Mobile Increases Music’s Influence

Music compels all of us--individually, in our own way. It fills our moments, our cars, our movies, our thoughts and now our mobile devices. As a Recording studio in Miami that produces music for commercials, we have produced several projects for TV that are being also applied to Mobile. And it’s not about downloading from itunes, mobile music apps have changed the way music is consumed and listened to. From selecting artist to finding nation-wide radio stations to having an app that actually can identify any song you are listening to (as long as you don’t have a loud-mouthed cousin beside you). While music apps are nothing new, the increasing wide-spread popularity of smartphones is transforming the ways music is being engaged with. As a recording studio in Miami that produces music for commercials, we have produced several projects for TV that are being also applied to Mobile.

Music is evolving out of the cars, Limewire’s and Myspace’s to take the world by storm. Brands like Levi’s and Wendy’s have dedicated entire campaigns and Youtube channels to promoting unknown artists. And now that music is reaching an increasingly mobile crowd, it is going anywhere and everywhere. We see people with headphones in their ears walking on campuses, on the subway, taking a lunch break and of course at the gym. And smartphones allow us to have all devices in one location through the development of apps. Its influence is spreading, and the short list of apps below are quickly becoming the equivalent of major digital record labels. 

From apps which stream your favorite artists to radio stations and apps which convert your smartphone into a guitar, music is increasing accessible and dominant. 

Pandora- The Pandora app allows for free personalized radio which is completely integrated with your web based Pandora account. User are able to create a station from a desired artists or song title. Social media is also integrated, users can email the station to a friend, bookmark songs and artists, buy tracks from iTunes and share liked songs on Facebook.

Last FM- The Last.fm iPhone app lets users listen to their favorite tracks by creating an account. Fromt here, users receive music recommendations according to their likes and dislikes, build playlists, purchase tracks directly from iTunes, tag the tracks, and share them with the Last.fm community.

Shazam- Shazam is one of the most downloaded smartphone apps and not just in the music category. The answer to users “What is this song?” questions, users need to simply hold your iPhone near the speakers of the device playing that music and tap “tag.” Shazam then identifies the album, artist and song title for you. From there you can buy it, or tag it to remember later.

Grooveshark- Grooveshark is a web-based music app built for users to listen to music on-demand at no charge. Users can save playlists, and embed songs on websites, blogs, and social media profiles via the Grooveshark Widget. Grooveshark also helps out the band by allowing artists and record labels to promote themselves through the application with both advertisement and paying for listens from Grooveshark users.

Slacker- Slacker gives users access to unlimited free music on iPhones. It can stream music from millions of songs from a huge number of artists in its library. Users can listen for free to over 100 expert-programmed radio stations from every genre or create their own custom stations.

Tuner Internet Radio- Tuner Internet Radio allows users to listen to thousands of commercial-free Internet radio broadcasts right on their iPhone or iPod Touch over WiFi or 3G/EDGE. Users can even stream Internet radio while in their car and bookmark their favorite stations or add their own streams using Tuner.

Ocarina- Ocarina makes one of the most unique uses of iPhone's and iPod touch's touchscreen by turning it into a flute which users play with your fingers. Users can blow into the mic and tap the four virtual holes on the screen, all of which give a cool experience of playing a real flute.

Pocket Guitar- From the user looking to strum a romantic love song or thrash the garage, PocketGuitar turns the iPhone into a virtual guitar. Users are able to press & strum strings and get the real guitar feeling while learning some of their favorite tunes. Choose sounds from 6 different instruments like Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Electric Bass and more.