
1. Remote access
When two or more devices have the desktop or mobile Spotify apps open, one device can access another, essentially enabling a cellphone or tablet to function as a remote control. In my case, as long as my laptop is connected to wifi during the dance, I can sneak a drink in the kitchen and still control the playlist.
2. Offline download
This was the winner for me. I don't always have wifi access when I'm DJ-ing, but with Premium, I can craft a playlist beforehand and download all the songs. As an added bonus, Spotify will also access local files, enabling hybrid playlists.
3. Gapless playback/crossfade
Not useful for swing dances, but great for jamming out at work while fighting with boring spreadsheets. Deep in the Preferences gear are options for gapless playback (mobile only), or if you are really impatient, crossfade, which bleeds songs into each other (mobile/desktop.)
4. Mobile equalizer

Within the mobile app is a handy little equalizer. You can adjust manually, or switch to a dozen or so different settings. I still need to play with this more, but it might be fun for people who know what they're doing with the controls.
Overall, I've found Spotify Premium to be useful for my needs. I wish the apps all had the same controls - it's irritating to remember what I can do on the desktop and what I can't - but overall, the pros outweigh the cons.
The free version of Spotify isn't bad either - same music access without the download capability, but mobile functionality is more limited. Plus, of course, the periodic and unvarying commercials. If you won't use Premium enough to merit the $10 monthly fee, I encourage you to check out the basic service.
Happy listening!
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Copyright 2017 Rebecca Willen
About the Author

Rebecca W. Martin
Rebecca W. Martin, a trade book Acquisitions Editor for Our Sunday Visitor and Assistant Editor at Chrism Press, lives in Michigan with her husband and too many cats. A perpetually professed Lay Dominican, Rebecca serves as editor for Veritas, a quarterly Lay Dominican publication. Her children’s book Meet Sister Mary Margaret will release in fall 2023 from OSV Kids.
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