I am basically a dinosaur. Music streaming.... help?!

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

So DH and I are competent afults in most ways - but never been bothered about phone tech. To give some idea, DH did not have non-brick phone till 2017....
But DH loves music and increasingly, artists are not releasing on CD I am finding.

So I am thinking of getting him a music subs service for Xmas. Is it possible to get a subscription where you pre load music for someone else? And what would you recommend?

He now has an S22 btw.

Spotify is the best. You pay a monthly subscription and it pretty much has any music you can think of. You can create playlists and it gives recommendations based on other music you listen to

It has loads of podcasts too

It's just an app you download

Yes to Spotify, used daily here. £9.99 a month and worth every penny

Do you have a hifi system you'd want to play it from? I found the easiest was an echo dot and Spotify. Echo dot has a line out so you can connect it to an amp.

Thank you! So DH "hifi" is so old it has a cassette deck.

Like I said, dinosaurs!

He would not countenance an Echo I think.

So can I buy a Spotify subscription with music "on" it already, like a preloaded album or would he have to do that bit?

With Spotify you just search for the music, ‘like’ it or add it to a playlist, there’s no need to preload music to it.

It would be worth getting a Bluetooth speaker to go with it, although you can just play through your phone.

To add, you can download a free version of Spotify, you get ads in between the music but if you do that you’ll get an idea of what it’s like.

Its super simple, my dad uses it and he’s 72 :)

Spotify has a HUGE music library and a very easy to use search engine- so you can type in 'the Beatles' and it will give you a list of all Beatles albums and singles, you simply click and it plays. It's as easy to use as Google.

It will also give you the option of playlists with Beatles songs eg Best of the 60's, Love Songs etc. and recommend other things you might like.

You can make your own playlists, and save any Spotify songs to your playlists - I have ones with names like 'Cleaning Singalong' 'Cheer me up' and collections of my favourite songs from specific bands.

It is really easy to use - I'm not techie at all - and you'll be able to use it too with a family subscription!

The present part could be a decent speaker to play it on. Something like a Sonos would be good.

How much does he like the S22? I have been eyeing one up for months now.
I'm super afraid of having a nice phone, understand camera is amazing.

We had Deezer (fine) & now have Spotify (fine).
Deezer is better for finding you new artists, spontaneously plays stuff you like but didn't preselect, so better for finding new (to you) artists.

Spotify (family account) is a little easier to have independent profiles on if you want your own profile & own tastes.

You could start his account and set up some playlists for him that has favourites you know he likes, that you selected, after that he can explore. It's really easy to add new items & make own playlists.

I have been going thru Lucifer playlists choosing new (to me) artists. Mine is almost always listened to at work. I have a speaker, but don't use it much.

oh and ps, I don't know how, but it must be easy, DD has lots of playlists she downloads to listen to offline, like if she's travelling, on Underground or somewhere with iffy wifi. Don't always have to stream is what I mean, can have downloads instead.

@Changingplace With Spotify you just search for the music, ‘like’ it or add it to a playlist, there’s no need to preload music to it.

Thank you! I just want to get him something with songs already on, that's all - to 'start him off' with sthg.

@Waterfallstop The present part could be a decent speaker to play it on. Something like a Sonos would be good.

Thanks, that's a great idea. I will look at that.

@lljkk How much does he like the S22? I have been eyeing one up for months now.
I'm super afraid of having a nice phone, understand camera is amazing.
We had Deezer (fine) & now have Spotify (fine).
Deezer is better for finding you new artists, spontaneously plays stuff you like but didn't preselect, so better for finding new (to you) artists.
Spotify (family account) is a little easier to have independent profiles on if you want your own profile & own tastes.
You could start his account and set up some playlists for him that has favourites you know he likes, that you selected, after that he can explore. It's really easy to add new items & make own playlists.

Thanks! He really likes the S22 but tbh, he isn't a judge iyswim. He was equally happy with the S7 I bought him back in the Stone Age, and kept it till 2 mos ago, when it was so knackered he needed a new phone and the nice young man in the phone shop basically flogged him the S22.

Thanks, I think I'll get him a Spotify subscription, start his account and then add 20 or so songs to start him off. Plus get a Bluetooth speaker.

Get him a sonos roam- it’s an amazing little portable speaker. We actually use it permanently as the speaker in our bedroom.

I’m not a sound quality buff- but many Bluetooth speakers are dire. Maybe visit a store and listen to a few.

I saw an echo dot lifted up thread- avoid! Terrible tinny sound for music.