I think Rdio is losing the proverbial format war.

[luisterpaul]

Spotify has more titles, more features, more buzz, more intimacy with Zuckerberg... Rdio seems to be scrambling: "Where the hell did Spotify get this momentum?" Their tweets sound like, "Hey, we're still here! We just got this new album to stream! Please visit our site!" whereas Spotify's sound like they're whispered into your ear by the sexy man or woman of your choice.

[Dan]

Spotify just lost tons of labels, didn't they? Or tons of albums when one European label pulled out? I thought I read that somewhere?

[twentyshots]

Rdio seems like it's teetering but i kind of hope it hangs on. even though spotify has more songs than practically everyone else combined, i still find stuff on Rdio that spotify lacks.....i know they are competitors but to me they compliment each other and have been essential in all of this end of year re-listening...

[frizgolf]

I haven't pulled the trigger on Rdio premium. I use Spotify on the go from the phone all the time, and as a result I never seem listen to Rdio at all, even when I do have a DSL connection.
Just can't justify two monthly fees.

[Buzzstein]

Yeah, you are probably right. Rdio has great social aspects though. Each playlist on there isn't just a playlist. It's also a message board thread. And it's awesome how it recommends music based on what your friends are listening to. That's the feature I like most. They need to upgrade their interface a bit though. Playlists are a little clunky and I'm still not sure what to do with the music that I've added to my collection. But for music discovery Rdio is the best.

[Nate]

Spotify connecting with Facebook is the death nail for Rdio.

[kcneon]

Spotify just lost tons of labels, didn't they? Or tons of albums when one European label pulled out? I thought I read that somewhere?

Yeah, something like that.  As of now I haven't noticed anything I've listened to in the past pulled.

[Kwyjibo]

Spotify connecting with Facebook is the death nail for Rdio.

Is death nail like a mashup of 'death knell' and 'nail in the coffin'?

[Jen]

Yeah, something like that.  As of now I haven't noticed anything I've listened to in the past pulled.

I do. I had Gus Gus playlisted and went to listen to it yesterday (as I keep forgetting to bring my CD into work to RIP) and it wouldn't play. I tried a couple of tracks and nothing.

[Fourthisto]

Just can't justify any monthly fees.

Yep!

Is death nail like a mashup of 'death knell' and 'nail in the coffin'?

Bwahaha! Glad to see some things never change.

[Kwyjibo]

Bwahaha! Glad to see some things never change.

Yep, for all intensive purposes nothing's changed at all.

[Fourthisto]

Heeheheee... Oh, you!

[Zafer Kaya]

I think Spotify recasting themselves as a music app platform as opposed to a subscription service pretty much kills Rdio and the rest of the existing competitors.  I don't think much of the whole "app" model, but it does have the advantage of being in line with the way users think and it provides better incentive for 3rd party developers to work in Spotify.

I don't know if that means Spotify is still the winner in the long haul, though.  While the other guys can never get the momentum back nor can they start all over with their coding/API, some other start-up might be able to ride a wave of buzz similar to the way Spotify did.

I don't know how all of these apps/platforms/OS's will eventually play out.  It's all going to be chunked up into levels, and who knows where those demarcations will be drawn? Let's say iTunes drops Ping and hooks up with Facebook instead.  If I'm using my iPad, I could simply open up iTunes and play music, while simultaneously browsing to Facebook or Pitchfork or using a Facebook/Pitchfork app.  I wouldn't need Spotify as a separate entity.

In today's tech world, you can't just do one thing.  On the other hand, if you try to bundle up too much crap things start to get messy and unworkable.  Is listening to music a big enough deal that it needs it's own "platform," or is it more properly an "app" in someone else's platform? 

[jcarwash31]

Spotify just added some features and tweaked the interface a little.  They have added some apps, like a Last.fm app where you can get Last.fm recommendations inside the Spotify player.  They are featuring Radio more as well.  I really don't know if they made any changes to it, though.

[luisterpaul]

Spotify pays out more in royalties than terrestrial radio