November 2024

people who know of Spotify know it as an easy, fun way to listen to your favorite music streaming over the Internet. Spotify lets you discover new music without having to download or purchase it first. You may not have known that Spotify is not only an excellent way to stream music, but it is also very capable of managing your own already downloaded digital music collection.

Getting Started

When you first download and install the Spotify desktop client for Windows or Mac OS, the program will prompt you to sync your existing music library with Spotify. This will take all the mp3s (or other music files) currently on your hard drive and import them into the Spotify library as well. If any of your tracks are already included in the Spotify catalog, Spotify will automatically link your track to the track in Spotify’s database, to allow for easier sharing of your favorite music. As Spotify cannot play protected content (such as tracks purchased from the iTunes store), the automatic linking feature will help you to enjoy even more of your library in Spotify. Thanks to a built in feature that uses the comprehensive music database Gracenote, Spotify can also clean up any incorrect tag information, or add missing information to your mp3 tags.

Up And Running

Once your initial sync is complete, you will be able to play your local music collection alongside any track from Spotify’s ever growing online music catalog. You will see an icon in the left-hand sidebar labeled “Local Files,” which is a shortcut that allows you to view all of your tracks by artist. Local files are also indicated in the main window by a small music note icon. You can create and share playlists that include both your music and the music Spotify has online.

Taking It With You

If you don’t want to remain chained to a desktop, Spotify gives you plenty of ways to listen to your local files on the go. Spotify is automatically set up to sync local files with any attached iPod Classic, Nano, Shuffle, or older model such as iPod Mini. In addition, the Spotify mobile app for iOS and Android devices allows you to wirelessly sync your local files to your portable device. If you do not have a Spotify premium subscription, the app on your mobile device will be limited to listening to only the local files you have synced. With a premium subscription, the app behaves much like Spotify on the desktop, allowing you to listen with the best of both worlds: unlimited streaming from Spotify’s growing library in the cloud, and your favorite music from your desktop.

Many of us have multiple gigabytes of music we have collected over the years from various sources. Spotify combines the best features of the new breed of “cloud jukebox” services with local music library management. If you are looking for an easy way to discover new music and keep listening to the favorites you have already downloaded, Spotify offers an excellent all in one solution.

As Facebook is rightfully the largest social outlet, it was only a matter of time before a company answered the demand for music. YouTube is great, but depending what part of the world some are in, the user-generated names for their videos could prevent a person from accessing them. For instance, Canadians are not able to view many harmless videos due to the internet restriction laws. Picking up the slack, Spotify is fast becoming the only place Facebook users go for music.

Setting up Spotify on Facebook is easily done through the Facebook play button or going to the Spotify homepage. After selecting a username and password, a prompt to download and install will pop up. Upon the next login to Facebook, Spotify would then show up on the left. It is that simple.

Offering over 15 million tracks, Spotify has free options as well as those with a monthly fee. Their free service has all tracks available, but interrupted occasionally with ads. The next option is the unlimited plan, allowing ad-free enjoyment, and unlimited streaming of all music. A premium plan has added benefits of an offline mode, and the ability to use on any mobile device.

• A personalized, real-time ticker shows all the music friends are listening to, each having an option to play them with one click.
• Streamlined dashboard allows even the novice to operate the player with confidence.
• Filtered search functionality shows every possible result. This is a great option for those songs where a person can only remember the chorus.
• Easy collaboration of all playlists. Create and share personalized lists that fit an entire group of friends or family. Also gives an option to see who is following a playlist.
• Spotify Inbox. With the Spotify message system, friends can send or suggest songs to listen to, and then easily add to an existing list, or simply create a new one.
• Rediscover forgotten favorites. Within Spotify’s expansive library, carefree days of youth come to life again. This includes long forgotten songs from the very beginning, as well as new releases. There is virtually nothing one cannot find on Spotify.

In addition to the features right on the dashboard, Spotify also has community forums on the official site. These forums cover everything, including Linux, Mac, and Windows operating system help, mobile support, partner devices Sonos and Squeeze box, as well as suggestion and feedback forums, and those discussing the latest music track additions.

Anything a person could possibly want out of an application and its associated community is available with just a few clicks. Spotify takes the idea of evolution to all new heights.

Music is a way to express everything. It can relay political views or stories of love. Music can convey feelings of sadness. Music even compliments the scenery. Whatever reason for seeking out music, it is a worldwide language for all to interpret, as each understands within. The people behind the scenes at Spotify know this all too well. They have gone to great lengths to ensure everyone has ready access to it.

