Soundcloud lets you play any song you want at any time, even on the free tier, and when you ask it to play a playlist, it only plays songs on the playlist.
You can have recommendations from an algorithm if you choose, but it’s encouraged rather than enforced.
There are a lot more independent artists on it, and fewer big labels, or at least it feels that way because it doesn’t seem to prioritise big labels over some person I’ve never heard of.
Spotify has an annoy-users-until-they-pay model. Soundcloud just has ads.
Electricd@lemmybefree.net 6 days ago
I like the random recommendations from time to time
I’m a bit afraid that their algorithm is shit
to be fair at this point I’m mostly on youtube music because it allows playing youtube videos as well, which sometimes is the only way of playing some musics
davidagain@lemmy.world 5 days ago
YouTube music won’t play in the background though, so it’s a pain whilst driving and navigating traffic or routes. Some of my friends make playlists on there and share them, so I do use it sometimes.
But absolutely use the service that brings you joy, not the ones that I prefer!
Electricd@lemmybefree.net 5 days ago
It does for me though? Unless you don’t pay I guess? On android you can patch this with revanced, or use custom players
davidagain@lemmy.world 5 days ago
What’s revanced? I’m not especially keen to give Google my money either. They fall into the category of businesses that have way too much money and power already.
davidagain@lemmy.world 5 days ago
I don’t pay for music unless I buy the track or album.