the heck of it, but wasn't big on the notion of having to install software to do it (vs it being web-based). Did a quick search to make sure it wasn't known for malware & found this

The same virus I got two weeks ago distributed through a Spotify ad back in March BBC News - Spotify ads hit by malware attack

Yeah, I'm thinking if you got bit by malvertising once, you might get bit again (especially if you've ever hired anyone from Sony security).

Think I'm just gonna pass on this, although now I'm even more suspicious about whether the newspaper site I've visited in proximity to my consecutive weekend virus problems might really be the culprit.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'm pretty sure the main concept is streaming music you pay for. The whole free thing is supposed to be like the first crack rock.

Oh, ok.

It's like they offered you crack, but you had to do it tied down to a chair. Plus they told you that you would be ingesting quarts of man juice if you want to take your crack with you.

Point being this would have been a revolutionary product back in the 20th century, but now no fucking way.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by stevew

Oh, ok.

It's like they offered you crack, but you had to do it tied down to a chair. Plus they told you that you would be ingesting quarts of man juice if you want to take your crack with you.

Point being this would have been a revolutionary product back in the 20th century, but now no fucking way.

Yea. If there is a song not in my library I'll YouTube it

[Autumn]

So who here is using Spotify? I thought it might be interested to share playlists around. I know a lot of people here are into music, and into hearing what other people are listening to or think is great. This would be a great way to do that, like making mix tapes again.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Autumn

So who here is using Spotify? I thought it might be interested to share playlists around. I know a lot of people here are into music, and into hearing what other people are listening to or think is great. This would be a great way to do that, like making mix tapes again.

I'm in
spotify:user:1222717671:
Playlist:2VkHwbgtVIjAKtYC4jQH7B

[Autumn]

We can't really be the only ones using this, right?

I've added you, Jon, but I haven't got around to making a playlist yet. This is my wife's account too (mostly) so God knows what she's been listening to.

spotify:user:commanda13

[britrock88]

Meh, I'm a pretty album-oriented listener, but if I get bored enough, I might just jump in and try to get some nice lists together.

[Comey]

I use it. I enjoy it quite a bit.

[mckerney]

Every time I see this thread get bumped I hope it is for news that you no longer need to use a Facebook account to sign up.

[Comey]

Hmmm...there's got to be some workaround for it. I never linked it to my FB account.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Comey, re: workaround/never linked to FB ... did you possibly sign up for Spotify before they reached such a close working arrangement with FB? (about the time the new features/apps for FB timelines were rolled out)

[britrock88]

Ah, now I remember why I haven't jumped on this sooner. It's that really low time limit (10 hours/month?) for the free version.

[lcjjdnh]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Every time I see this thread get bumped I hope it is for news that you no longer need to use a Facebook account to sign up.

Rdio is an alternative that doesn't require a Facebook account.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Every time I see this thread get bumped I hope it is for news that you no longer need to use a Facebook account to sign up.

We don't have it linked to Facebook either. I don't see where there's any obligation to.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Meh, I'm a pretty album-oriented listener, but if I get bored enough, I might just jump in and try to get some nice lists together.

Just share some albums then. Would just be interesting to browse through what some other FOFC people really like.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Ah, now I remember why I haven't jumped on this sooner. It's that really low time limit (10 hours/month?) for the free version.

I'm not sure how strictly enforced that is. My son & I are both free-only members & I know he's listened as much as 16 hours in a single day without issue.

[Autumn]

Yeah, I never experienced any time limit. Maybe it's enforced over a month or something? I wasn't even aware of it. We're "Unlimited" members now, just to get rid of the ads.

[Passacaglia]

Okay, I'm in for the 30-day premium trial of Spotify Premium. I've started out by adding an album, and I right-clicked the album to add it to itunes. The album shows up as a playlist under the itunes section in spotify, but I don't see it in my actual itunes. Is there a way I can listen to it using itunes?

Thanks!

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Okay, I'm in for the 30-day premium trial of Spotify Premium. I've started out by adding an album, and I right-clicked the album to add it to itunes. The album shows up as a playlist under the itunes section in spotify, but I don't see it in my actual itunes. Is there a way I can listen to it using itunes?

Thanks!

You can't listen to your Spotify streams in iTunes. It sort of defeats the purpose. That's what the Spotify desktop app is for.

[Passacaglia]

I thought the purpose was to have a bunch of music available on a subscription basis, as opposed to buying each track or album a la carte. What purpose is there that is defeated by using itunes (or my iphone's music interface)? I like some of the features that itunes has, that spotify does not.

[Passacaglia]

Also, is there a way to play radio stations (i.e. radio stations you create in spotify) on the mobile app?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I thought the purpose was to have a bunch of music available on a subscription basis, as opposed to buying each track or album a la carte. What purpose is there that is defeated by using itunes (or my iphone's music interface)? I like some of the features that itunes has, that spotify does not.

That's sort of backwards (or at least sideways) to how it works, at least as I understand it.

Spotify can see the music in your iTunes library, or any music files on your hard drive for that matter. iTunes doesn't have access to the full tracks that Spotify provides on a streaming basis. If they did, then iTunes would basically be Spotify.

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

That's sort of backwards (or at least sideways) to how it works, at least as I understand it.

Spotify can see the music in your iTunes library, or any music files on your hard drive for that matter. iTunes doesn't have access to the full tracks that Spotify provides on a streaming basis. If they did, then iTunes would basically be Spotify.

Not to get too argumentative, since I appreciate the help, but I don't really agree. I mean, Spotify would still be required as an intermediary -- as the source of the music. I guess what confuses me is when I right-click to add an album in spotify, there's three options -- New Playlist, itunes, or windows media player. What's the point of adding an album to itunes if I can't listen to it in itunes?

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I thought the purpose was to have a bunch of music available on a subscription basis, as opposed to buying each track or album a la carte. What purpose is there that is defeated by using itunes (or my iphone's music interface)? I like some of the features that itunes has, that spotify does not.

No.

It's a cloud-based music service. You can download the Spotify app for your ipod/iPad or whatever for free as part of the subscription service. And you can sync your playlists and starred music (star an album to save it on that starred playlist) across the various platforms.

You are paying for a license to listen to their library. You are not acquiring the music and you don't own it like you do in iTunes. That's the difference and why you can't import any spotify LPs, etc., into iTunes. You don't own the music, you own a license to listen to whatever they have available on the cloud.

But no, it cannot be used in tandem with iTunes because it's a completely different ecosystem.

Also, you can listen to any playlists you have on Spotify offline by checking the "play offline" button on each playlist (including starred) and you can do this for the desktop app or your ipod/ipad/iphone version as well.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I guess what confuses me is when I right-click to add an album in spotify, there's three options -- New Playlist, itunes, or windows media player. What's the point of adding an album to itunes if I can't listen to it in itunes?

You're not adding an album to iTunes. Those options are presumably to add your iTunes and WMP libraries into Spotify. Not the other way around.

When you right-click to add an album in Spotify, it ought to this option: