Music Streaming Services
What's out there for you!
When looking at streaming services, you do have some choices, but not all are free.
The Virtual Library category is led by Spotify, with similar services such as TIDAL offering higher audio quality content at 16 bit/44kHz. Services like this enable listeners to build their own custom music libraries much like iTunes, but with a monthly subscription model instead of paying for each song or album.
The Custom Radio concept, where a listener provides artist or genre preferences is led by Pandora which uses a sophisticated analysis protocol to "recognize and respond to each listener's tastes in order to create a more personalized radio experience." Slacker is another option in the Custom Radio category.
The broadcast radio category is led by Sirius/XM, with TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio also giving listeners access to terrestrial content that includes news, talk and sports as well as music. The primary benefit of these types of services is convenience and new music discovery.
Lastly is sports broadcast. Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League all have services that allow you to listen to radio broadcast of games via streaming. There is typically a charge for these services too.
One thing to keep in mind with streaming audio is that there is always a delay when compared to listening to live TV or radio. Typically 1-3 minutes depending on the service. That said, don't be surprised if you receive a text notification about your favorite team scoring before you hear it on the streaming broadcast.
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