Here’s how I get the best value from music streaming services

I pay for Spotify Premium every month. Yes, there is a free version, but for me it is worth spending quite a small amount. Considering everything I have access to, it’s a great value and helps support the entertainment industry.

Here’s how to make sure I’m getting the best bang for my buck.

You don’t pay for too many streaming services

Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal: There are so many music streaming platforms out there these days that it can be hard to decide which one to choose. However, it’s important to find one or two that you like and stick with them.

If you’re paying for numerous streaming services, you’re spending money. Your personal preference will determine which interface you like best; otherwise, they all have similar features and content, so choose what’s right for you and stay on track. I like Spotify, so I’m staying with it long term.

Creating multiple playlists on Spotify

Spotify and similar platforms allow you to create playlists – so do it!

My favorite playlist is the longest. That’s my default because it’s so easy to add stuff. Just click on + symbol on any track and it will be on your favorite tracks. However, I immediately created a second playlist when I joined Spotify Premium: this was my shower playlist, i.e. a few songs that I like to chill out to. Then I added a relationship playlist, one for music to listen to with friends, one for Christmas, and some of my favorite songs from specific artists.

The more the better. So you can add a list of routes to train for, one to accompany you on long rides, and one to make you look forward to summer.

Mixing music with friends

Here’s an underrated gem and one of Spotify’s best features: You can match your music with your friends’ music. Simply put, your favorite songs are mixed into a playlist with your friends’ songs, and Spotify will recommend other music that you both might like.

This could be the deciding factor for you when choosing a music streaming service: which one do your friends use? This may not seem like something you should consider, but for me it was a key reason why I chose Spotify.

Firstly, it meant I could get hands-on experience with it before I bought the Premium. I wasn’t keen on the free version, but I tried a foreign paid account and enjoyed it much more. Second, music can be an intimate thing, but it’s also important socially, so being able to connect with friends like that is special. And creating mixes on Spotify is easy!

Listening to audiobooks via Spotify Premium

Music streaming services aren’t just about music. Audiobooks are a huge advantage of paid platforms, and while not all of them have such an impressive library of titles, Spotify Premium has a lot to offer.

There is a catch. You have a limited number of listening hours. At the time of writing, you can listen to up to 15 hours of audiobooks each month. If you’re an avid listener, that might not seem like much, but for the more casual consumer, it’s enough to give you a taste of the books on offer and is an easy introduction to audiobooks themselves.

It’s not perfect—far from it, actually. If you can only listen for 15 hours, that might mean you only get to hear half of the book before it cuts out, and you’ll have to wait until the next month for your listening hours to resume. For now, however, many, including myself, are content to immerse themselves in the industry. If I want more information, I can check out our other dedicated audiobook platforms.

Instantly add new albums to my library

It’s simple. I like the song; I’m browsing the album; I like and add to My Library. It’s easy to forget how amazing it is, but while there are other media I love, streaming music is the easiest way to consume everything I want. Otherwise, it will cost at least $9.99 to buy the album on iTunes or as a CD, for example. The individual Spotify Premium plan costs $11.99 per month, so there is a financial benefit to listening to many albums.

It helps that Spotify tells me whenever an artist I follow releases a new song or album. The track or album will be listed on the home page, making it easy to access. From there I can click on the playlist and the ellipsis Add to your library.

This includes more obscure titles such as musical soundtracks. In fact, Spotify’s repository is so good that I’ve found complete soundtracks for a lot of relatively obscure, limited-run shows. This means that I can take those fun vibes with me after I leave the theater.

Take advantage of referrals

Spotify uses artificial intelligence to find songs and artists you listen to regularly and recommend other songs you might like. Sometimes it misses the mark, but overall it hits the right mark.

Of course, the great thing about it is that you discover new artists. Recently I have been listening to many French and Belgian singers based on my love for Angèle. But since I have her playlist, Spotify suggested songs from similar artists like Adé, Izïa and Madame Monsieur. When I lived in the UK I wouldn’t normally have heard any of these musicians. Thanks to Spotify, a new world of music has opened up to me.

If I bought songs on iTunes like I used to, they would cost at least 69 cents each. That will be added soon so I wouldn’t pay for music as an experiment but stick with what I know.

Listen to DJ Spotify

As a natural extension of these recommendations, I’m trying out my own DJ service. Or it should be my your own DJ? Because Spotify uses what it knows you like to create its own channel hosted by its Head of Cultural Partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan.

DJ Spotify is a generative AI. I have a problem with AI in general and the platform uses it a lot. Fortunately, it’s not really being used in a creative way: it’s not making music; it only serves you. If I don’t know what song or even genre I want to listen to, the DJ will do it for me.

It’s worth noting that it’s integrated into the app, but other services like Apple Music can be supplemented with apps like Radiant.

So what it all boils down to is deciding what you need from a music streamer. There’s a lot to consider, so to get the best value, note your priorities and focus on the platform. Spotify was the solution for me.