A few days ago, I had been reading an article on the JMC Academy website titled: How Technology has Changed Music Production. The article got me thinking. Music has evolved a lot with technology. We are well into the 21st century, and as most of us already know, today's music is much more than just entertainment. To many, it is a passion -- a way of life. Needless to say, when people begin to invest so much time and resources on something, it gains a lot of importance in the eyes of businessmen. App developers are no different. With over 3 million applications available for download on the Google Play Store, there is an app for almost everything. In all this clutter, it can be really difficult to find the right application to help soothe all your musical needs. To help ease this dilemma, I present you with the three most popular apps of 2016 that every music lover needs to have.
Google Play Music
With over 35 million tracks available for download as of 2016, Google Play Music is arguably one of the largest and most popular apps this year. Available only to Android and iOS users, this app is completely free to use (with advertisements), although a pro subscription will probably put you in a better position than most. Stream music online and save your favorite tracks to cloud on this modern app that features a sleek and robust application design, not unlike most apps from Google. Of course, there is a small catch: you may not download music to play offline.
Shazam
Every music lover eventually comes to a point when they just can't remember the name of that beautiful song that just stuck into their head and has been playing repeatedly in their mind ever since. Shazam makes it possible for audiophiles to instantly detect songs and television shows playing around them, providing them with options to conveniently purchase and stream said music once detected. It is available for Android, iOS and Windows devices for free.
Spotify
Yet another highly popular application available to music enthusiasts on mobile and desktop platforms, Spotify offers an easy and convenient means to stream thousands of tracks online or download them to your hard drive for offline listening. The free version is limited and ad-supported, while the fully-featured pro version comes at $10 a month. It is available on Android, iOS and Windows devices.
Of course, this is merely scratching the surface when it comes to choosing between hundreds and thousands of highly competitive apps struggling for the attention of potential end-users. Which app is your favorite? Don't forget to comment!