How to Use Your Smartwatch for Live Music Streaming Services

The Best Music Streaming Services to Get Your Groove On

Spotify has the best music discovery algorithms and the slickest, snappiest user interface. It led me down rabbit holes to find new artists and old favorites, based on what Ive already liked and listened to on the app.

The free tier, with advertisements, defaults to a low-quality 96-Kbps streaming bit rate, but you can bump that up to 160 Kbps. For $10 a month, the Premium tier ditches ads entirely and streams up to 320 Kbps, which is the standard streaming quality these days. If youre looking for lossless, a Spotify HiFi tier is on its way, according to the company, but theres still no launch date, even two years after it was announced.

There are now more than 100 million tracks on Spotify. That is minus the catalogs of Neil Young, (some of) Joni Mitchell, and others who requested that Spotify remove their songs to protest Spotify podcaster Joe Rogans chronic spreading of Covid misinformation.

Spotify lets you add an unlimited number of songs to your personal library, and you can put up to 10,000 in each playlist. If you turn on social sharing, you can see what your friends have been listening to and create sessions wherein a group simultaneously streams a playlist. Theres an option on each Artist page to listen to only the songs of theirs youve liked, which is a very welcome change from previous years.

The way Spotify groups albums, compilations, and singles in one locationwith an option to separate themis much smoother and more convenient than the old setup, which forced you to view them all separately, all of the time. Playlists and albums get their own shuffle buttons, which is a nice touch that lets you know when youre on shuffle and when youre listening to everything in order.

Senior writer Lauren Goode also has more tips for getting the most out of Spotify.

MakeUseOf

Since so many people work and play online, it's no surprise that live music has made the jump to digital as well. Live music shows now stream through various sites and apps that you can access from anywhere.

Some sites feel like a virtual replacement of the real experience, requiring you to purchase a ticket for a one-time-only live streaming concert. Other shows are rewatchable after the event itself ends.

Let's take a look at some of the ways to watch live concerts online and what to expect from them.

LiveXLive is a music streaming platform that sells tickets to live music events. The genre variety on offer is quite wide, so you're sure to find something you like. The app streams live concerts from artists across genres and languages, featuring star power like Pitbull and Wonho.

Ticket prices vary, much like they would at any music venue. They include VIP options with perks like access to video playback for a limited time, merchandise, and virtual meet and greets with performers.

Download: LiveXLive for Android | iOS | Roku | Samsung Smart TVs (Free, in-app purchases available)

StageIt offers live music concert viewings that are not recorded or replayed anywhere else after the show. This site started as a place where smaller artists could share their music; it has now grown to feature more famous musicians looking to connect with fans virtually.

Each show requires a ticket purchase or donation. Prices are set by the artist and can be as low as a few dollars, or even use a "pay what you can" model. The web platform allows fans to interact with each other and the performers during the show. It also encourages viewers to tip musicians directly during the show.

In all, StageIt is an excellent outlet to keep supporting musicians, even if you can't see them live.

Initially geared up for the gaming world, this live-streaming platform now caters to musicians and music lovers, with 3.7 million people following music-focused channels.

In addition to thousands of self-streaming independent artists, Twitch now hosts live music festivals. This was its first big move within the music industry.

Beyond that, it's a great place to explore all sorts of spots that stream content. Find someone playing a neat instrument, or discover a new favorite indie band. You can join in via paid subscriptions and donations, or watch for free.

Download: Twitch for Android | iOS | macOS | Windows (Free, in-app purchases available)

This marketing platform for sports and entertainment has also explored live streaming music concerts. The site now offers access to a hefty library of virtual live music shows featuring music for all with affordable ticket prices.

Some shows offer you free access through credit card perks and other loopholes. But for most people, prices are set at $10-15 per ticket. This isn't a bad deal for enjoying a live concert from your living room with singers like Alicia Keys.

Download: AXS for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

YouTube is a medium for everything from huge streaming festivals like Coachella to smaller independent concerts. It only feels natural for musicians and music channels to connect directly with their subscribers live on YouTube more often.

YouTube has featured self-taped live shows from Questlove, David Guetta, and The Dropkick Murphys, among many others.

YouTube is a great place to stay on the lookout for the next live music session. It's simple to use and accessible pretty much anywhere. Following up on music news and subscribing to artist accounts makes saving the date for their next private music session easy.

Download: YouTube for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

Regardless of how much you still use Facebook, live streams are alive and well on the platform thanks to Facebook Live. Facebook dominates the social world when it comes to artists and publications streaming live music concerts.

