What Is Spotify?

Spotify is a digital music service that allows you to listen to millions of songs streaming on different devices. It works on computers, smartphones, tablets, smart tv, consoles, and cars.

The worldwide success of this application is linked to several factors. The first is that it contains music from any genre and era, including the hits of the moment. The second is that you can use Spotify for free.

The user is not required to buy a song or subscribe but can immediately access and listen to the music they want for free. The only drawback is that without the paid subscription, there is no access to some functions, and advertising may appear between songs.

Spotify mission statement is to help humanity unlock its creativity by giving artists a platform to showcase their arts and the audience an opportunity to be inspired and enjoy the creative artist.

We've put together everything you should know about the music streaming platform. Stay tuned!

When Did Spotify Come Out?

You’re probably asking the question, “When was Spotify created?” The music streaming platform was created in 2006. However, the negotiations with the record companies to obtain the licenses for the songs delayed its public launch for more than two years. Well, that must have been some serious negotiations!

At its launch on October 7, 2008, Spotify was conceived as an application to listen to music online on a computer. It was initially only available for some European countries such as Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Users could access millions of songs without downloading anything.

Of course, they had to invite you if you wanted to access the application for free. Otherwise, you had to pay for a subscription. But, with the appearance of the iPhone and Android smartphones, they realized that if they wanted to be great, they had to be within reach of users.

So, in 2009 they created a mobile app so that users could take music on their smartphones. They also made the Premium version, which they have maintained until today, along with the Free version.

Spotify Ltd Founders

The idea of a platform that would solve the piracy problem came from Daniel Ek. A young Swedish entrepreneur, who at 16, had already founded a start-up for web development, with which he earned around $180,000 a year. At 23, he decided to leave everything to dedicate himself to his true passions: music and technology.

Ek got together with Martin Lorentzon and began to study how to create a platform to listen to and legally download music. They worked for two years, and in 2008 Spotify was born. The significant investments and the conquest of the world arrived.

The application swept away the competition in a few years and became the reference platform for listening to music online. The company earns through advertising and subscriptions.

How Many People Use Spotify?

During the last quarter of 2021, the Spotify music streaming platform exceeded 406 million monthly users, thus easily exceeding the forecasts analysts maintained about the growth of its user base and the forecasts previously announced by the platform itself.

Spotify widely exceeds the number of users of the second music streaming platform, Apple Music. These figures make Spotify one of the best streaming music platforms in general and paid subscriptions since it already exceeds 180 million paying users.

The growth is especially remarkable compared to the number of users it had a year ago when Spotify surpassed 345 million and 155 million paying subscribers.

How Does Spotify Work?

Spotify offers various options for using the music streaming service. For example, you can access the portal's radio function, which plays music from various genres. There are also ready-made playlists and daily updated charts. Spotify doesn’t want you to look elsewhere!

If you are logged in with your Facebook account, you can also see what tracks your friends are listening to. Also, you can create your own playlists on Spotify. The scope of use also depends on the subscription model you have.

While Spotify Free is free, it offers limited usage with no offline functionality and commercial breaks. Spotify Premium is recommended for unlimited use.

How Spotify Works: Details and Facts

• You can use Spotify on PC as well as Android and iOS devices. The app is intuitive and similar to other virtual music players.
• You have no obligation to pay any money for the music you listen to. Instead, Spotify finances itself primarily from advertising revenue. But that also means that advertising is played between individual songs. This is never particularly long but appears regularly.
• To prevent the ads from playing, you can upgrade to Spotify Premium. There you have ad-free and unlimited access to all titles and podcasts that the portal offers. Another benefit of Spotify Premium is its offline capability. This saves large amounts of data volume and is easy on the wallet.
• Spotify offers several paid subscription models for families, couples, and students. All subscription variants can be canceled on a monthly basis.

How to Use Spotify

Now, let's explore how to use Spotify on desktop, mobile, or web.

Searching and Following Artists

The more you use Spotify, listen to music, and follow artists, the better the platform's recommendations for you, based on your music tastes. Spotify covers the weird tastes too!

Our suggestion is to follow the artists you like the most.

On mobile:

1. Tap Search on the magnifying glass icon.
2. In the search bar, type the artist's name;
3. Select the desired result; the artist will often have a blue check mark next to the name. You can also pick the "Artists" category.
4. Then tap Follow in the top right corner.

On the computer:

1. Click on the search bar;
2. Enter the artist's name;
3. Scroll down to the "Artists" section and select the result;
4. Click follow.

In addition to following artists and bands, you can follow playlists. This causes the lists to be saved in your library, and as soon as the owner updates it, it will also be updated in your library.

How to Create Playlists

Playlists are selected songs. Unlike albums, you can put multiple songs by different artists, like old mixtapes. With this, you can create playlists for different climates, events, and situations. Spotify has a “Browse” and a “Made for You” section with playlists created for various moments.

Another cool feature of playlists is making them collaborative: anyone with the link can add songs to this playlist. It's ideal for a party. For example, you can ask everyone to add what they would like to hear on the playlist so that everyone can enjoy it.

