Spotify: I’ve been using Spotify quite a bit while traveling and working in Europe, so I am happy to see it finally launched in the US. Initially Spotify was free and unlimited, with occasional commercial interruption. Recently, the service added a new monthly fee to access the same unlimited music, but it is worth it. The main advantage to Spotify is that you can listen to what you want when you want. If you have the app you can even listen offline. There is also a radio function, new music suggestions, and I can see what my friends are listening to. But sometimes I still have a hard time finding new music I like. Usually I just stick to what I know I like. Another disadvantage is its link to Facebook. I don’t like everything linking to Facebook, and I don’t want everyone to always see what I am listening to, but overall Spotify is my go to music listening program.

Pandora: This service still only works in the US, but that is pretty much the only real downside I can find with Pandora. The main perk is that it is still free, and that it can help you find new artists that are similar in style to your favorites. I guess it can be seen as a negative that you cannot choose what song you want to listen to when, but sometimes I enjoy the mixtape surprise nature of Pandora more than my playlists.

Grooveshark: I used to use Grooveshark when online on my computer, until I learned that it didn’t pay artists despite the heavy advertising on the site. There is still no iPhone app for Grooveshark, which limits its usefulness for iPhone users, but if you are the owner of an android, then you are in luck. You can download the Grooveshark app and enjoy both building your own song lists and listening to the radio as well. The biggest positive is that Grooveshark is free. But since all of Grooveshark’s profits reportedly go to them and not to musicians, I have a hard time recommending this service. I’d rather pay $10 per month and know the artist is getting a few dimes, than listen to something free.

It can be confusing to make sense of the different music applications out there, but hopefully in the future we will end up with more versatile choices which are both musician and listener friendly.

Pandora, Shazam and iMusic are all great apps that can’t be ignored, if you like music.  Each of these is unique and allows for you to enjoy the experience that you always imagined.  For example, have you ever heard a song on the radio and wished you knew who sang it?  I have even called radio stations and walked through some of the lyrics or melody to try and figure it out.

Shazam is the answer to this dilemma.  When you hear a song playing on the radio or wherever you may be, start the program and hold up your phone.  The “Tag Now” feature listens to the song for about 10 seconds and then tells you the artist, song and album.  It is a great program and has known almost every song I tested it on.  I have had fun with people playing music who thought I would never guess who it was.  They would freak when they heard not only the artist but the album, too.

Once you know who is playing your tune, there must be a way to get that song.  iMusic is a great app for that.  Knowing the name of the artist or song, you can search all day.  Most of the songs are free, and you can download them right to your phone.  They are not able to be transferred from your phone, and that is why it is free.

Lastly, when I love an artist I want to hear similar music.  Pandora is the answer.  I can type a band and create a channel.  Pandora searches Internet radio stations for that artist or song and plays songs from artists in the same genre.

These music apps make you feel like you’re in the future.  The only thing better would be all three combined.

I have to admit I had Pandora Radio on my phone forever, but only recently had that ‘aha!’ moment, realizing its true potential.  My current music is getting played out, and I want some variety.  Instead of searching for new bands, Pandora Radio has you type in your favorite band (or whoever) and they will find a song playing on the Internet.  Then after that one is over, another song comes on by a similar band.  I already have found three new groups I love in less than a week!

TwitterFon is an awesome app to keep on top of all those great Tweeple that I follow.  One of my favorites is Rev Run from Run DMC.  Back to the app: you can scroll your friends’ messages, see who has re-tweeted your messages or stay current on your inbox with a flick of your finger.

Facebook has been an app since the iPhone came out, practically.  However, it used to be just so-so.  It was refurbished about a month ago, and the new version is awesome.  The layout is now like the iPhone itself where you can select the different menus like, “Friends, Profile, Newsfeed, etc.” very quickly and easily.  The program updates you every time there is a notification on your profile.

I can simply go to the “Notifications” page and see what posts or comments people have made to me.  It saves me so much finger scanning.  I actually used to log into my account through my PC to try to stay on top, but now my home computer is growing cobwebs.

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