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Rdio’s plan to compete with Apple and Spotify: The cheapest music subscription service we’ve seen yet

Published May 14th, 2015 5:55PM EDT
Rdio Select Vs. Spotify Vs. Beats Music

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With an already packed music streaming field poised to get even more crowded once Apple enters the fray, Rdio is planning to introduce a new music streaming service for just $3.99/month.

Dubbed Rdio Select, the new music streaming service will offer subscribers three main options. One will be a Pandora style music recommendation service, albeit without any pesky ads. Two, Rdio Select will allow users listen to any 25 songs of their choosing on-demand. And third, Rdio Select will offer users curated playlists from artists like Mumford & Sons along with “tastemakers like NPR Music and Rolling Stone.” To top it all off, Rdio notes that its songs come in higher 320 kbps quality.

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With respect to the service’s on-demand feature, users will be able to download 25 songs and listen to them as frequently as they would like. The list of 25 songs can be adjusted daily.

As for the rationale behind Rdio Select, a Rdio executive told Buzzfeed that the service finally brings a mid-tier option to the table, something the music industry currently lacks. It’s certainly an interesting approach given that most music streaming services either offer an ad-supported free tier or a premium tier typically priced at $9.99. The notion of a premium tier priced at $3.99 with an adjustable on-demand list of 25 songs is certainly a creative strategic move, especially given that Rdio lacks any semblance of consequential streaming marketshare at the moment.

Interested users who sign up now can try out the service for free for 60 days.

Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.