Related: How to Watch Facebook Live

A perk of watching concerts live on Facebook is that you can often find festivals hosted by organizations that feature several artists in one sitting. The interface allows for live interactions, which is vital for creating an audience-driven experience, even if it's virtual.

It also allows for local and mainstream music events to share the same stage. You can watch your favorite hometown musicians or big festivals with A-listers from pretty much any screen. For example, one of the live shows featured on Facebook was Stronger Than You Think, featuring Kelly Osbourne and Adam Lambert.

Download: Facebook for Android | iOS (Free)

Spur-of-the-moment notifications about concerts on Instagram Live can leave you with the feeling of getting to attend an exclusive mini-concert. Nowadays, though, artists announce and promote these ahead of time, so they're tougher to miss out on.

A-listers like HER, Katy Perry, and 21 Savage are taking to the small camera icon to share concerts from their living rooms and studios. The best way to avoid missing music shows you want to watch is to follow individual pages to keep up with their virtual tour dates.

Download: Instagram for Android | iOS (Free)

Event retailers and labels have turned to Twitter Live for music sessions featuring different artists and music events. Independent artists and DJs have also popularized Twitter for live streaming their sessions.

A benefit of using Twitter Live is that anyone from Periscope can join and comment on your live session. If you are looking for live music streams, some good accounts to follow are @LiveNation and @MTV.

Download: Twitter for Android | iOS (Free)

Periscope has been around on iOS and Android for some time. It's essentially the same as Twitter Live, but lives on a different app.

The app has hosted over 200 million broadcasts, so you're sure to find some concerts among them.

Larger brands will most likely go to Twitter when streaming to tap into their following. But it's good to know that if you're not on Twitter, you can watch from Periscope to enjoy any music concert happening on Twitter, and vice-versa.

Download: Periscope for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

Save the Date and Enjoy Concerts Online

Thanks to these apps and sites, it's easier than ever to stream live concerts online. And both artists and fans have benefitted from this option. So why not head online, explore your options, and find the right platform for your personal music tastes.

And don't forget that concerts aren't the only type of live content available online.

Best UK music streaming services to try in 2024

But fear not! The team at RadioTimes.com have gathered together some of the top music streaming services available in 2024 and put together a handy guide to help you choose the best one for you and your listening needs.

Weve looked into the features, pros, cons and pricing plans for each service to bring you all the nitty gritty details you need to know, and also included some top tips on how to choose from the ones dominating the market, from checking audio quality to ensuring device compatibility.

So, what are you waiting for? Read on for the full low-down and get listening to your favourite tunes.

More like this

For direct comparisons on music streaming services, check out some of our RadioTimes.com informative pieces such as Amazon Music vs Spotify and Apple Music vs Spotify.

Best UK music streaming service to try at a glance:

These are the major UK music streaming services available at the moment:

How to choose the best music streaming service for you

Before signing up to a music streaming service, there are several things to consider to help you choose which is best for you. We've covered some of them below.

To start with, think about its purpose and what you need from it. Are you looking for top-quality audio for a fully immersive listening experience? A vast selection of content, including music, videos and podcasts? The option to download tracks to listen offline when you dont have WiFi or data? All streaming services may seem very similar - and they mostly are - but when looking into exactly what they offer, you will notice their slight differences, whether it be content, features or capabilities.

Check out the features included in a music streaming service. Do they provide curated playlists, options to discover new tracks and ways to personalise your account? And do they have a large enough content catalogue, with the artists and genres of music you like available?

Audio quality

In terms of audio quality, its important to look at any special technology a streaming service includes to enhance the overall listening sound, and also make sure you check the service is compatible with your various devices. Look for features including lossless audio, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and tracks in HD and Ultra HD to bring you a fully immersive high-quality listening experience. You may have to upgrade to a premium package for this.

Podcasts vs music: what do you want to listen to?

Are you using your streaming service for music, podcasts, or both? Some platforms offer the whole package, but others require another separate subscription for podcasts. It's important to consider the catalogue of content each platform offers - for example big hitter Spotify has over 100 million tracks, five million podcasts and 350,00 audiobooks. Figure out what you will be using the service for as a starting point.

What is free and what is a paid-for extra?

And dont forget to take your budget into account. How much cash are you willing to splash each month on a subscription? Most streaming services offer a selection of different plans, which have varying prices. Some services provide a free basic subscription to help save your pennies, and some have duo or family packages with discounted prices. There are often also student subscriptions for those eligible.

