Ah, you’ve arrived at the 2:30 hump. Caffeine just won’t cut it today – you need music blaring in your ears to make it to the finish line.
We millennials are not going to bring CDs into work and – according to this article from Millennial Marketing – we love a good bargain. We are hot for technological solutions – even more so when they’re free. Here are ten top apps and podcasts for free music to play in your cubicle.
Five Apps:
- Spotify. Easily synced across your desktop and mobile devices, Spotify users can create their own playlists – or let Spotify create customized playlists on their collective behalf. It’s free – and all you have to do to keep it at no cost to you is listen to two to three ads every half hour, when listening on your desktop. And be sure to check out our list of best Spotify playlists for your workday.
- Pandora. Available via website instead of an app download to your work desktop (as Spotify is), Pandora creates radio stations based on your music preferences. Like Spotify, you have to deal with a few ads to keep it free – but it’s worth the two minutes of commercials.
- Apple/iTunes Radio. With your Apple ID, you are granted access to thousands of free radio stations just by opening up iTunes. While not on-demand, customized stations – the variety is endless and there’s a station for every music taste. Note: iTunes Radio is just one component of Apple Music – and has been on the scene on its own since the early 2000s.
- iHeartRadio. As its App Store description explains, “iHeartRadio has the most popular AM and FM radio stations from cities across North America.” The listener is provided traditional style radio via cyberspace.
- Google Play Music. Yes, the Google Guys have music covered, too. Free with your Google account, customized stations are suggested to you upon sign-in – based on the time of day as well as your taste in music as detected by your searches. There is even an “I’m Feeling Lucky” button available – where you put your playlist fate in Google’s hands.
Five Podcasts:
- NPR’s All Songs Considered is a highly popular music podcast – suggested by sites including podcastchart.com and digitaltrends.com. NPR hosts Robin Hilton and Bob Boilen showcase new, emerging music – and even ask for song submissions. If you’re not in the mood for DJ talk, an Internet radio station for music only is available. The roster of tracks does not only include new music – Bruce Springsteen shows up on the recently played list.
- Song Exploder, according to its website, “is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs – and piece by piece – tell the story of how they were made.” Recent episodes feature KT Tunstall, MGMT and Death Cab for Cutie.
- Classical podcast from magnatune.com is a new podcast (starting in 2016), which provides commercial and talk-free classical music for 60 minutes straight. During a stressful day at the office, classical music could be the cure leading to your calm.
- Old Time Rock n Roll is perfect for those of us “old millennials” who feel as though we should have lived during our parents’ generation. According to its iTunes listing, it is “the largest oldies podcast in the world today” and host Lee Douglas plays his own collection of 120,000 songs from the 1950s and 60s.
- NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts – a companion to All Songs Considered – is available as an audio-only or as a video podcast. Featured artists perform at the desk of NPR host Bob Boilen (who co-hosts All Songs Considered). And even Adele has made an appearance.
Once you’ve sampled all of the genres of music available through these apps and podcasts, it will be quitting time before you know it!