I just thought I’d write a post on a web service and app that I’ve been using quite a bit lately. Songza is a music service that Jen introduced me to about a month ago. I started with the app on my phone, but have been using the web service at Songza.com more lately.
Songza is a streaming service that doesn’t let you pick individual songs, instead it lets you pick from playlists that have been “handmade by an expert team of music critics, DJs, musicians, and musicologists.” There seem to be hundreds of playlists encompassing almost every genre and most sub-genres within those. Songza is an excellent way to discover new music that you may never have been exposed to otherwise. Playlists are mostly organized by genre or mood. For example, right now I am listening to Harvest Moon, which is described as the “perfect soundtrack of warm, acoustic songs handpicked for enjoying crisp autumn air, fall foliage, and hot apple cider.” It is as advertised.
The most interesting feature of this service is the Music Concierge button. If you click on this button, you are asked if you want to find the perfect music for the time of day it is (e.g., Monday Afternoon) or you can choose your own day and time. When you press go, you are presented with several options to choose from.
When you pick what type of activity you want your music for you will get a further option of several genre/mood options to fit your choice.
Choose again and you get a list of three playlists to choose from. If none of these appeal to you, you can go back a screen and try another option.
Of course, you can just browse the lists of playlists that are most popular or all of them. I have been pretty pleased with the music I have been listening to via Songza. I find that I use this service more than I listen to my own music taking up GB of space on my hard drive.
I do have questions as to how this service will be monetized. Will they eventually charge a monthly fee like Rdio, or will users be subjected to commercials? It will be interesting to see. Personally, I would probably pay a fee for this service. For those of you who know me, I’m pretty frugal, so this is a ringing endorsement.
Finally, I also use the CBC Music Service, but I find that more useful if I already know exactly what I want to listen too. I feel much more adventurous on Songza.
I hope you’ll go give it a try.
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