Over the past few months, I’ve taken a deep dive into several major music streaming platforms to find out which one stands out—not just from a listener’s point of view, but also as someone who publishes music there.

One of my main criteria, often overlooked in other reviews, was the quality of music recommendations. To make the test fair, I used each service with a clean slate (no listening history or personal data) and focused mainly on alternative and experimental music—especially by independent artists, not those signed to major labels.

I tested the platforms one after the other over about half a year, so it’s possible that some features may have changed during that time. But with that in mind, here’s what I found:

🏆 The Winner: Tidal

Tidal impressed me the most. While their algorithmic recommendations weren’t flawless, they were still better than those of any other platform I tested. What I particularly liked was their emphasis on user-created playlists, which are prominently featured on the home screen. Many of these playlists introduced me to music I hadn’t heard before but instantly appreciated—suggesting that the curators had a taste similar to mine.

Another plus: the Tidal app worked seamlessly with my Wi-Fi speakers without needing a third-party controller, which wasn’t the case with most other platforms. And yes, the sound quality was excellent too.

🥈 Second Place: Qobuz

Qobuz was a close contender. Their sound quality is arguably the best of the bunch, and instead of relying on algorithms, they offer editorial-style recommendations—like a digital music magazine. This can lead you to discover music far outside your usual listening habits, which I found refreshing.

However, I did notice some gaps in their catalogue, especially with older releases. For instance, none of our early mockART albums were available initially, though I’ve since uploaded them to complete our discography there. A downside: Qobuz’s app doesn’t connect directly with my Wi-Fi speakers, which was a bit inconvenient.

🥉 Third Place: Apple Music

Apple Music has its strengths—mainly its clean, minimalist interface and solid recommendations. But if you’re not part of the Apple ecosystem, you’ll quickly notice some limitations. Non-Mac users, in particular, don’t get the full experience, and integration with other hardware can be a bit clunky.

Also Worth Mentioning: Deezer

Deezer came across as the underdog, which made me root for them. I liked their vibe, and while their recommendation engine wasn’t quite up to par, it wasn’t bad either. A nice surprise: they have a partnership with my Wi-Fi speaker brand, which meant their service worked better than most within the speaker’s app. Still, I don’t understand why they haven’t fully integrated speaker support into their own app.

The Ones I Can’t Recommend

🚫 Spotify

Though Spotify is the most popular platform—and admittedly offers excellent usability and seamless tech integration—I was disappointed. Their much-praised recommendation engine didn’t suit my listening habits at all. I mainly received recommendations for polished major label productions, even though I focused on niche and experimental music.

Moreover, their emphasis on their own curated playlists means it’s harder to discover user-created ones. From an artist’s perspective, things get even more frustrating. Smaller, independent bands like mockART are rarely picked up by their algorithm, and visibility is low unless someone searches for you directly.

Spotify also requires artists to jump through unnecessary hoops—like uploading “canvases” (those short video loops). And the biggest issue: they don’t pay royalties for songs with under 1,000 plays. Recently, one of our older tracks crossed that threshold, only for the entire album to be removed shortly after—apparently due to suspicious playlist activity, not initiated by us. We’ve since uploaded a remastered version to all major streaming services.

🔊 Men Who Lost Their Heads (Again)

🚫 Amazon Music

This one was underwhelming. The recommendation system was poor, and the search functionality was frustrating. I often couldn’t find artists—even though they were there. Navigation felt tailored for Alexa users, and the integration with my speaker system was awkward at best. Even more concerning: older releases by prolific artists simply didn’t show up in the app interface.

🚫 YouTube Music

Given that it’s run by Google, you’d expect YouTube Music to have top-tier search capabilities. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. Despite listening to artists like Swans or Throbbing Gristle, I was being recommended Taylor Swift and The Weeknd. Nothing wrong with those artists—but that’s a totally different universe.

When I searched for “mockART,” the first result was “Mozart.” Helpful autocorrects are nice, but if the name you’re searching for does exist, that should take priority. Sound quality was also the worst I encountered—not just “not lossless,” but genuinely unpleasant to listen to at times.

⭐ Bonus Tip for MP3 Lovers

If you’re not sold on streaming but have a collection of MP3s and other music files, check out iBroadcast. It lets you upload your own music and access it from your phone or car. They offer a free tier (with slightly reduced quality for high-end files), but you can upload as much as you want. The interface isn’t perfect yet, but it’s improving steadily—and worth supporting.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a streaming service really depends on your needs. If you value thoughtful recommendations and high-fidelity sound, Tidal and Qobuz stand out. If you’re deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, Apple Music might feel like home. But for independent artists hoping to be discovered, Spotify’s dominance doesn’t always work in their favor.

What about you? Which services have you used—and what’s been your experience?

Whatever your choice—happy listening.