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iheart.com
Today, there are many different ways to listen to music, whether it be through streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, or Apple Music; downloading music for offline listening; or buying physical copies of albums.
Nowadays, it is rare to find somebody purchasing a physical copy of their favorite artist's newest release. If this does occur, it is usually a case of a superfan or a record collector going out of his way to acquire something that is now somewhat niche. In other words, records and CDs are more the stuff of hobbyists and enthusiasts than they are of common ways for the masses to consume music.
As you likely know, streaming is king these days. If somebody wishes to hear the latest Jay-Z or Beyonce album, all they have to do is type the artist's name into an app and, voila, their entire discography appears in a convenient and waste-free format. Not only does streaming mean that we can save a great deal of space (could you imagine having to store the entire collection of modern music somewhere in your house?), it also means that we can access just about any song, no matter where we are, in a matter of seconds. What a great time to be alive!
There are many music streaming apps and sites to choose from. And each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. It can be overwhelming when you have so many options, so it can be helpful to decide on a few music streaming apps or sites that are right for you. When you factor in the fact that monthly subscription-based plans can be expensive, it's important to take all of these things into account when making a decision.
Which music streaming service is best for you? Well, you can try asking yourself the following question: what do you hope to get out of your music streaming service? If you value having the most possible songs at your disposal, you might want to go with Tidal. If you like having tons of personalized playlists curated just for you: Spotify might be your best bet. However, if you find yourself nostalgic for the days of the radio, you will want to consider iHeart Radio.
History
The major radio corporation formerly known as Clear Channel rebranded as iHeart Media Inc. in 2014. This was likely due to a very negative public image, especially with younger demographics - the very demographic they?d hoped to win over by shifting the thrust of their efforts from radio to streaming in the 21st century.
Clear Channel first launched the iHeart Radio app on October 7th of 2008. It was released for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and Droid smartphones and Blackberry in 2009. It wasn't until 2010 that iHeart Radio truly began to resemble the app we see today - with thousands of live local radio station streams, as well as customizable and featured artist stations (a la Pandora).
In 2016, iHeart Radio introduced a new feature called ?Podcasts.? As of 2018, this feature is simply entitled ?Podcasts.? In 2018, iHeart Radio acquired Stuff LLC, securing the position as the number one commercial publisher of podcasts according to Podtrac. They have retained that position since.
Design
This somewhat rare situation with streaming services results in the app and the site being very streamlined and identical, making them very user-friendly.
When you open the app, you will find your most recent artists, songs, and playlists at the top. Next are the radio stations you have saved, your followed podcasts, and personalized playlists. At the bottom of the app (and on our website), you will find a few tabs from which you can select. The layout is similar to that of Apple Music - the main difference is that the tabs on iHeart Radio are Library, Radio, Podcasts, and Playlists.
Overall, the iHeart Radio app is designed intuitively. It won't take even the least tech-savvy users long at all to figure out how to use it. It is all pretty straightforward and organized well, making the experience of listening to the radio on your phone, tablet or laptop as easy as it should be.
Content
One thing that sets iHeart Radio apart from other music streaming services is the fact that it enables you to listen to your local AM and FM radio stations. Whether you're located in a city or out in the rural countryside, chances are good that iHeart Radio can pick up on the signals being broadcast.
I Heart Radio is similar to Pandora in that you can type in an artist and listen to a radio station of their songs with similar musicians. You can also create playlists, like or dislike songs to improve your station, save stations, and follow specific podcasts. iHeart Radio provides a completely customizable user experience.
Pricing and Plans
The freemium iHeart Radio service offers users a wide variety of options, including ad-supported listening and limited song skipping, with no monthly fees. However, if users want to take full advantage of all the features available on iHeart Radio, they may want to consider one of the two-tiered subscription plans offered.
If you're looking for a more casual podcast and music streaming experience, iHeart Radio Plus is perfect. It provides an unlimited number of song skips, the ability to play songs and albums on-demand, and a "save from radio" feature (all of which are unavailable on the free version). This service only costs $5.99 per month, making it one of the cheaper options out there.
However, if you are a more serious listener, you might consider signing up for iHeart Radio All Access. With this option, you get everything that is offered in Plus, as well as a couple of things that are not- such as the ability to download songs and listen offline- , as well as the ability to create custom playlists.
Suggestions that I Have
Additionally, some of the songs that are offered for streaming are not very recent or well-known, which can be frustrating when trying to find something new to listen to.
Overall, I don't think iHeart Radio is a bad way to listen to music. It's not great by any means, but there are a few things that could be improved. First of all, the playlist sizes are quite small - you're limited to 40 songs per playlist. Additionally, some of the music that's available for streaming isn't very recent or well-known, which can be frustrating when you're looking for something new to listen to.
If you're looking for artists and songs that are a little less mainstream, then you may not enjoy iHeart Radio as much. Some underground or unknown artists can be hard to find on this service.
Thirdly, it would be great if they offered a digital radio dial on their app so you can browse stations with an interface that looks like a car's radio. That would be fun, and it would be really helpful for browsing local radio since you wouldn't have to pick from one of the apps' predetermined stations. Just a thought.
Conclusion
IHeart Radio is a great music and audio streaming app and site that anyone can use. It has a lot of music, podcasts, and other types of content to choose from, and it's the perfect place for people who don't want to sacrifice their local radio stations. However, if you want the widest variety of music out there and the ability to personalize your listening experience, you will likely be better off with Spotify, Tidal, or Apple Music.
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