Like it or not, music fans are moving away from solely auditory experiences towards more interactivity — as offered by tablets and iPhones, and imminent eyewear like Google Glass, in which we are about to move right into the screen itself.

One of the truly exciting musical innovations of the last decade has been the App. Apps offer a never before seen level of creative interaction, the ability to stream tunes on demand from the cloud, as well as some fun and witty tools to help make music on the run.

There’s no doubt that Apps are here to stay, and will only get more exciting as the technology develops.Here are some of our favourites:

1. Google Play Music (http://play.google.com)

Google’s all-access streaming service packs a powerful punch and is going to give Spotify and Grooveshark a run for their money. With its 30 day three trial and access to music from Sony, Universal and Warner amongst others, Google’s option is impressive. Needless to say, the fact that Google controls internet search itself may mean their product finds a level of exposure which will inevitably mean it starts to gain precedence over the months and years to come. Watch this space……

2. Soundhound (http://www.soundhound.com/)

Soundhound is one of several versions of a tool which analyses incoming audio and returns a likely match (similar to Shazam). If you’ve ever been in the car or an elevator and heard a track that’s blown your mind, but been unable to figure out who the heck it was, this is the thing for you. Flip on the app and hit the giant orange button and you’ll be quickly suggested a likely candidate. We love this.

3. Songkick (https://www.songkick.com/)

Another simple idea that has legs. Songkick scans the audio files on your phone and remembers which bands you like. It then alerts you via email whenever said bands comes to gig in your town. This is genius because it’s encouraging people to support live music, where you can remember why you  like a particular band in the first place. It’s free as well.

4. Tunein Radio (http://tunein.com/)

This Android App gives the mobile user access to a whopping 70,000 radio stations from around the world which you’re on the move. One of the true revelations of the internet, for the music lover, has been the ability to tap into global radio culture with it’s unparalleled diversity and cultural flavour. Tunein Radio Pro is available from the Google store, and will pretty much take care of your music needs for the rest of your life with that one purchase.

Which apps do you prefer to use as a listener? Which do you use as a music-maker? Let us know in the comments section below.

Author Bio: Claire Marlin works for Imagem Production Music, where you can download over 140,000 tracks.

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