Spotify: What are you waiting for?

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > No Music Discussion > Spotify: What are you waiting for?

Corb3t: Jun 7, 2003

Spotify is the next generation of desktop music players that streams full albums to your computer. It has over 3.8 million different songs. What makes it so special?

Available for both mac and PC
It's completely legal
Over 4 million tracks
Listen to whole albums
Share playlists and searches with URLs that automatically open in Spotify

Not impressed? Check out this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL2QatInht8

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How do I get it? Spotify is now available in the US! Sign up for an invite here: http://www.spotify.com/us/sprite/
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I really think Spotify has huge potential and it'd be awesome to directly link to playlists on SA that automatically play using Spotify.

Corb3t fucked around with this message at 10:15 on Jul 27, 2011

# ? Aug 7, 2009 03:04

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 04:38

Technetium: Oct 26, 2006; TRILOBITE TECHNICIAN
QUITE POSSIBLY GAY

Daveproxy keeps timing out and bombarding me with ads. :mad:

# ? Aug 7, 2009 15:42

Rimjob Rodeo: Apr 29, 2004

I managed to get to the page using http://mark7.info/ but it says I need an invite code.

# ? Aug 7, 2009 22:10

Rummanging: Sep 26, 2008

A couple of playlists for you all;

The main goon playlist from the old thread: http://open.spotify.com/user/lordbost/playlist/57GG9G42iMhIZ7Ej3IeWnG

Aural contraceptive; listen to it with your partner and if you still like them then it's probably love. http://open.spotify.com/user/charliebrooker/playlist/2uz17uyzXjsodWYzwsgp5J

The music used in Charlie Brooker's screenwipe/newsipe http://open.spotify.com/user/charliebrooker/playlist/1cbjbEfXuZesvIYHnN9ilP

# ? Aug 7, 2009 22:40

Skyler: Jan 1, 2007

Try this proxy guys: http://www.htmlblock.co.uk/anonymous_web_browser/

The other ones didn't work for me, but that one did.

# ? Aug 7, 2009 23:38

Stay Safe: Sep 1, 2008; by FactsAreUseless

Uh, guys, Spotify will not work in other countries after 2 weeks. Trust me, I downloaded it in Finland and when I arrived in America it keeps stopping every two weeks. The only way I can get around it is to have friends from Finland log in every time it stops.

In other words, you can proxy to get around to downloading it, but you can't (very well) from using it.

# ? Aug 7, 2009 23:51

Technetium: Oct 26, 2006; TRILOBITE TECHNICIAN
QUITE POSSIBLY GAY

Skyler posted:

Try this proxy guys: http://www.htmlblock.co.uk/anonymous_web_browser/

The other ones didn't work for me, but that one did.

HTMLBlock gets me to the site and download page but downloads garbage files. :mad:

# ? Aug 8, 2009 00:32

Captain Splendid: Jan 7, 2009; Qu'en pense Caffarelli?

I'd post some invite codes, but unfortunately it's stopped giving them to me.

Sorry

# ? Aug 8, 2009 00:33

Green Typewriters: Mar 7, 2006; ^{and the heat goes on and the heat goes on and the heat goes on}

edit: nevermind

Green Typewriters fucked around with this message at 18:24 on Aug 9, 2009

# ? Aug 8, 2009 00:37

Fyuz: Dec 15, 2004

Spotify is awesome, but too good. The ads are so un-intrusive I find no reason to upgrade to Premium at all. It seems to depend on the time I listen to music; right now at 00:40 I can expect 1 audio advert every 40 mins or so. Seeing as I have the window closed all the time I see none of the visual adverts at all.

# ? Aug 8, 2009 00:43

woodhead: Jan 29, 2008; try harder next time.

If you like the idea of spotify you should check out https://www.jukefly.com

Its a glorified Youtube playlist manager really but it kinda just works. Pick an album and it will play it. It pretty much has all the features of spotify but works in the U.S.

The interface is busy as hell though so try not to stare at it too long. I use it at work, just search an album hit play and minimize it.

