Mixed Reviews As Music Streaming Service Spotify Marks Five Years

5 Years Old

Using content from record labels SONY, EMI and WARNER MUSIC GROUP, Swedish startup SPOTIFY was born five years ago. It reportedly has more than 24 million users with 6 million people paying for the subscription.

But not all are enamored with the powerful technology. THOM YORKE, the RADIOHEAD and ATOMS FOR PEACE lead singer, told a Mexican Website that SPOTIFY is "the last desperate fart of a dying corpse."

CBS RADIO Classic Hits WCBS-F/NEW YORK overnighter DAVE STEWART has a slight different, less controversial take. "I see these two platforms co-existing for a long time. Streaming gives the listener the option to customize the music," STEWART told ALL ACCESS. "That's a priority to some listeners."

STEWART explores one vital advantage to radio -- its intimacy with the audience. "Streaming will never sound like a good friend, hanging out, talking about things the listener relates to. That's radio's biggest strength," STEWART said. "And when radio does that on the local level, it solidifies the relationship even more. Streaming is a jukebox. Radio is a friend."

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