O yeah. None of your friends have to feel left out anymore!

After creating a playlist on the computer:

1. Right-click on the playlist;
2. Check the "Collaborative Playlist" option;
3. Then click on Share;
4. And click on "copy playlist link";
5. Then, send the link to the people who should add the songs.

To make a collaborative playlist on mobile:

1. Enter a playlist and tap the three dots icon in the upper right corner;
2. Select "Make Collaborative";
3. After that, click the three balls in the upper right corner again;
4. Click Share and select "copy link";
5. Then send it to whoever wants to share the playlist.

Sharing Songs

You can send a song link to someone, and they'll go straight to the track you want them to listen to. In addition to sharing via a link, you can create a post on Twitter, or Facebook, send it via WhatsApp, and even post it on Stories.

To access the sharing feature:

1. Enter any playlist, album, or track;
2. Click on the three dots icon in the upper right corner;
3. Select Share and choose where you want to send it.

Spotify Radio

Spotify Radio creates a sequence of songs similar to a previously selected playlist, album, or song. From there, Spotify uses the algorithms to suggest other tracks similar to the previous one.

The feature can either be accessed from the Radio tab, from the computer or from the menu of an item, for example:

1. Right-click on a song;
2. Select "Go to music radio";
3. Let the magic happen.

On Mobile:

1. Access the track, playlist, or album;
2. Tap the three dots icon;
3. Select "Go to radio…"

What Is Spotify App?

The Spotify app is any media used to stream music from the streaming service. No matter where you want to use Spotify — a suitable app is available.

You can stream music directly on Windows, Linux, or macOS computers. Alternatively, there is a web player for browsers. Moreover, you can also use Spotify on mobile platforms like Android, Amazon Fire Tablets, iOS, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone, as all relevant platforms are supported in the mobile sector.

Various Smart TVs also received apps from manufacturers such as Philips, Sony, and LG. You will find suitable applications if you have a PS3, PS4, or Xbox One. And even language assistants like Google Home and Alexa have long known Spotify.

Set-top boxes with Google TV operating system or from Amazon (Fire TV) are suitable, as well as mobile companions such as Samsung Gear Fit and other wearables with Android Wear. These guys don’t ever give up, do they?

Furthermore, you can use Spotify in the car, for example, in Volvos, Teslas, Minis, Jaguar, BMWs, or Land Rovers. Many other modern vehicles are supported thanks to Android Auto and CarPlay interfaces. And with all sorts of audio products from Samsung, Yamaha, Onkyo, or Bose, access to your music is also possible.

The fact is: No competitor offers so much flexibility. This is probably the reason why Spotify has spread so much. Wherever you want to enjoy music, there is an app for you. How convenient!

This is made possible via the Spotify Connect interface, which manufacturers can use to connect a playback device to the streaming service relatively easily.

Spotify Business Model

Spotify's business works on a freemium business model. Thus, the Spotify service is available in a free mode that all users can access, but with the option of purchasing the Premium mode with many more advantages.

This free mode allows access to the entire music catalog, but with some restrictions. It is necessary to have an internet connection to listen to music. Also, it is not possible to download the songs to listen to them offline, there are some ads between songs, and there is a limit to passing the songs.

By acquiring the Premium mode, the user has access to a wide range of plans for all types of audiences: plans for students, family plans, individuals, or couples. The cost of each of them may vary depending on the country.

Among the advantages of the Premium version is the possibility of being able to pass the songs in an unlimited way, downloading songs to listen to them offline, music on demand with random playback, and playback free of advertising, among other benefits.

However, if you're still stuck between Spotify Free vs. Spotify Premium, you should see our detailed guide to help you decide!

Do You Have to Pay For Spotify?

You can actually use the music offer from Spotify permanently free of charge. You can access over 50 million songs, podcasts, audiobooks, and other content.

However, the songs run in shuffle mode, so the order of the tracks is random. This applies to all playlists that are marked with a symbol of two crossing arrows. If you don't see such an icon, you can listen to the songs as you wish. In addition, with Spotify Free, you can create 15 personalized playlists, the order of which is up to you.

You also have to live with commercial breaks and always need an internet connection. In addition, the streaming service does not provide you with the best possible quality. The bit rate is throttled to 128 kbps, which should probably only be audible for music aesthetes. Another cut: The offer is only available for 14 days when you are on holiday abroad.

So, if you've been asking, "Is Spotify free?" you already know the answer and the downsides of using the free version. We all know most good things aren't free!

Transferring Your Music Playlist From Another Music Service to Spotify

For some good reasons, Spotify is and has long been the king in the world of music streaming services. So, we'd not be surprised if you're considering ditching your current music streaming service for the platform.

However, we're sure you don't want to lose your playlist. Don't panic. We have a solution for you! With FreeYourMusic, you can transfer your music playlist from any music streaming platform to Spotify in pretty easy steps.

Sign up on the platform today!