Music-streaming apps are not the be-all, end-all for RRC students
CHRISTIANA JONES, CONTRIBUTOR
Jocelyne Olson uses Red River College’s free Wi-Fi to listen to music, in between classes. THE PROJECTOR/Christiana Jones
The list of music-streaming services providers is getting to be as long as your ‘00s Hits playlist.
But unlike “Hit My Baby One More Time,” some students are saying streaming is getting old.
“You only get some songs from the artists,” said RRC student Prince Mavi of streaming apps. “Now I just use YouTube”.
At the end of June, Apple Music gave students another option for music-streaming service providers. By doing this, Apple joined other services like Songza, Spotify and Google Play Music to capitalize on this streaming sensation.
Since its release in 2008, Spotify has gained more than 50 million users, according to a press release from November 2014. And, just three months after its launch, Apple Music has 15 million users, according to a Sept. 21 New York Post article.
While these statistics show the success of music-streaming services they fail to show the opinions of those who are actually using them. Students are often plugged-in when doing their homework, but is it safe to assume they are all using music-streaming services to get them through those inevitable all-nighters?
Most streaming services offer free trials or the option to upgrade with benefits. While these give students (who may be on a budget) options to consume music, students like Mavi said it may just be easier to stream from sites such as YouTube, where listeners have total control over their musical options.
On the other hand, some students still choose to download illegally. Chantal Drury said she sometimes uses torrent sites.
Students, like Sara Harris, are frequently plugged in while doing homework. THE PROJECTOR/ Christiana Jones
“I use BitTorrent, so I may not always pay for my music,” said the past culinary arts student.
Music-streaming apps may be losing popularity on campus, but they still provide a certain set of services. Sarah Greening said she mostly listens to Songza at work when closing up.
“I just put it on while cleaning and stuff,” said Greening.
With the option to choose by mood, these apps may continue to excel in social situations where it’s easier to pick a playlist than it is to build one from scratch. But that might not be enough to keep students around as free methods become more and more accessible.
Honghong Zhang, 30, International Business. “I download my music, but sometimes I buy from the Apple Store.”
Kara Marozas, 21, Digital Media Design. “I mostly listen to k-pop, so I torrent it online.”
Jennifer Diaz, 23, Business Administration. “I use YouTube if I have internet.”
