where can be a royal pain. This app notifies you when a band in your iTunes
library will be swinging by, and takes it one step further by alerting you to
nearby shows from similar artists that you might like based on what you have
on regular rotation. From within the app, you can listen to an artist’s music,
watch his or her videos, purchase tickets, share via e‑mail, Facebook, and
Twitter, and view all upcoming shows at a venue. The only negative? Currently,
it only works with major cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia,
and Japan.
* JamBase (free)—Similar to BandMate, but this one’s free. It not only gives
you easy access to upcoming tour dates for bands you like, but it also lists all
shows in your surrounding area, sorted by date (you know, in case you just
need to see any ol’ show while on vacation).
* Pandora Radio (free; also works with iPad)—This one needs no introduction,
a fact that will simply have to serve as its introduction. It’s the app that put
streaming radio as we know it today on the map, allowing users to build their
own customized radio stations and hear music from related artists that they’d
probably never discover otherwise. You’ll find plenty of ads and limitations if
you don’t pony up a monthly fee, but some of those limitations can be removed
for as little as $3.99 per month. If you’re already a Pandora subscriber on the
web, all of your stations will show up when you’re logged in on the iPhone; if
you create stations on your tablet, they will show up elsewhere too. Thanks,
Mr. Cloud.
* Rdio (free; also works with iPad)—It’s an app that’s quite similar to Pandora
in most regards, but I tend to prefer the user interface of this one; plus, Rdio
makes it remarkably easy to share what you’re listening to on Facebook or
Twitter. It’s a social network itself, allowing users to follow friends and take
suggestions from whatever they’re listening to. If you grow tired of ads and
limitations, you can subscribe within the app for $14.99 per month. My suggestion?
Subscribe on Rdio’s website, where it costs $9.99; the in-app subscription
is presumably to make up for Apple’s cut of the deal. * MOG (free)—This is my music-streaming app of choice, ahead of Spotify and
all the rest. The basic streaming service is free, but for $9.99 per month, I have
multi-platform access (iPhone, Mac, PC, and Android), and I can download
all of the playlists I create at home onto my mobile for offline listening elsewhere.
The Radio function enables you to pick a band you like and then hear
similar music—it’s great for discovering new artists.
* Slacker Radio (free; also works with iPad)—This one has been redesigned from
the ground up to look beautiful on the iPhone, and yes, it’s eerily similar to
Rdio and Pandora. I will say that those who prefer to put less effort into music
discovery should admire Slacker, as it has over 150 expert-programmed radio
stations alongside the ability to craft your own. Per usual, a $9.99 monthly
subscription fee unlocks the full potential. Slacker Premium Radio subscribers
can also cache stations, playlists, and albums to their device to listen without
a network connection, which is probably this guy’s biggest strength.
.jpg)
