Music Apps

Spotify announced today that its mobile app will now be free on iOS and Android devices. The free version of the popular music streaming service was previously only available on desktop browsers. Just like Pandora, the free service will be supported by advertisements, and it will only give users access to specific select tracks. The new service will begin rolling out to mobile users starting today.

You will still need a premium account if you want an ad-free experience or other benefits like offline listening. A Spotify premium plan costs $9.99 per month and gives you the ability to play any song at any time.

Luke Wood, president and COO of Beats Electronics, LLC told TNW that Beats Music will launch “within the next few months.” The new music streaming service will be available on the Web and on iOS and Android devices.

Wood said Beats Music would be different than current music streaming apps such as Spotify because it is going to "focus really heavily on playlists."

“We’re talking about real depth of personalization and knowing who I am, who you are, what we’re listening to, what we like, what we’ve listened to before and then offering up music that is highly relevant to our taste profile," Wood explained.

Lady Gaga has announced the official release date for her new app-album. The album entitled ARTPOP, will be released as an iPad, iPhone and computer application on November 11. Gaga describes it as "a musical and visual engineering system that combines art, fashion, and technology with a new interactive worldwide community."

This is the first major app/album release since Bjork's Biophilia was released for iOS devices in 2011. The app was designed by Gaga's development team TechHaus, and aims to bring back the album experience by blending fashion and art with music. The launch of the album will be preceded by an "artRAVE", with collaborations from a number of famous artists including Robert Wilson, conceptual sculptor Jeff Koons and performance artist Marina Abramovic. Gaga will also release a new single from the album on August 19.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and Napster cofounder Sean Parker met for an interesting conversation at the Spotify press event in New York City on Thursday. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's announcement that Metallica would be joining the music streaming service was followed by an interview with Parker, who is a Spotify board member, and the outspoken Ulrich. The two talked about their legal feud and long history. You can watch the entire Spotify event below, or skip to the Parker/Ulrich Q&A at the 36:00 mark.

Spotify also announced a few new features including a Follow tab which allows users to get music recommendations from friends, artists, influencers and media in real time. The all-new Discover tab uses social tools with content from Pitchfork, Songkick Tunigo and more to continually seek out the most relevant content for you.

The page includes:

· New single and album releases from the artists you follow

· All the music and playlists shared by influencers you follow

· Intelligent recommendations based on your listening history including music, reviews, and concerts

Sony officially launched its Music Unlimited app for the iPhone in New Zealand on Monday. The app should be available in the U.S. and other supported markets soon. It is free to download and offers two paid subscription options: a $4 Basic plan and a $10 Premium plan with 30-day free trial. The music streaming service was previously only available to Android and PlayStation 3 owners.

The Basic plan grants you access to all the basic channels, while the Premium plan offers access to Sony’s full catalogue plus other goodies (see list of Premium features below). Spotify users should know what to expect. The Sony Music Unlimited app is compatible with the iPhone and iPod. It's also compatible with the iPad but it's not optimized for the device.