# ? Aug 8, 2009 02:24

DeepNode: May 7, 2008

I am pretty unimpressed in regards to spotify's catalogue, but as a free legal service I am well delighted with how unobtrusive the ads are. I think that a lot of newer albums / singles could be added, but they are working on expanding the collection of music by the day. I am mostly using spotify to listen to older more obscure recordings of rock / blues musicians though.

# ? Aug 8, 2009 02:55

Morkvitalja: May 16, 2007

Hi, I'm Jonathan from Spotify.

# ? Aug 8, 2009 02:59

Admiral Crunch: Nov 26, 2005; by Peatpot

Morkvitalja posted:

Hi, I'm Jonathan from Spotify.

Hi! I'm Mike from Massachusetts!

# ? Aug 8, 2009 03:33

Legs Benedict: Jul 14, 2002; You can either follow me to our bedroom or bend over that control throne because I haven't been this turned on in FOREVER!

Well, poo poo. Looks like I have no excuse now. Thanks for the proxies and the postal codes, this is perfect.

# ? Aug 8, 2009 04:16

DominoDancing: Apr 26, 2008; Each morning after Sunblest
Feel the benefit
Mental arithmetic

I've been using the Premium Version (10 bucks a month) for a while now, and I've really fallen in love with Spotify. There ARE still some annoying holes in the catalogue, but the program is incredibly easy and barely needs any ressources at all. As nice as the integrated Radio is, it would also be cool if they expanded the possibilities for searching and browsing the catalogue a bit.

EDIT: Not sure if it was already posted somewhere, but Spotify is also planning to launch in the US this summer:
http://www.grindefx.com/spotify-plan-to-launch-in-the-us-this-summer/

DominoDancing fucked around with this message at 09:57 on Aug 8, 2009

# ? Aug 8, 2009 06:04

Rimjob Rodeo: Apr 29, 2004

Awesome, I just got an account signed up. My problem now is the download page isn't working for me. Can anyone else get the mac client to download through a proxy?

edit: got it to work through http://mark7.info using https://www.spotify.com/en/download/mac/

# ? Aug 8, 2009 12:42

9-Volt Assault: Jan 27, 2007; Beter twee tetten in de hand dan tien op de vlucht.

You can download it without using a proxy.

# ? Aug 8, 2009 13:28

OhhCrap: Jul 9, 2006; <img src='https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-ohhcrap.jpg'><br>Of course, that can backfire... some men like their bitches crazy.

Charlie Mopps posted:

You can download it without using a proxy.

Yeah I tried for 30 minutes to download it with a proxy and then I realized that you just need the proxy in the account creation process :doh:

# ? Aug 8, 2009 18:32

Tolli: Apr 20, 2004; All is full of love!

Spotify is brilliant and I have paid the monthly fee for a some months and use the program every single day.

However, recently all Dylan tracks was removed. A serious dent in the Spotify catalog.

Tolli fucked around with this message at 19:27 on Aug 8, 2009

# ? Aug 8, 2009 19:21

military cervix: Dec 24, 2006; Hey guys

Tolli posted:

However, recently all Dylan tracks was removed. A serious dent in the Spotify catalog.

The catalog varies by where you live. I live in Norway and I still get to listen to Bob Dylan.

# ? Aug 9, 2009 10:54

Tiny Space Birds: Jun 18, 2004; ☮ Rolling with the
cosmic flow ☮

I was skeptical before trying this. I imagined lots of ads & noticeably poor sound but actually, it's really impressive. Interface is spot on, streaming works really well...I guess this is the future.

# ? Aug 9, 2009 12:28

Tolli: Apr 20, 2004; All is full of love!

The Erland posted:

The catalog varies by where you live. I live in Norway and I still get to listen to Bob Dylan.

Thats true, but I live in Norway too and Bob Dylan is currently not available (only 1 live album and some tracks here and there)

# ? Aug 9, 2009 14:15

Kaiho: Dec 2, 2004

Don't know how long the Spotify guys are going to look at multiple registrations from one IP block and the same postal code... :P

# ? Aug 9, 2009 16:14

NicelyNice: Feb 13, 2004; citrus

Thanks, this is really cool to use when I'm away from my music collection

# ? Aug 9, 2009 22:05

Cosmic Horror: Feb 2, 2009; DON'T BRING A GUN TO A SHELBY FIGHT MOTHER FUCKER, THAT'S RIGHT YOU GOT KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT

Is there a way to extend the period after two weeks using a proxy or is it just easier to make a new account?

