A Love-Hate Relationship with Spotify: Why I Can’t Let Go
Despite its numerous quirks and controversies, Spotify has remained my go-to music streaming service for the past five years. I’ve tried other platforms like Apple Music and YouTube Music, but I always find myself coming back to Spotify, much like an addict after a relapse who just can’t quit.
Unparalleled Interconnected Experience
Spotify’s interconnected experience is unparalleled in the industry. With just one account, I can control music playback on any of my devices, including my phones, tablet, smartwatch, PlayStation, and both my home and office workstations. This seamless integration allows me to pause a song on my office PC from my phone or change episodes on my PS4 without interrupting my gaming experience.
This level of interoperability is unmatched by other apps, including YouTube Music, which doesn’t even show the same song playing on another device with the same Wi-Fi and account. The irony is that YouTube does allow me to continue a video on another device from where I left off, so why not bring that feature to YouTube Music?
The benefits of Spotify’s interconnected experience extend beyond play or pause controls. I can jump to a specific section of a song, change audio sources, and perform other actions across devices without interruption. This level of convenience is what keeps me hooked on Spotify.
The Instagram of It All
Spotify doesn’t just integrate well with its own app; it also plays nicely with others. Many apps offer proper Spotify integration, but none come close to the seamless experience offered by Instagram. As a member of the Gen Z crowd, I discover most of my songs through Instagram Reels.
The ability to add songs directly from Instagram to my Spotify Liked songs playlist is a game-changer for me. Without ever leaving the Instagram app, I can tap on an audio and instantly play it in Spotify. This feature has doubled my song collection since its introduction, and I use it regularly.
Spotify also lets me share my currently playing songs on Instagram Notes, set tracks as my Instagram Story from Spotify, and have friends tap on album art to instantly jump into the music streaming app. This level of seamlessness is what I expect from other music apps in 2025.
It’s Not Just About the Music
Spotify is also one of the best podcast apps out there, and I’ve discovered some great ones on the platform during the COVID period. Shows like The Office Ladies, StarTalk Radio hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Waveform podcast hosted by Marques Brownlee, and Person Behind the Persona have kept me entertained while gaming.
Spotify’s variety of podcasts is unmatched by other platforms, including Amazon Prime Music. While it comes close in some areas, it falls short in overall experience. Spotify’s growing catalogue of Audiobooks is also a significant advantage over its competitors.
Collaborative Music Discovery
Spotify allows users to explore each other’s music preferences with collaborative features like Spotify Blend. This feature has become an essential part of my music discovery process, especially with friends who share similar tastes.
Through our Blends, we’ve discovered tracks we might never have explored on our own. My friends introduced me to underrated Hindi songs that they enjoyed so much they set them as their ringtones. It’s like Spotify understood the assignment that music is not just a personal thing but something worth sharing with others.
Spotify Wrapped
I couldn’t discuss Spotify without mentioning Wrapped, the personalized listening data feature that started a trend around cultural impact. While some may dismiss it as just numbers and details, Spotify has made it fun and engaging, something worth waiting for.
Wrapped has become the modern-day equivalent of those MTV’s greatest hits countdowns of the year, tailored to each individual’s taste. Apple Music and YouTube Music have come out with their own yearly recaps, but they haven’t quite reached the same level as Spotify Wrapped.
Spotify vs Apple Music vs YouTube Music
Now that I’ve made my points, you may start to see why it’s been so difficult for me to jump ship from Spotify. It’s like a toxic relationship where everyone keeps pointing out red flags, but I only focus on green signals. Despite the issues with song recommendations and the missing Hi-Fi tier, I just can’t move on from Spotify yet.
I pay for Apple Music apart from its elegant user interface, and YouTube Music shows how to get the algorithm right. However, neither of them has the features that matter most to me. For those reasons, I’m stuck with Spotify, at least until something better comes along.
Conclusion
In conclusion, my love-hate relationship with Spotify is a complex one. While it’s not perfect, its interconnected experience, Instagram integration, podcast selection, and collaborative music discovery features make it hard for me to let go. Until other platforms can match these advantages, I’ll remain loyal to Spotify, quirks and all.