Most music streaming services offer a free trial so you can try it out before locking in the monthly payments. This is a great way to test out which one works best for you.

If you're on a long journey and don't fancy listening to music the entire time, you might find our 'can I watch Disney Plus offline' guide helpful.

Best UK music streaming service to try in 2024

Spotify

The music giant

Pros:

• A vast library of music, podcasts, and audiobooks
• Different subscription tiers, including a free plan and a family plan
• Intuitive curated playlists, personalised to you
• Options to discover new music
• Available to stream across many devices
• Offline listening with offline downloads
• High-quality audio with Premium
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Adverts and limited skips on the Free plan
• The premium plan can be considered expensive
• No lossless audio

Since its launch in 2008, Spotify has kept music fans on the pulse with its content and today is considered the biggest music streaming service in the world. It has more than 551 million users (and counting) and its library overflows with more than 100 million tracks, five million podcasts, and 350,00 audiobooks for listeners to tune into.

Theres no wonder why its the most popular source for music - Spotify is easy to use on most devices such as your smartphone, laptop and tablet, and will provide you with the ultimate soundtrack wherever you are, whether at home or on the go. You can use it as a web player or in-app, and blast tunes through your speakers, TVs, smartwatches and even cars.

It offers several different streaming plans, from a free basic subscription to a premium or family one. For the entry-level subscription, you pay zero pounds. The drawback? The audio quality isnt quite up to scratch and youll be annoyingly interrupted with adverts every three songs. You also only have the option to skip six times in one hour, but can you turn your nose up to saving your cash?

Alternatively, for a better listening experience and for 10.99 per month, Spotify Premium has got music fans and podcast enthusiasts covered. Premium users can listen ad-free, with unlimited skipping, plus have the ability to download music to their own library. They can also view lyrics to sing along to their favourite tunes.

Premiums unique features include Discover Weekly which updates every Monday with new tracks recommended for you and your music taste, and Spotify Mixes, creating playlists based on the artists, genres and the era of music you regularly listen to. Theres also the all-new Spotify DJ, an AI-driven assistant that launched in the UK earlier this year, which will act as your personal DJ. It recognises your listening habits and recommends new tracks and artists, as well as your-old school favourites, based on them. And at the end of each year, Spotify Wrapped will round up your most-played songs, artists and playlists so you can compare them with all your friends.

You can sign up for Spotify Premiums Individual Plan, or there are several other options starring Premiums features. Spotify Family comes in at 17.99 per month, which means the whole gang can listen to their favourite tunes as it covers up to six premium accounts under one subscription. Parents can also block explicit content from kids, which is useful. For 5.99 per month, you can get a Student subscription subject to eligibility, or for 14.99 theres Spotify Duo, offering music for two under the same roof.

Want to try before you buy? New subscribers can sign up now and get three months totally free. Offer ends on 31st December 2023.

Sign up to Spotify Premium, from 10.99 per month

Start your three-month free trial of Spotify Premium now

Apple Music

3-D quality audio

Pros:

• Extensive music library
• One month free trial
• High-quality audio, with lossless and spatial audio
• Easy access for Apple users and compatibility with other devices
• Curated playlists and access to live radio stations 24/7
• Variety of plans, including a student and family one
• Option dedicated to classical music

Cons:

• Podcasts in a separate app
• No free subscription tier
• Pricing can be considered expensive

Apple Music takes another top spot when it comes to streaming music. Since 2015, it has been providing users with ad-free, high-quality music at their fingertips, and now boasts more than 100 million songs and over 30,000 playlists to browse through and tune into.

You can listen to every chart-topper, oldie track and quirky tune on all your Apple devices, from your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch to your Apple TV 4K, Mac or HomePod speakers. Its also available online at music.apple.com or on Android and Windows devices, smart TVs, Amazon Echo and more.

Apple Music doesn't offer a free entry-level subscription, but starts at 5.99 for a Student plan, then there's the 10.99 Individual package; and the 16.99 Family plan. Apple Music used to have a 4.99 per month option with its Music Voice plan, allowing you to access music only through Siri when connected to Wi-Fi. This plan was discontinued from Wednesday 1st November 2023.

You can also sign up to Apple One for a bundle subscription with up to five Apple services including Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+ and more. And there's a one-month free trail to test it out before committing for new subscribers.