I loved Spotify when I tried it out earlier this summer. Something as simple as this would slow piracy a ridiculous amount.

# ? Aug 9, 2009 22:33

Junkenstein: Oct 22, 2003

It's so good, that I find myself listening to stuff on it that I already have on my hard drive.

Sucks about Dylan though, last time I checked there was a metric shitload of his stuff there.

# ? Aug 11, 2009 14:04

Picardy Beet: Feb 7, 2006; Singing in the summer.

Dylan's titles are still available if you're in France.

# ? Aug 11, 2009 21:26

Tolli: Apr 20, 2004; All is full of love!

Isnt Rhapsody the same kind of service ?

http://www.rhapsody.com/tfxb.html?mboxSession1250055249570-576259

Never got to try it due to country restrictions.

# ? Aug 12, 2009 06:36

Ponce de Le0n: Jul 6, 2008; Father jailed for beating 3 kids after they wouldn't say who farted in his car

its good with very large bands, but its pretty poo poo for artists who dont really release that many albums and only really release singles and eps instead. They just seem to omit large swathes on artists discography's unless they appear on some lovely compilation.

# ? Aug 12, 2009 15:24

Tegan and Sankara: May 4, 2009

Can anyone explain how this is better/different to last.fm?

# ? Aug 12, 2009 19:26

Neurophonic: May 2, 2009

Pandachops posted:

Can anyone explain how this is better/different to last.fm?

You choose exactly what artist and tracks you want to listen to, and it plays them, instead of Last.fm's method of generating a radio station of similar music. It has that functionality too if you want it, but with some good fine grained controls such as "only play music of genre x from the 1950s, 60s and 70s".

It can post to your Last.fm page natively too.

# ? Aug 12, 2009 20:09

9-Volt Assault: Jan 27, 2007; Beter twee tetten in de hand dan tien op de vlucht.

Well, the first backlash has arrived: an artist claiming the amount he gets paid isnt worth the trouble:

quote:

I�d Rather Be Raped By Pirate Bay Than Go With Spotify
Written by enigmax on August 13, 2009
Swedish artist and composer Magnus Uggla has launched a scathing attack on the owners of Spotify. After discovering that Sony BMG is a shareholder and after receiving virtually no payment from his music being played there, he has withdrawn his tracks from the service declaring, �I�d rather be raped by The Pirate Bay.�

For many years now the media has been filled with the industry line that the operators of The Pirate Bay are little more than thieves, handing out other people�s content without ensuring creators get paid. Few have been more vocal than the music industry, who time and again distill the situation down to a simple, easily palatable �truth� � The Pirate Bay is evil because the artists don�t get paid.

But where are the alternatives? If someone created a service to compete with pirates, everything could improve. Sites like The Pirate Bay would cease to exist and users would flood to legal services where not only could they avoid being sued, but the artists would get paid too.

It seems that just about everyone who has tried it absolutely loves Spotify. It has in excess of 3.5 million tracks available, all for free (if you chose that option), all funded by advertising. And of course, for those wishing to champion the morality of paying artists, this is dealt with too. This week it was revealed that the major labels all have fingers in the Spotify pie � surely paying the artists would be a foregone conclusion?

Not according to Swedish noble, artist and composer Magnus Uggla, who has launched a scathing attack on the fledgling streaming service, branding it as dishonest.

Writing on his blog he says that Spotify is a really incredible, fantastic service which offers everything � for free too. But, he writes, it�s too good to be true. Like thousands of other artists, Uggla�s work is available via Spotify and, due to involvement of the major labels and a lack of involvement from the local torrent site operators, he of course expects to get paid a reasonable amount. Not so.

Uggla says that when he received his first earnings statement from Spotify it became apparent that he �earned as much in six months as a BUSKER could earn in a day.� Ouch.

Understandably upset, Uggla raised the issue in a long discussion with Sony boss Hasse Breitholtz but came away feeling that he should trust in the man and the service.

