Now, I know you’re reading the title of this article and asking yourself, “Who in the world decided Apple Music was better than Spotify?” But if you just sit back, relax and get off your Spotify-wrapped high horse, I will enlighten you.
Let’s flash back to 2010. Music is at its peak. “TiK ToK” by Kesha just released, and it’s time to have your “it girl” moment. However, your mom said she would ground you if she ever caught you listening to Kesha, so you decided to listen to “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train.
While shuffling through your monitored playlist, there’s one thing you are thankful for — your Apple iPod that streams Apple Music.
The crusted, pink, single-button iPod has gotten you through everything. Kindergarten breakups, best friend sleepovers gone wrong or hyping yourself up before an EOG. And to all you Spotify listeners out there, you abandoned your home.
To my small community of Apple listeners here today, thank you for sticking with us. You understand the awkward conversation when people ask who your top artist is or what kind of music was on the daily playlist today. But I am here once and for all to end the Apple-Spotify debate.
Spotify listeners, thanks for finally listening to something other than your AI Spotify DJ.
Did you know Apple Music has all these features too, and it comes with a better deal? For $5.99 a month, as a student, you can access Apple Music and Apple TV. The cost is much more accessible than Spotify. With a family plan for only $16.99 a month and an individual non-student service for $9.99, the individual plan is a dollar cheaper per month than Spotify, which can add up.
For those who claim Spotify is a better option for discovering new music, have you ever heard of Apple’s Apple Music 1 Radio? This radio allows you to listen to several global, live music channels, and it’s just a click away in your app.
Apple Music also allows you to connect with your favorite artists, friends and form a new feature of creating shared playlists.
A feature called “Connect” allows you to form a relationship with your favorite artist by sharing feeds of lyrics, music, photos, videos and text posts with their top listeners.
Most importantly, to counter Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music actually has a feature called “Replay.” You just don’t see Apple users posting it on their stories because, unlike Spotify users, we aren’t trying to get validation by being in the top 0.01% of listeners for The Smiths or some other band you think is niche.
Apple Music also creates playlists for its members under its “Browse” section. Although these playlists aren’t created for your specific music taste, it is another way to find amazing new music. “Afrobeats” and “Hindu Rock” are just two examples of these curated playlists that can expand your horizon.
There are also spaces under this section dedicated to showing new music to listeners interested in adding more music to their favorite playlists.
Apple News is also a feature within Apple Music. Being quickly informed on global news is way more important than focusing on your daily mixes.
Now it’s time to be real. Apple Music is simply more organized than Spotify. As a former user of the free, month-long trial of Spotify Premium, I detest that moment; it was the most confusing time of my life.
The Spotify queue accidentally makes you press new songs, losing your lineup. Searching artists doesn’t show their entire discography — you have to dig for it. And worst of all, the podcast section is depressing.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your preferences. Whether you use Apple or Spotify, all that matters is that you can express yourself from streaming music. However, to all my Spotify users, please stop dissing Apple Music users. We are just trying to get by and live another day without seeing the same three artists you post on Instagram in your daily playlist.
From one music head to another, remember who began your musical journey and that every platform is magical in its own way — even if they are all lowkey the same.
