Spotify is a downloadable application that allows the streaming of music for free. The best part is:  it’s completely legal.

The music business has matured a lot since the days of Napster and it seems they are finally beginning to understand that the Internet is not an evil tool that will cripple their industry; but a unique opportunity to reach a wider audience. Since installing this software 6 months ago, my life has changed. I have been exposed to new music, I don’t have to rely on clunky outdated MySpace profiles to stream this new music and I certainly don’t need to worry about leaving my comfortable chair to change the CD in my player!

1. Stream music for free (or cheap)

Spotify allows you to stream music from literally hundreds of thousands of artists, old and new, for free. The only downside is the advertising which is served in the form of a 30 second advert which appears between every 3/4 tracks. Obviously Spotify, as a business, aims to make profit, but if these adverts prove too much of a distraction to bear of if you wish to use your music on a supported mobile device, you can upgrade to a premium subscription for only £9.99/month. When you consider the seemingly endless amount of music available to you, this is still a phenomenally small fee.

2. Discover new music

One of the key selling points for me when using this software is the artist suggest feature which is present on every artist page. For example, if I am listening to Goldfrapp, Spotify tells me that I might also enjoy Massive Attack, or Morcheeba. It’s right; I love both these artists.

This really comes into play when I discover similar artists that I had not previously heard of. Navigating to a new artist page and listening to them is quick and I have discovered so much new music through Spotify over the past 6 months that this feature alone is worth its weight in gold.

3. Spotify caters for everybody

Spotify offers a "24 hour pass" for non-premium members for 99p which essentially means you can listen to your music - advert free - for 24 hours. Absolutely perfect for when you throw a party , and a very well thought out feature by the Spotify team

4. Regularly updated library

Both new releases and the back catalogue are being constantly updated. This means that nearly all users are being fed regularly updated content; from teenagers who just want the latest chart music to the more discerned musical palette that may crave experimental 80’s electro-pop.

5. Share and share alike

Playlists can be built very easily and exported for sharing with friends via various mediums. Share your playlist as a downloadable file on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other social media platforms. The diversity of the Spotify playlist means it’s incredibly easy to pass music on, which encourages the exposure of lesser-known artists whilst also giving Spotify much needed promotion.

That's not all, folks...

There's a whole host of other reasons why Spotify is a revolutionary tool – its ability to integrate modern pop music into a free application that satisfies both the consumer, the record labels and the artists is, without question, a work of genius.

At present Spotify is only available in Europe, but when it hits America it is bound to be one of the hottest applications in entertainment history and one that has a profound effect on all strands the music industry.

Spotify – everyone loves music