Google Music

Any experiences?

I just opened an account. The thing is, I don't use or care for Spotify nor am I interested in Google Music's selection of songs. I basically only listen to music I own, from CDs or ripped files. I don't like the incompleteness of Spotify or any streaming service, nor do I feel like paying to listen to music I already own.

But Google Music let's you upload 50,000 songs that you can then stream with the app. That actually sounds like something I could make use of, since I do have most of my music ripped on the computer anyway.

It sounds good to me in theory. I can access my music collection anywhere I want. I haven't actually uploaded any songs yet. Has anyone else done this already?

Haven't tried it but I normally rip my own CD's to my iPod or phone. And have recently been downloading a ton of stuff for free from Amazon Prime. Yesterday I wanted to hear some U2. So I decided I would order a Best Of comp from Amazon. When I was browsing I saw "listen now with Prime" or something like that. Cool! Downloaded the whole album to my phone for free.

I used it when it first came out. Back then it was glitchy. Every once in a while I might listen to it. I usually use Spotify when I am home (the free version) or listen to the songs I have on my phone. I haven't messed with it since they updated it with channels and such.

I don't use Google Music but I use iTunes Match which has a similar feature. I have about 26,000 songs uploaded now and I can stream them to my phone.

But you have to pay for iTunes Match.

Lari wrote:

But you have to pay for iTunes Match.

Yes. $25 a year.

Well, Google Play Music is free. And all (?) Android phones have the app already pre-installed.

I started uploading stuff yesterday. It's easy. Seems to work fine on the devices I've tried so far. But obviously uploading huge amounts of data takes time.

I have the app on my phone but I've never even looked at it

i just put a 256GB card in my phone and rotate music in and out - get the digital capacity and the cd picking experience.

Can't say that I do.

I've now used Google Play Music for three weeks and it's worked without flaws. I don't use it much (I play CDs at home on the stereo system, and in the car), but it's a nice option to know I can stream my entire collection from every phone, tablet and computer I come across.

Also, here's a link where similar services are being compared to each other:

http://www.howtogeek.com/227211/how-to-put-your-music-collection-online-and-access-it-from-any-device/

I have three (!) streaming services and GPlay is my favorite only because I can use voice commands while driving (which I do a lot for work). It's great to say "OK Google, play the album Ironbound by Overkill" instead of having to fumble with the phone.

I would say Spotify has a better layout, but GPlay is just fine. AND you get Youtube Red for free. No ads and background play FTW.

Wait, how exactly do I get Youtube Red for free?

I use it regularly on my phone and as a free back up for my mp3 collection. Any new download or rip goes right up there. The subscription service seemed ok when I trialed it but there are cheaper options. New subscribers can get four months free right now: https://play.google.com/music/listen?signup=1&coupontype=vanity&coupon=YEAREND120&u=0#

waiting for the axe to fall, when Google Music users that upload music get mauled just the same as napster members / megaupload users / etc.

May as well call these outfits "digital mafia".

Lari wrote:

Wait, how exactly do I get Youtube Red for free?

Whatever account you sign in with on Play Music, use that to sign into YouTube and you'll be Red. That's how it worked for me, hopefully for you too. It's pretty fly.

Yeah, I assume that means I need a paid subscription for Google Play Music. Which I'm not gonna get. I'm not paying to listen to music I already own and have paid for.

I just use the free option of uploading all my ripped CDs, and streaming them.

Lari wrote:

Yeah, I assume that means I need a paid subscription for Google Play Music. Which I'm not gonna get. I'm not paying to listen to music I already own and have paid for.

I just use the free option of uploading all my ripped CDs, and streaming them.

Ah, I see. I didn't even know they offered a free service.

Google Play is apparently going away. It doesn't effect me, but some folks here could probably benefit from this info...

https://www.popsci.com/story/technology/google-play-music-transfer-tool/

Ehm... what is that? What is Youtube Music?

I can still stream my collection of CDs anywhere for free, right?

Of course it's going away... and only a few months after I finished uploading my entire damned album collection to it, which took me most of the past year.

(SIGH)

Guck Foogle, man.

https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9716522?hl=en

Seems like it's still free to listen to your own collection. Ad-free. Up to 100,000 uploaded songs. And you can migrate your Google Play account uploads to Youtube Music.

I never had a paid subscription of Play Music. I only used it to stream my own CD's. If I can still do that, I'm happy. Free. And no ads. Changing the app doesn't matter.

Lari wrote:

https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9716522?hl=en

Seems like it's still free to listen to your own collection. Ad-free. Up to 100,000 uploaded songs. And you can migrate your Google Play account uploads to Youtube Music.

I never had a paid subscription of Play Music. I only used it to stream my own CD's. If I can still do that, I'm happy. Free. And no ads. Changing the app doesn't matter.

Same here. I never used it for anything but listening to my own stuff when I walked my dog or exercised. If I can still do that, then never mind my "Guck Foogle," I guess.

Do you have to pay for YouTube Music? All this streaming stuff is confusing.

The only streaming service I se is Spotify (my wife's account) through Alexa; and only sparingly. I play the occasional song or two while cleaning upstairs or cooking. If I am downstairs, with my collection and multiple stereos, streaming isn't going to be logical. I have Sirius XM in the car, and I still have not downloaded the app to my phone yet. I agree with the comment of the "incompleteness" of Spotify as there have been a few times I have requested a song and they didn't have it, or I got a crappy cover version instead.