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So you spent all week listening while you worked, right, like we talked about in Monday’s post, “Why You Should Allow Music into the Office”?
No? Why not? Maybe listening while working isn’t for you, or maybe it isn’t a habit yet. Or maybe you just don’t know where to turn to listen to free music all day long.
Well don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of our favorite music websites. We love these sites because they’re free, the ads are minimally obtrusive, and the services just plain rock in general.
As a throwback to the mix-tape era, 8tracks provides user-created playlists composed of eight tracks or more (hence the name). By using listener-based playlists, 8tracks can provide a wide and diverse range of music, and connect songs and artists together organically, in ways that feel natural to the listener.
However, be warned that the pictures accompanying playlists aren’t always safe for work, so if your office has policies against the viewing of nudity or pornographic materials you may want to stay away at work, or at the very least hide the browser.
You can access playlists for free online, or through their mobile app.
If you are in the mood to listen to something specific, then use Grooveshark. (Spotify is a similar service.) Grooveshark allows you to search for artists and create your own playlists. You can even save playlists for later, which is great because if you’re picky, it can take a while to queue up the perfect playlist.
They also have a radio feature where you can listen to music by genre, but their genres are loosely defined so you end up listening to a lot of junk too. If you’re looking for a radio-style service, there are better options out there.
Grooveshark is free to use online, but costs money for the ad-free version, or to use the mobile features.
This free web-based radio watches, or Scrobles, what you listen to, and then recommends similar songs and artists, allowing you to learn about great new music. You can even customize your radio stations by artist or genre, and can mix and match, choosing up to three to mash together.
You will have to watch a short add anytime you start a new station, or switch between stations. Additionally, if you’re listening for a long period of time, the music may stop playing. If this happens, check the browser window, they are checking to make sure you are still listening, and stop the music to avoid playing to an empty room (a great work feature). Simply click ok and playback resumes.
This free music service is software based, not browser-based, so you will have to download the program to be able to listen to the service. Spotify is a good option for some, depending on your music needs.
There are some limitations and restrictions on the number of free listening hours you’re allotted, although they allow unlimited listening for free for the first 6 months. Click here to read about how much music you can listen to with Spotify.
What’s your favorite place to go for free music? Leave us a comment and tell us about it.
Julie Strier is a freelance writer who enjoys helping you do enjoy your work. Email: [email protected]. Website:www.mybusinesswriter.com.