Apple Music brings me closer to my favorite artists than Spotify ever could

• Concert going isn’t always fun
• Apple Music Live brings the concert experience to you
• This isn’t the only way to consume the shows
• Spotify’s Live Events feel more like ads

I have been a Spotify user for years and have typically enjoyed the platform. Being able to enjoy Spotify Wrapped each year and bring my songs, podcasts, and audiobooks with me in one app was appealing. In fact, it still is. I don’t dislike Spotify. There’s plenty to like about it.

But in the ever-raging war between Apple Music and Spotify, something hit me. I was given the opportunity to try Apple Music free for 30 days recently. I was immediately drawn to its features for audiophiles, such as how much Spatial Audio it offers. I was unsure about making the switch full time because I didn’t want to lose my Spotify playlists. I worked hard to craft playlists for all kinds of moods, such as working out, dancing, working, and more (yes, I do have dancing playlists, and they are hyped up, and you can email me to send you them.)

Once Apple Music made transferring playlists from Spotify a breeze, I was ready to make the switch. As I was exploring what else Apple Music offered, I came across one feature that again reaffirmed my decision to opt for Apple Music. That was Apple Music Live. Being able to not only listen to concerts but also watch them brings an entirely new dimension to the streaming audio experience for me.

Concert going isn’t always fun

Plenty of times it is, but there’s always risks

I’m not going to say that attending a concert is not a great way to spend your time. Live concerts in person are some of the most fun people can have. Being in the same room or place as your favorite artists and experiencing music in a crowd with others is a visceral event that you’ll have a lot of memories from. Whether it’s an intimate setting or a massive arena, there are different types of shows that can get your music-loving heart fluttering.

But, there are absolute downsides to going to concerts. Being hit with exorbitant taxes and fees for ticket prices, having to pay for parking or transportation, spending a ton of money on concessions, and being crammed into seats or onto the floor next to a ton of people may not be the most fun for some people. I personally have been to dozens of shows and some I’ve really enjoyed and others I wish I’d stayed home. I’m sure everyone has those experiences with the process. But you could do everything right and the artist or group could just have an off night and not make all the effort you put in worth it. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, but there are inherent risks to going to a concert because you just may not have a good time.

Apple Music Live brings the concert experience to you

I can save money and enjoy a different time

The “Live” in Apple Music Live is a bit confusing as the shows are recorded.

Why I like the idea of Apple Music Live is because you can attend a concert from the comfort of your own home. Apple Music Live has done this with some major artists as well, so it isn’t just small and up-and-coming artists that are trying to get their name out there that you probably weren’t going to pay to see anyway. Shows by Billie Eilish, BigXthaPlug, Camila Cabello, Kacey Musgraves, SZA, and Björk have all been shown on the platform. Apple Music Live is offering its next edition with Gracie Abrams at Red Rocks Ampitheater in Colorado that took place in August.

You can log into your Apple Music account the night it premieres and watch the concert as it happened. That means I can sit on my couch in my sweatpants, make some popcorn, and lie with my dog and wife as we watch her sing Close to You from a state that was nowhere near where I live. Does it give me the same experience as I would have if I attended the concert in person? Absolutely not. Does it save me a ton of money in the process, especially since I’m not a diehard Gracie Abrams fan and probably wouldn’t have attended this show otherwise? Yes. While I would have seen this concert a few months ago, as it was taped in August, it is nice being able to watch it from home.

This isn’t the only way to consume the shows

Apple Music uses some premium features with this

Even if you aren’t able to watch the “live” airing of the Apple Music Live premiere of one of the concerts, it’s made available on the platform to stream whenever. But what I really love is that the show is made available on demand in Spatial Audio. You’ll be able to listen to the show in a crystal clear format just like you were listening to a live album. Live albums have historically been some of the most appreciated albums from bands throughout history, so having these at your fingertips for a set monthly price helps me discover more artists and what they’re like in person.

Not only does Apple Music help me understand if I’d want to go see an artist in person with these offerings, but they also help make them sound better. That Billie Eilish show that was recorded in London was a pretty good show. I know because I listened to the Spatial Audio recording of it after the fact. Spotify offers live albums, but since it only just started adding lossless audio to its platform, it hasn’t reached the levels that Apple Music can offer.

Spotify’s Live Events feel more like ads

They want to help their partners

If you have Spotify, you have no doubt been sent weekly emails about personalized concert picks for you. If you listen to anything on the platform, it starts to put together your tastes in music based on its algorithms. From that, it starts by suggesting artists you like or artists like the ones you like. From there, you’ll get suggestions in the app for music each day. But you’ll also be hit with emails for shows you can attend based on your preferences.

That means I can sit on my couch in my sweatpants, make some popcorn, and lie with my dog and wife as we watch her sing Close to You from a state that was nowhere near where I live.

While the idea is there to want to have you share in live music, it does feel like a spam ad most of the time in my inbox. There are a lot of concerts on there that I wouldn’t attend and, knowing how expensive they are, I don’t even think twice about it. You can also find Live Events as one of the categories in the app, so you can plug in a zip code and see local shows where you are. This feels like a better use of this because it can help you unearth bands near you that you may not have known about. But, at the end of the day, Spotify is still trying to sell tickets for its partners, which are the ticket platforms and venues. Apple Music Live feels like a better way to spend my money to enjoy these live events after the fact.