Spotify’s like lean-back listening Stations app is now available in the U.S. for iOS and Android devices. The app had previously been tested only in Australia. Spotify Stations offers a minimalist approach that most closely mimics Pandora and broadcast radio.
Free users get the occasional ad, while Spotify premium subscribers have an ad-free experience and can skip an unlimited number of tracks on the Stations app, as well.
Taps and swipes replace most typing. Music begins playing when the user opens the app. Stations playlists are both artist and mood driven and song selection becomes more personalized the more it is used. Favorites, Discover Weekly and Release Radar playlists are also available in Stations
Broadcast radio is clearly a target, and it’s not hard to imagine Spotify adding podcast snippets, news and weather to further mimic traditional broadcast, but with far more individualized content .
The app store descriptions read:
“With the world’s music at your fingertips, finding the right thing to play can feel like a challenge. Stations gets you to music instantly – no searching or typing needed. As Stations learns more about what you like, it creates stations packed with the music you love, made just for you.”