Yesterday, I cut ties with Spotify and made the decision to move to Apple Music. While I’ve enjoyed Spotify’s user interface and curated playlists over the years, a combination of factors led me to seek an alternative. I’ve used Spotify for a fair few years now, but the time had come.
First and foremost, I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with some of Spotify’s business practices. Controversial content moderation policies and their feeble compensation structure for artists, mean it’s become harder to align with a platform that seems to prioritise profit over ethics. As someone who values integrity in the services I use, these issues weighed heavily on my decision.
Another factor was cost. Apple Music is ever so slightly cheaper for me, which is a bonus. While the difference isn’t massive, it’s still a nice incentive to make the switch, especially when paired with Apple’s ecosystem benefits, given I use Apple products everywhere else in life. I’m definitely not suggesting Apple are a bastion of fair business practise, but I do think at least as far as this goes they are better than what Spotify are doing.
Perhaps most importantly, the sound quality on Apple Music is noticeably better. Apple’s lossless and high-resolution audio features seems to shine when played through my DCS and Esoteric CD player setup. The clarity and depth of the music are a significant step up from what Spotify offers, especially given Spotify’s delay in rolling out its promised HiFi tier. Interestingly, I’ve also found that AirPlay actually sounds pretty good despite its apparent limitations. It’s a pleasant surprise and adds even more flexibility to my listening experience.
What really prompted me to finally make the move was a recent post by John Darko, which resonated deeply with my own thoughts. I’d been considering this change for some time, but his insights helped tip the scales. Similarly, John DeVore shared a compelling video on his YouTube channel that reinforced the benefits of switching to Apple Music. Their perspectives gave me the final push I needed to act.
Switching platforms has been a seamless process, and I’ve already found plenty of new music to enjoy on Apple Music. It’s refreshing to support a service that better aligns with my values while also delivering superior sound quality and better value for money.
If you’re considering making the switch, do it. Don’t give money to scumbag companies.
Audio Satori 