Spotify is Finally Coming to America via Shazam

[Wiley John Wright]

Spotify has been trying to break into the US for some time now, but they have continually had difficulties obtaining the necessary licenses to do so from the music industry. Now it seems that Spotify has found a way into the US by teaming with music discovery app developer, Shazam. Currently, Shazam Encore ($5.99) users can access Spotify, by using the new “Play in Spotify” feature. These features will also be available in the free version of Shazam by the end of the first quarter of this year.

Spotify made a name for itself by offering people free streaming music with a slick user interface rivaling that of Apple’s iTunes. Last year Spotify missed several self-imposed deadlines in bringing the service to the US, but at long last, Spotify is finally coming to the America. Just not quite in the way that we expected.

According to the Spotify blog, “Integrating Spotify into Shazam’s applications combines music discovery with one of the world’s most popular music streaming services, providing a seamless experience for music fans at the point of inspiration in any location,” says Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam. “Spotify is delivering an innovative, high quality experience to music lovers and we’re excited to bring the Spotify service to Shazam.”

With music still being downloaded illegally across the globe, Spotify touts itself as an alternative to music piracy. Apple’s iTunes is the largest online music retailer in the world, but so far they have not been able to offer music lovers a subscription service as of yet. With Spotify teaming with Shazam, people now have another option to listening to music legally without having to pay for each and every track. Hopefully, Shazam and Spotify will be able to avoid some of the troubles other music streaming services such as Grooveshark have had to endure. After being banished from the App Store last year, Grooveshark finally had to release its app in the Cydia store instead. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.

Update: Unfortunately, Spotify is only being added to Shazam in a few select countries, not including the US. "‘Play in Spotify’ integrates with the Spotify Premium App in the UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Spain and the Netherlands."

Source: 9to5 Mac

[GellBrake'rrrr]

Shazam is one of the best music apps out. There's nothing better than being in your car listening to the radio, then hearing a song that you love and wondering "what is the name of this song"?, and then..... Pow!!!!! Here comes my phone with all the answers! + a video from YouTube if wanted.

Shazam is one of my favorite apps! Can't fathom how they could make it any better than it already is.

[HANO009]

Im so sorry to say this but i live in sweden and turns out that when you press the button ¨play in spotify¨ it just redirects you to the track inside of the spotify app witch is not available in america and wont be for some time. :/

sorry.

// Hano

[1shuttle1]

This will never fly with Apple. Why do you think iTunes is the first choice after you Shazam song? I'm sure that was their biggest selling point. Now you can listen to that same song for free. I don't think so.

[h2a]

I think the writer got a little too excited and may want to check his information.

[ihappy]

I think the writer got a little too excited and may want to check his information.

I agree. I see no Spotify button on my Shazam Encore

[soulthoughts]

If only I used shazam. I prefer sound hound.

[cellmate75]

If only I used shazam. I prefer sound hound.

+1

[billchase2]

I stopped using Shazam when my unlimited service automatically switched to the 5 a month plan after upgrading to the iPhone 4. Sound Hound for me...

[thetoothfairy]

^ Stitched from Shazam to Sound Hound as well.

[ihaveabu]

so the agreement is that people can't pick and choose what they want to hear. the only way to listen using spotify is to have heard the song somewhere else first (radio, etc)

lolllllll

[StealthBravo]

I cant wait for Spotify to hit the US but I doubt its happening this way

[CaptainChaos]

I, too, use sound hound. I tag the song in Soundhound and then use SimplePlayer to find it and listen to it. Shazaam headed in the wrong direction for me.

[StealthBravo]

I am more of a Soundhound person myself too

[iPhoenix3g]

I use Spotify in the uk, and honestly it's not that great .. :/

[StealthBravo]

I really enjoy rdio. I wonder how they compare

[CaptainChaos]

Have you tried SimplePlayer?

[StealthBravo]

No I havent

[CaptainChaos]

I'm not quite sure how it is legal, but you type in an artist, it scans the web creating a playlist, and then you stream it.

[StealthBravo]

Ill look into it