"App" above the rest: Why the streaming service is the best option for listening

As the song goes, everyday we're shuffling.

In fact, people have long been enjoying the practice of admixing tunes and picking out the ones that please their tastes. Back in the 18th century, concert patrons in England were already treated to an assortment of musical compositions with varying intensity and rhythm. Over the years, the shuffle went from manual to digital, thanks to jukeboxes, radio jocks, the iPod, and most recently, the music streaming apps.

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Such services have become so phenomenal that half of the American population own at least one such shuffling app in their mobile devices. Such success can be attributed to the unique experience it offers.

Its major strength lies on the idea of the stream---that ceaseless flow of data that people can access thanks to the complex science of Big Data. On top of the almost endless catalog of songs (20 to 30 million based on available data), subscribers get well-curated recommendations based on their social media profiles, habits, and attitudes, making the listening experience far more personalized and more rewarding than any listening device ever produced.

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Another advantage is choice---an almost infinite wealth of it. Evan Eisenberg, in his 1987 book titled "The Recording Angel," describes how music, like any other commodity, is consumed in an age where cultural priorities and preferences are rapidly shifting from the communal to the individual. Self-expression is hinged on the freedom to choose from whatever brands (of music, in this regard) are available and to form a unique combination out of one's choices. Subscribing to a streaming service sustains the people's hunger for individuality: it's like going to a supermarket with tens of millions of songs to browse and listen to.

Thus, thanks to apps like Spotify, Pandora, and Station Digital, listeners can get to play, pause and skip songs without interference from disk jockeys and with minimal or no commercial interruption. And because sound quality is consistent regardless of weather and location, listeners never have to worry again about being interrupted by poor radio signal.

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Last but not least, streaming apps break geographical and cultural boundaries like no station or device ever did. They are available for smartphone and tablet users worldwide, while playlists carry an array of songs that cut across genres and boundaries. Thus, users of music streaming services from countries like India do not only get their fix of US Billboard-charting singles and local smash hits, they are also free to explore the best of music from foreign cultures for a more diverse bridging of worlds and tastes.

Aiming to give music lovers the best listening experience, Timothy Munro Roberts developed Station Digital to give unlimited access to the latest and greatest tracks. Visit this blog for more information on the music streaming industry.

Music apps revive the radio star: How apps make the idea of celestial jukebox happen

In the 1990s, it floated as a possible game-changing idea: At the time when record executives were fraught with fear that competition from television and other emerging mediums might hurt record sales and kill radio, which was the medium that used to drive the sales, the idea of a celestial jukebox was pitched.

 

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Stanford Professor Paul Goldstein coined the term to describe how technology would mean exciting times ahead for music: If video could really kill the radio star, then a new medium for playing songs would resurrect him. The celestial jukebox was envisioned to give listeners access to an almost limitless wealth of past and present songs that could be played right at their fingertips.

That dream is here now. In fact, it has been making baby steps since the early part of the 21st century. People saw the rise of portable devices and websites that allow for streaming and downloading music. What followed was the birth of tablets and smartphones marketed with the promise of better, faster interaction and connection with people. Record-fast Internet speeds and the development of mobile applications allow these gadgets to deliver such promise.

 

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A handful of these applications allow for playing music on demand. Downloadable for a small amount or even for free, in the case of some, these online, customizable stations allow listeners to play and pause their favorite songs and discover new ones. These apps also allow users to share their playlists with their friends, making listening to music a social activity like it used to be. Really, it's like a jukebox minus the nickel slot.

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It's no wonder about half of Americans are hooked into at least one of these music streaming apps on their mobile gadgets.

Headed by Timothy Munro Roberts, Station Digital allows music lovers access to their favorite songs, right at their fingertips. Visit this blog for more information.

Internet Radio and the New Station Digital

Internet radio has become a media force over the past decade and more providers are finding ways to entice users into steaming music. Standard models now include free services with the opportunity to upgrade to access better features, and many companies have seen success rise and bring more competition.

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The best internet radio sites provide stations that are grouped in similar ways to an actual radio; stations are themed to genre and common traits. The advantage to internet radio, however, is that sites can automatically create stations based on users' preferences. In addition, stations can be monitored by users to create a better musical profile and to ensure that the best music is played constantly. The majority of internet radio allow for the creation of custom stations based on artist similarities or song qualities that are mirrored in other tracks. 

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A new feature that has been debuted in Timothy Munro Roberts' Station Digital is the additional of a user rewards program for even the free users. The concept is simple: the more a user listens to tracks, the more rewards a user gets. Rewards can be applied in the site's online store for real merchandise, such as free downloads, physical products such as fan clothing, and more. The core service is similar to others in that users create, manage, and listen to stations and playlists at their leisure, but Timothy Munro Roberts and Station Digital still insist on keeping services free while providing real benefits to the customer. The site has amassed over 23 million songs very quickly, meaning that users have access to a huge library within moments of logging in.

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The trend of digital radio has attracted more companies over several years but the concepts have remained the same, but Station Digital has taken a new approach. For more information on Station Digital, visit the company's website and browse through what the service has to offer.