Spotify gets Pandora-style music discovery in Echofi
updated 05:50 pm EDT, Mon September 12, 2011
App adds dynamic radio station-like listening
Spotify, the music streaming provider, now has a radio style web interface through unofficial means. Known as Echofi, a listener can now specify a group or band that they like, and then listen to similar music for as long as they like. This capability, similar in function to Pandora, was created not by the company, but by a third party, coder Andy Smith.
Using the enhanced interface is straightforward. A listener simply opens Spotify, and then goes to the Echofi site on the Web. They then enter an artist's name in a dialog box, and a radio station with similar style music instantly becomes available. The listener can also hone preferences by indicating whether or not they love or hate a song, much like Pandora's thumbs-up and thumbs-down options.
Spotify initially was launched in Sweden in 2008. Since then, it has expanded to Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Spotify recently began offering its service in the US in July. Spotify offers multiple service tiers. These includes a free service with ads, a $5 unlimited monthly plan that gives full streaming on the web, and a $10 premium plan that gives full access on Android, iOS, and other devices. [via Wired]
