With
a new app, Twitter Music, referenced in print as #music, Twitter has
promised to "change the way people find music". It lets you see what
songs people share and lets you listen too. You need to know a few
things to get started.
First, Twitter Music is
distinct from Twitter, so you will have to download a separate app. The
music app, right now only for Apple products , lets you see a list of
140 songs in each of four categories.
The
"Popular" list has the songs by major artists that are most often
mentioned and shared. It will also show the 140 top "Emerging" songs,
which are by lesser-known artists. A third list makes recommendations
based on the musicians you follow, and a fourth shows you what the
people you are linked to on Twitter are sharing.
The
app plays 30-second samples of songs. You can hear full-length songs on
Twitter Music if you have a subscription with either the Rdio or
Spotify streaming services. Twitter Music asks if you want to sign in
with Rdio or Spotify when you first set it up.
Keep
in mind you have to use the $10 a month versions of these streaming
services to use Twitter Music on a mobile device. Once you are signed
in, that's it - full songs will play. While you are listening a small
turntable icon appears, which you can use to change volume, pause, move
to the next song or tweet the song yourself.