Spotify is a new music sharing site sweeping the Internet. This innovative website uses the music in your library and in Spotify’s music library to make a collection. Whether you are on your mobile phone, a computer or your home audio system, Spotify makes your music syncing easy and efficient. Even more enticing are the myriad of options available through Spotify Social. Connect with your friends and create the ultimate music experience.

Creating Your Profile

On Spotify Social, users can create a profile page and sync it with their Facebook profile. All of the user’s Facebook friends who use Spotify will automatically be added. Once you have a profile page, you can enhance it by adding your name, profile picture and playlists. These playlists can be developed using Spotify’s collection of music or updated using your own personal library. Once uploaded, playlists can be shared with any other user who is on your playlist.

Sharing The Playlist

To share the playlist, all a user has to do is click on it, drag it to a friend’s name and drop it. Once this is done, the playlist is automatically uploaded into their inbox. You can also view playlists sent to you by going into your own inbox and clicking on the message. Spotify has the added benefit of allowing you to subscribe to other users pages. If you are listening to a friend’s playlist, you merely have to click on subscribe and all playlist information will automatically be uploaded onto your page.

Facebook Synchronized

Spotify Social has the ability of being synchronized with your Facebook account. Any album or artist recommended on your friends’ Facebook pages will appear in your Spotify news feed. Get in touch with the musical taste of others by regularly checking your news feed and finding the hottest new albums recommended in your group of friends. Spotify Social can also be used on Twitter. To tweet a track, just copy the track link and input it in your Twitter feed.

Facebook has made this process even easier. It now offers a new Music Dashboard. Friends’ top music selections and playlists will be listed as well as trending songs. Facebook has also allowed for musical stories in your news feed to be published. When they discover an exciting new artist, so will you.

Spotify On Your Mobile

Spotify can be used through your home audio system, your computer or on a mobile device. To permanently upload your playlist, use it on your mobile device and select the offline option. Choosing this option will allow your phone to download the entire playlist for you to use at anytime, anywhere. You will have instant access to all of your music at your fingertips.

Searching For Music To Share

Spotify Social allows you to share all of your music with your friends and search for new tracks. Using the search bar, you can find a new track or album in the Spotify catalogue. You can limit your search options by choosing an artist, genre, year or album. After you find the perfect song, your music is ready to share—instantly.

Spotify Social is the latest way that friends can connect musically with each other. All you have to do is create a username and password. Immediately afterward, users can create a profile page and start sharing in the music community. Get your music recommendations from your friends instead of a machine by connecting your Spotify profile to your Facebook page. Explore a world of possibilities and discover Spotify Social today.

Born in Sweden, Spotify has quickly traveled overseas to create an international fan base among music lovers. The live streaming music application now boasts over ten million users globally, thanks to the compelling combination of extensive custom options and a huge catalogue of songs.

The Spotify application, available in desktop and mobile versions, plays tracks live based on user preferences and search criteria. Spotify’s rich combination of user features include extensive services available to free members, massive options for searching and combining music to generate playlists, a colossal music library and fully integrated multiple platform and social networking options.

Free Features

Users who log in to Spotify via their Facebook profile receive a free six month trial of Spotify. Free users can also search for an artist or album and listen to music through the desktop Spotify application. While the free desktop version does contain advertisements, members can create as many custom playlists as they wish. There are also no skip limits, meaning both paid and gratis members are free to skip through as many songs as they choose

Playing Music and Creating Playlists

Spotify allows users to create their own music playlists based on an album, artist or genre. Users can search for music based on everything from specific artist and album names to record label, genre and other playlists. The search function also allows users to search their own music and music received by others, in addition to Spotify’s music catalogue. Both premium and free members have the option of adding search parameters to include or exclude certain artists or tracks from a search.

Music Catalogue and Library

Spotify’s extensive music library has millions of songs from major and independent record labels, making it a favorite among music junkies. According to Spotify, it would take over 80 years of listening to tracks end on end to listen to every song in their music catalogue.

Spotify can also play music tracks already have stored on home computers or flash drives, allowing users to combine their favorite existing tunes and local music with those found in Spotify’s catalogue to create the ultimate music library.

Platforms and Social Networking

The desktop software for Spotify is compatible on both Windows and Mac computers. Premium paid users can also opt to utilize the Spotify mobile applications and utilize Spotify’s services free of advertisements. Spotify social, a built in component for both paid and free users, allows sharing across a variety of social networking groups. There’s a variety of mobile apps available for paid users, and even a way to integrate Spotify into a home audio system.

Spotify is completely integrated into Facebook, allowing users to instantly share what they’re listening to with friends and family or listen to tracks shared by other users. There are also built in buddy list and people list features, which gives members the option of following their favorite music buffs and browsing their playlists. Users also have the option of integrating their Spotify account with other music sites, like Pitchfork and Rolling Stone.