Table Of Content
iheart.com
Today, we have a plethora of ways to listen to music, ranging from streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, to downloading songs directly to our phones or computers. Additionally, there are now a variety of audio players available on the market (including standalone devices like the Amazon Echo or Sonos One, as well as apps on our smartphones), which allows us to listen to music even when we're not at home.
Nowadays, it is rare for somebody to purchase a physical copy of their favorite artist's latest release. If this does occur, it is usually a case of a superfan or collector going out of his way to acquire a now somewhat niche product. 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 streaming becomes more and more popular, it's great to know that we can access our favorite music without having to store it or carry around a CD. Not only does this make our lives easier, but it also means that any song we want is just a click away. What an amazing time to be alive!
There are many different music streaming apps and sites to choose from. Some have strengths and weaknesses, which can make it hard to decide which is right for you. If you want to get the most out of a given streaming app, it might be best to subscribe to a monthly plan - which can add up quickly.
But which music streaming service is the best for you? If you want to have the widest variety of songs available, go with Tidal. If you prefer to have personalized playlists made just for you, choose Spotify. However, if you're nostalgic for the good old days when you could just listen to the radio, choose iHeart Radio.
History
The major radio corporation formerly known as Clear Channel rebranded as iHeart Media Inc. in 2014 due to a very negative public image. Younger demographics tend to have a very negative opinion of the company, specifically because of the shift in their efforts from radio to streaming in the 21st century.
Clear Channel first launched the iHeart Radio app on October 7th, 2008. It was released for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. In the first iteration of the app, iHeart Radio only included 12 radio stations across 8 major markets (major metropolitan areas). They continually expanded over the next few years, releasing an app for 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: iHeart Radio Talk. As of today, that feature is simply entitled "Podcasts." In 2018, iHeart Radio acquired Stuff LLC, securing the position of the app as the number one commercial publisher of podcasts according to Podtrac. They have retained that position since.
Design
Both the app and the site are pretty streamlined with one another, which makes them both very user-friendly.
When you open the app, you will find your recently played artists, songs, and playlists at the top. Next are the radio stations you have saved, your followed podcasts, and custom playlist tabs. At the bottom of the app (and the site), you will find a few tabs from which you can select. The layout is not entirely unlike that of Apple Music - the main difference is that the tabs on iHeart Radio are Library, Radio, Podcasts, and Playlists.
Overall, the design of iHeart Radio is easy to use. It will not 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 great feature of iHeart Radio is that it lets you listen to your local AM and FM radio stations whether you're at home or on the go. No matter where in the world you are, if there are AM or FM radio waves being transmitted, iHeart Radio can likely pick up on them.
In addition to providing a personalized listening experience, iHeart Radio also aids in finding similar artists and tracks through its radio stations. You can also add or remove songs from your station based on your personal preferences, save stations for future reference, and follow specific podcasts to get insights into what music they're enjoying.
Pricing and Plans
iHeart Radio is a free service that allows users to listen to music without ads and with a limited number of song skips. However, if users want to make the most of the service, they will want to consider one of two subscription options: a free trial or a paid subscription.
If you're looking for a more casual way to enjoy your favorite podcasts and music, iHeart Radio Plus is perfect for you! It provides unlimited 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 music streaming subscription services on the market.
If you are a more serious listener, you might consider signing up for iHeart Radio All Access. This option offers everything that is offered in Plus, but you also get 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, the search function is not very efficient. It's slow and often doesn't return the results I'm looking for. Lastly, the site is visually cluttered and difficult to navigate.
Some important ways in which iHeart Radio could be improved include the playlist size which currently stands at only 40 songs and the search function which can be quite slow and inefficient. Additionally, the site is very cluttered and difficult to navigate, making it difficult to find what you are looking for.
The second thing to note is that you will have a very hard time finding mainstream artists on iHeart Radio. If you are mostly listening to unknown or underground artists, then iHeart Radio may not be the best service for you.
Thirdly, it would be nice if they offered a digital radio dial option in their app, allowing users to browse stations with an interface that resembles that of a car's radio. Not only would this be fun for users ? it would also be a useful way to browse local radio, rather than having to choose from one of the apps preordained, registered radio stations. Just a thought.
Conclusion
In my opinion, iHeart Radio is the best music streaming app and site for those who want to keep their local radio stations and listening habits intact. It has a wide variety of music to choose from, as well as plenty of serious podcast fans. 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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