As a musician, Dave Ruch was hesitant to sign up for a music-streaming service such as Apple Music or Spotify because of their reputations for not giving musicians a fair share of the profits.
“I’ve seen how it’s affected other musicians in terms of revenue,” says Ruch, who works as a musician and teaching artist in Buffalo, New York. “I just kind of didn’t want to do it for a while.”
But as revenue models have improved for musicians in Ruch’s eyes and streaming has become standard for music-listening, he decided that it was time to get on board. About nine months ago, Ruch started a $9.99 monthly subscription for Spotify, and he hasn’t looked back. “It’s a pretty great thing for the consumer of music,” he says.
Online music streaming, which allows listeners to play millions of songs over the internet, has replaced cassette tapes and CDs. Music aficionados can choose from a range of streaming options, including Amazon’s Prime Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, Pandora, Tidal and more.
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So, which service is the best for you? And how can you save money on monthly subscription fees? Here’s what to know.
Take advantage of free trials. Find the best music-streaming service for you by testing out a few options. Many of the platforms offer free trials for curious users who aren’t ready to sign on for a monthly subscription. If you’re questioning which service is right for your listening style, take a few months to sample different sites and find the best fit.
Just remember that if a trial asks for your credit card information, and you don’t want to continue past the free trial, then cancel your subscription before payments start. After canceling, check your credit card statement for any unauthorized charges.
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Use free listening services. If adding another monthly bill to your budget is out of the question, some streaming services, such as Spotify and Pandora, offer totally free versions that support their music with advertisements.
Keep in mind that free services may offer a lower-quality listening experience, weighed down by pesky ads and limited song selection. Be prepared for the trade-off.
Think about your data. While free versions are, yes, free, many don’t allow for offline music streaming. If your cellphone plan limits data usage, keep in mind that paid subscription services that allow you to download music may save you a pricey, over-limit cellphone bill down the road.
Try a family plan. If you’re sharing a plan with your children, spouse or siblings, then a family plan can save you money. Many of these plans cost $14.99 per month — more than a traditional plan — but allow individual family members to maintain their own profiles and build separate playlists on a shared account.
For Christine Gallup, a mother of two teenagers in San Diego, paying for a family plan has had some unexpected cost benefits. Gallup and her husband were debating whether to employ the regular services of a maid or sign onto Spotify Premium’s family plan. Their solution: Having their teens pitch in on the housework in exchange for the upgraded account. She doesn’t regret the decision to pay at all. Spotify is as crucial to her family’s routine as Netflix is, Gallup says. “It’s something that we couldn’t do without.”
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Use student membership. Cash-strapped students can save money on several of these subscription services, including Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal, with special student discount services. For example, the student discount service on Spotify is available to users at accredited colleges and universities. The discounted service lasts for 12 months and requires verification of student enrollment through a third-party service.
Below is the breakdown for several popular music-streaming services, including the prices for their various services and offerings. Prices are correct as of publication date.
| Music-streaming service | Free options? | Monthly Subscription Fees | Family Plan | Student Plan |
| Amazon Prime Music | Included with Amazon Prime | Amazon Prime: $99/year | N/A | N/A |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | 30-day trial |
Prime members: $7.99/month, $79/year Non-Prime members: $9.99/month |
Prime members: $14.99/month or $149/year Up to six family members |
N/A |
| Apple Music | 3-month trial | $9.99/month | $14.99/month | $4.99/month |
| Google Play Music | 30-day trial | $9.99/month | $14.99/month | N/A |
| Pandora | Free version |
Pandora Plus: $4.99/month Pandora Premium: $9.99/month |
N/A | N/A |
| Slacker Radio | Free version |
Slacker Radio Plus: $3.99/month Slacker Premium Radio: $9.99/month |
N/A | N/A |
| Spotify | Free version | Spotify Premium: $9.99/month | $14.99/month | $4.99/month |
| Tidal | 30-day trial |
Tidal Premium: $9.99/month Tidal HiFi: $19.99/month |
Tidal Premium: $14.99/month Tidal HiFi: $29.99/month |
Tidal Premium: $4.99/month Tidal HiFi: $9.99/month |
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Save Money on Music-Streaming Services originally appeared on usnews.com