With these Apple Music plans, you can expect a high-quality listening experience thanks to its lossless audio which preserves the resolution of songs, as well as Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, an audio technology that brings three-dimensional sound all around you for the ultimate music immersion. They also come with the companion app Apple Music Classical, offering an entire library dedicated to classical numbers including tracks from the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Johannes Brahms and Emanuel Bach. This classical music service comes at no extra cost for Apple Music subscribers.

Every track on Apple Music can be downloaded to play offline, and most show off one of Apples newest features Apple Music Sing - the option to play a song and see its lyrics in real-time for all the hard-hitting karaoke fans. As well as curated playlists personalised to your music taste, you can also tune into live radio, including Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Country to keep you on your toes with new discoveries.

Thanks to its iCloud Music Library, you can download and play tunes from Apple Music, across all your devices when logged in with the same Apple ID. You can also get up to six months free of Apple Music when you purchase an eligible Apple audio device.

Sign up to Apple Music, from 5.99 per month

Start your one month free trial of Apple Music now

Amazon Music

Alexa, play As It Was by Harry Styles

Pros:

• Multiple plans and options, including a free tier and family and student options
• Easy for Prime users
• High-quality audio with HD, Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio
• Compatible across most devices
• Alexa integration

Cons:

• Audiobooks in separate service
• The free plan has drawbacks including ads
• Additional costs to plans

Amazon Music has been kicking around since 2007, with several plans and options to sign up to for on-the-beat, on-demand music wherever you go.

Lets start with Amazon Music - the basic subscription service which costs absolutely nothing (you heard it right, thats a music service for free). Amazon Music Free provides access to a whole range of songs, playlists, and podcasts based on your likes, available on Android and iOS devices. However, you can only play these in shuffle mode, so theres no skipping to your favourite tune.

Next up is Amazon Music Prime - this is included with Amazon Prime at no extra cost, providing Prime members with uninterrupted, ad-free listening. Users can choose between podcasts and music, with an impressive catalogue of 100 million songs, and download them to listen offline if desired. Amazon Music Prime can be streamed on all Amazon Music-supported devices.

And finally, saving the best for last, is Amazon Music Unlimited - the top-notch premium option. No Prime membership is needed for this service and an Individual plan comes in at 10.99 per month. You can also sign up for a Family plan for 16.99 per month, which is great value for the whole gang, allowing you to stream on up to six devices at once. Theres also a Student plan for a discounted 5.99, subject to being enrolled at an accredited college or university.

Amazon Music Unlimited spoils users with a vast catalogue of content, from hot-in-the-news up-and-coming tracks to personalised playlists, all with unlimited skips and with the ability to listen offline. Millions of tracks are in HD and Ultra HD with lossless audio and also come in Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio for a super high-quality listening experience, with three-dimensional sound like never before.

All music can be played through the Amazon Music app, or on iOS and Android devices, as well as Fire TV, smart TVs and speakers, and hands-free with Alexa. Amazon Music plans do have access to podcasts, but they have a separate streaming service called Audible for audiobooks.

Amazon Music Unlimited are currently running a pretty spectacular offer, giving you three months of the streaming service for just 1. Yes, that's right; 1.

But you better act fast as this offer is only valid from 20th February until 27th February. Please note that a free trial won't be available throughout the duration of this offer.

Sign up to Amazon Music Unlimited, from 10.99 per month

Start your three-month free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited now

Tidal

For superbly high-quality sound

Pros:

• High-fidelity sound
• HD video quality
• Artist ownership and support
• Personalised curations
• Live sessions

Cons:

• Higher price points
• No free subscription
• No podcasts

A global music streaming service which launched in 2014, Tidal brings music fans and artists closer together with its forward-thinking and inclusive platform. The company is partly artist-owned with todays artist owners including Beyonc, Calvin Harris, Chris Martin and Jay-Z, and is the first streaming service with high-fidelity sound and high-definition video quality.

Tidal has two main subscription plans: HiFi and HiFi Plus. Both provide access to more than 100 million songs and 650 thousand videos. Its all ad-free, with unlimited skips and you can download content to play offline. The big difference between plans is the sound quality, and therefore the price to reflect it - HiFi provides high sound quality and costs 10.99 per month, while HiFi Plus tops it with maximum sound quality, coming in at 19.99. The streaming service also offers a Family plan for 16.99 per month - thats up to six accounts under one account and with child-friendly, clean content available.

