Music is a big deal around our house, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned a time or two. Dale has been the lead singer in his band for 45+ years and, as such, he’s pretty much always singing. It’s sweet and comforting, I always know where he is, I just have to follow the tune! Even more than that, though, music is playing a lot at home. We’ve got those awesome Sonos speakers in every room (and outside now, too) and it’s just so easy to push a couple of buttons on my phone and get some tunes going.
I used to be a big user of Pandora and had a pretty carefully curated adult alternative station going but the commercials annoyed me and I wasn’t willing to pay to have them disappear. I also find it really weird that when you have Pandora create a station based on a particular artist it often seems like they play everything but music but that artist. Weird. I tried Apple music for a while and I have Amazon Prime so there’s also a limited music service with that.
About a year ago, though, prompted by seeing so many of you use it successfully, I switched to Spotify. I am so glad I did! I do pay for it ($9.99/month) but it’s worth every penny. I can listen to entire albums, I can create my own playlists as well as follow playlists of people I know, I can create a radio station that actually plays the music I want to hear, and it’s really just fantastic. It integrates easily with our Sonos speakers and I’m very satisfied with it. I’d love it if Dale would take the plunge and learn to use it, too, but for right now he’s content (sort of) to listen to whatever I select.
These days that’s a lot of The Avett Brothers (because I’m going to see them Saturday night!), some pretty good country honky tonk, and summertime music. I also really enjoy the Daily Mix that Spotify creates for me and the Discover Weekly and Release Radar lists, too. There’s just so much good music out there to listen to and I love how Spotify makes it so easy to find new music that I love.
I didn’t intend for this to sound like a commercial but I’ll admit it does! Please know that it’s not and it’s really just my own enthusiasm for music, Sonos and Spotify that has prompted this post.
We love the Sonos speakers, too! They are so awesome! And, yes… Spotify FTW!
It’s such a great feeling when you manage to merge all the technology choices with the firehose of data (audio, video, etc) available in the world. Glad you’ve found a sweet spot.
I’m old enough to be amazed that I’ve gone from listening to 45s bought with babysitting money, played with that yellow spindle thing to my ipod, wireless speakers and Spotify (which I also love). A lot has happened in just a few decades, but Dale’s singing around the house might still be the best!
I’m still old school enough to want my own music (I’ve got plenty and I still buy new artist). I use my iPod and blue tooth what I want to hear to my own sound system (or my own ears through earbuds). After your endorsement I’m going to check out Spotify, but they need to be able to really mix up the genres.
I love hearing what y’all are listening to … one of the things I miss most about having my girls around is their playlists!
I’ve been trying to figure out how to cancel my paid-through-apple Pandora membership and it’s not been easy. (So much as I keep walking away thinking I’ll go back a figure it out…) I keep hearing good things about Spotify…I’ll have to check it out!
I love the Avett Brothers!! Didn’t know they were playing around here. I’m jealous!!
I’ve had Spotify for a few years now and I love it! Since I have two somewhat nomadic daughters who still use our home as base, we use the Family Plan and it’s great! I also have Bluetooth speakers that I use at home, plus I listen in the car and also at work. I’ve recently discovered Spotify’s #ThrowbackThursday list (https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWWwaxRea1LWS?si=tnTH2OoITJ-xViw19FES4g) which you might enjoy — it changes every week with a different theme (some I like more than others, but it almost always brings a smile at least).
You and the commentersmhave definitely piqued my curiosity.
Tom and I sit around and marvel over our Sonos/Spotify/Apple Music combo. We especially laugh about moving to college . . . with our turntables, receivers, giant stereo speakers, CRATES of record albums and, really, not much else (because what would fit into our cars after all that????). Now? A phone and a few speakers — and you’re SET! Love. It. Every. Day. XO
PS – Tom says, “Dale . . . let’s sing a song. . . ” 🙂