Streaming Shakeup: Alternatives to Spotify Gain Traction
Listeners are increasingly exploring music streaming services beyond Spotify, driven by concerns over pricing, artist compensation, and content control. A recent analysis by c’t uplink highlights how competitors like Deezer, Tidal, Apple Music, and others are positioning themselves to capitalize on growing dissatisfaction with the dominant platform.
The shift comes as Spotify faces scrutiny over its royalty rates and recent changes to its subscription tiers.While Spotify remains the market leader, alternatives are attracting users with features like lossless audio quality, hi-res streaming, and more favorable artist payout models. This evolving landscape presents both opportunities and challenges for music fans and creators alike, possibly reshaping the future of music consumption.
c’t uplink‘s assessment details specific advantages offered by each service:
Deezer: Offers a “Flow” personalized playlist and a focus on audio quality, including FLAC streaming.
Tidal: Emphasizes high-fidelity audio and direct artist support through its artist-owned platform.
Apple Music: Integrates seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem and provides spatial audio with Dolby Atmos.
qobuz: Caters to audiophiles with a vast catalog of high-resolution audio tracks.
The article notes that while SpotifyS extensive library and established user base remain significant advantages,these alternative services are actively addressing key pain points for both listeners and artists,potentially leading to a more diversified and competitive streaming market. Readers can find c’t on Mastodon, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Threads, and also in print magazine format.