However, Uggla was as surprised as most people when he learned last week that the major labels, including Sony, all have a stake in Spotify. A mere 30,000 kroner ($4,000) investment bought the company 5.8% of the service now valued at around 1.8 billion kroner ($251m).

Referring to the valuation, Uggla questions how this company can do so well � and comes to the conclusion that it�s at the artist�s expense. He says that Sony Music, after �suing the poo poo out of The Pirate Bay� is acting just like them by not paying the artists.

�I would rather be raped by Pirate Bay than by Hasse Breitholtz and Sony Music and will remove all of my songs from Spotify pending an honest service,� he says.

# ? Aug 13, 2009 19:34

massive spider: Dec 6, 2006

Honestly the whole thing does seem too good to be true. I've been listening for the last 20 minutes on the free service and have havent heard an ad (ok actually one came on as I was about to hit post but still) Wheres the profit coming from?

Also the rating system makes no sense as it appears to be generated entirely on plays making it just a vauge popularity bar thing. Not that rating systems really make sense most other places either mind, UI designers just dont seem to be able to let them go.

# ? Aug 13, 2009 20:46

DominoDancing: Apr 26, 2008; Each morning after Sunblest
Feel the benefit
Mental arithmetic

Charlie Mopps posted:

Well, the first backlash has arrived: an artist claiming the amount he gets paid isnt worth the trouble:

Interesting...I'd like to hear more about this case. As it is his statement is pretty worthless without any number on how often he was actually played. Not being from Sweden I know nothing about him, but from what I gather from Wikipedia he's not what I'd call a young and hip artist, so perhaps his target audience are not the people who are likely to use Spotify.

Three Red Lights posted:

Honestly the whole thing does seem too good to be true. I've been listening for the last 20 minutes on the free service and have havent heard an ad (ok actually one came on as I was about to hit post but still) Wheres the profit coming from?

There is at least some advertising revenue, and also there are people like me who pay 10 bucks a month for the premium service. Since Spotify uses some kind of P2P technology, server costs probably aren't as high as they would otherwise be either.

DominoDancing fucked around with this message at 22:15 on Aug 13, 2009

# ? Aug 13, 2009 22:12

travisray2004: Dec 2, 2004; SuprMan

I have used spotify and it's not bad but I honestly don't understand why it's being so hyped when grooveshark does the same thing.

EDIT: oh and don't know if this has been covered but even if you register another postal code and use the app, after 14 days it'll notify you that you can't login because you're not listening from your registered postal code.

travisray2004 fucked around with this message at 15:19 on Aug 14, 2009

# ? Aug 14, 2009 15:13

noggut: Jan 15, 2008

Morkvitalja posted:

Hi, I'm Jonathan from Spotify.

Got premium an hour ago, so hah! Take that, Jonathan! "That" being my money.

# ? Aug 14, 2009 19:39

Stay Safe: Sep 1, 2008; by FactsAreUseless

Return to Sender posted:

Is there a way to extend the period after two weeks using a proxy or is it just easier to make a new account?

I loved Spotify when I tried it out earlier this summer. Something as simple as this would slow piracy a ridiculous amount.

Only ways are to have someone from the country that you set up the account with log in, and then use it. Or create new accounts I guess, but that's a more lengthy process.

# ? Aug 15, 2009 01:43

Corb3t: Jun 7, 2003

You can set up a SOCKS4/5 proxy and sign in through that but I haven't found any reliable ones. I'd be willing to chip in and actually buy a private one for goons only but I really don't know much about setting something like that up.

# ? Aug 19, 2009 10:29

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# ? Apr 19, 2024 04:38

Footy: Mar 17, 2007

I got myself an VPN account on https://www.ivacy.com. You get 100 mb when you sign up, which is more than enough to sign on to Spotify every now and then.

It works perfectly and is free of charge.

Edit: Some people are reporting, that Spotify have blocked Ivacy.com. Aww...

Footy fucked around with this message at 14:54 on Aug 21, 2009

# ? Aug 21, 2009 12:55

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > No Music Discussion > Spotify: What are you waiting for?

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