The internet is such an incredible place; it has its own zip code and allows us to easily connect with people. I remember the early days of the internet when the only way to source your music was an illegal method, which lead to recording industry lawsuits. Napster was the original peer-to-peer tool that allowed you to search for music uploaded by other users and then download your favorite tracks illegally. It was clear that since the service was illegal it did not last too long and was eventually shut down with major backing from the music industry. This was back during the late '90s when the internet had started to gain momentum, becoming a necessary tool in almost every household. There are still ways that you can source high-quality music illegally, however, telling you how to do so would defeat the purpose of the internet, and it would also put me in hot water.

GETTING THE MUSIC YOU WANTED WITHOUT BEING WANTED
More people now have decided to stream their music instead of downloading it for a few different reasons. Downloading and storing the music on your device consumes storage which otherwise could be used for memorable photographs and videos instead. The second pitfall of storing your music on your device is that you limit yourself in terms of the collection of music, so if your friends have a different taste then they are out of luck. The upside is that you do not require an active internet connection to listen to your favorite tunes, therefore in areas where you may have little or no internet than having a music collection stored on your phone can be a lifesaver. Remember, you can always rip the music from any CD's that you have purchased or can download the music from retailers such as iTunes or Amazon.

THE BENEFITS OF STREAMING
Many streaming services exist that allow you to stream music based on your tastes since we all want what we want when we want it. Most of the services are free, however, since they are free then you will have to put up with advertisements since that is how the internet has been monetized. Keep in mind that you can always pay to subscribe to the service and avoid the advertisements, plus you’ll gain additional features that otherwise would not be available in the free version of the application. All of the applications that are mentioned are available for both the iOS and Android operating systems which is an added convenience, however, they require an internet connection such as fast as AT&T. You can check different AT&T internet plans on localcabledeals.com, if you like.

YouTube RED
As if YouTube wasn't popular enough, Google has gone ahead and introduced YouTube Red which will offer original video content similar to that of Netflix. There have been widespread rumors that YouTube Red will also compete against Spotify since it will offer music that otherwise would normally not be found on the regular YouTube alongside the higher quality (bitrate), which allows you to feel the highs, mids, and lows of your favorite track. YouTube Red should be considered a double-edged sword since it offers both video and audio content, which is also ad-free. The YouTube Red application for your smart devices allows content to be played in the background whereas the regular version of the application stops streaming content.

Spotify
There is no doubt that Spotify is the industry leader when it comes to streaming and discovering new music. Although the free version is riddled with ads that get louder and constantly interrupt your flow and limit how many tracks you can skip finding the right song. The premium features are lackluster, especially since the database of artists and songs are limited. Then there is a large controversy going on that the artists who sign with Spotify are paid fairly with a majority of the proceeds going to mainstream musicians, leaving your favorite indie bands nothing but scraps since you pay for the subscription and the artist receives compensation based on the number of times a track is played.

SoundCloud
SoundCloud was amazing when it first came out because it was riddled with copyright music that was technically considered illegal. At the moment, SoundCloud offers fresh and original music including covers. Some of the best music is in fact made by lesser-known artists and is definitely worth your time in exploration. Most of the time, I personally enjoy discovering Mashups of various artists layered into a single tract.

MUSIC FEEDS YOUR SOUL
Regardless if you’re out with friends at a get-together or enjoying time with your family, one thing is clear and that is that music feeds your soul. When I need to prepare a presentation or I’m writing an article, music helps get me in the groove. Music is capable of expressing emotions that you thought were long gone. Music is the spice of life, regardless of what particular genre that you enjoy, because without music life would be dull. Treat yourself right and enjoy the artist and their works that have withstood the test of time. This article was written while listening to alternative rock using YouTube Red.