Tidal can be used on all devices, whether your laptop, tablet, smart TV or phone (Android and iOS) and has several stand-out features worth noting. It has personalised curations of songs and videos for a unique experience, and features Artist Radio to discover new music so youre always on the pulse. It uses lossless audio, Dolby Atmos Music and Sony 360 Reality Audio across its content for immersive listening with unlimited streaming wherever you are.

A more recent addition, Tidal Credits, has been brought into the platform to shine a light on the unsung heroes behind every track. Everyone involved is credited, from the songwriters and producers to the sound engineers and backing singers and more. Theres also a LIVE option on Tidal, to join live sessions from your favourite DJs, celebrities and musicians. And time-synced lyrics on the screen means you can have your very own karaoke nights.

Sign up to Tidal, from 10.99 per month

Start your 30-day free trial of Tidal now

Deezer

Your soundtrack, your way

Pros:

• Vast music and podcast library with radio channels
• Free tier availability as well as family and student plans
• Premium audio quality with high-fidelity sound
• Offline listening available
• Personalised experience
• Streaming is compatible across all devices

Cons:

• Pricey subscription costs
• The free plan includes adverts

Launched in 2007 and originally only available in France, Deezer quickly became a worldwide streaming service to offer more than 90 million songs, playlists, podcasts and radio channels to avid music fans.

Start by trying Free Deezer - thats right, its totally free with no payment required. This plan offers access to a huge amount of audio content, but the catch? There are ads. Upgrade to a Premium subscription for 11.99 per month and enjoy uninterrupted music, available to stream across all devices and you can also download your library and listen offline. Students can get 50 per cent off Premium, for 5.99 per month to keep in line with their budgeting, and families can opt for a Family plan, at 19.99 per month. This includes all the premium benefits across six individual accounts, and the ability to listen simultaneously on different devices.

Simply download the Deezer app onto your smartphone, tablet or desktop and get stuck in with all its benefits. All paying subscribers will experience high-fidelity sound and lossless audio, making it feel as if youre in the recording studio. Check out the feature Flow, which uses AI to serve up a mix of your favourite songs as well as new tracks based on your mood, whether thats chill, party, or focus. Use SongCatcher to identify surrounding music or ones youve got stuck in your head - either by humming, whistling or singing, and adding it to your favourites. Theres also a games section to play music quizzes and the option to sing along with lyrics on your screen.

Sign up to Deezer, from 11.99 per month

Start your one-month free trial of Deezer now

Qobuz

Elevate your music experience

Pros:

• Hi-Res audio
• Diverse and large music library
• Curated playlists
• Extra features including magazine and reviews
• Discounted purchases with a Sublime subscription
• Selection of plans including Family

Cons:

• Higher costs for subscriptions
• Smaller user base

Launched in France in 2007, Qobuz only made it over to the UK in 2013 but has been moving up in the music-streaming world ever since. Featuring 100 million tracks, from top new hits to old-school favourites to more niche genres, the content is available to stream and download.

Its USP? Qobuz uses Hi-Res, CD-quality streaming for the ultimate authentic listening experience. It is compatible with Windows, iOS and Android devices and has numerous stand-out features to keep music fans constantly discovering new tracks. For example every Friday, MyWeekly Q shares curated playlists and suggested tracks tailored to your listening habits. Each week it also published interactive articles, exclusive content and playlists to expand your music knowledge.

The plans? Choose between Qobuz Studio (12.99 per month, or 10.83 per month if you sign up for a years subscription) and Qobuz Sublime (17.99 per month, or 15 per month on an annual subscription). Both offer studio-quality streaming on the vast selection of tracks, with the option to listen in offline mode if not connected to the internet. For slightly more each month, Sublime membership further supplies access to the entire catalogue of Hi-Res and CD-quality albums, all available to stream and download, and purchase exclusively for up to 60 per cent off.

For up to six accounts under one subscription, theres also a Family membership coming in at 17.99 per month, where each account can create their own playlists and curated favourites. And theres also a Duo subscription option, for two accounts at 14.99 per month.

Qobuz is not just a music streaming and downloading platform, but also has Qobuz magazine to spotlight emerging artists, comment on new releases and provide Hi-Fi product reviews.

Sign up to Qobuz, from 12.99 per month

Start your one-month free trial of Qobuz now

If youre looking for top-quality devices to play your music through, check out our useful guides to the best smart speakers and the best DAB radios. And if youre looking for a TV-watching platform, dont miss our guide on the best UK streaming services.