As a true ’90s kid, MTV was one of the highlights of my teens. I could clearly recall sitting in front of the box television rocking out to Linkin Park’s “In The End” music video and watching re-runs of enviable celebrity house tours on MTV Crib. Those really were the best days..
Beyond a doubt, growing up watching MTV has cultivated my love for all sorts of vastly dissimilar music genres and above all, music gets me going in ways I never would’ve imagined. Some people may beg to differ as music can sometimes be a distraction, but I’m never without my earphones, whether at work, at the gym, or even when experiencing a foul mood.
After hearing buzz about MTV’s music service – MTV Trax – being comparable to Spotify, I instantly got the app ’cause you know, MTV holds a special place in my heart. Unlike many music streaming services, MTV Trax curates playlists with the hottest music and the app gets refreshed overnight, offering new playlists daily so you’ll never run out of new material.
With MTV Trax, you can heart specific tunes to create your own playlist and even listen offline with no interruptions or ridiculous data bills as the music is downloaded directly into your device. Don’t you worry as MTV seamlessly helps you manage your data by allowing you to default your settings to Wi-Fi only downloads.
Similar to other music streaming subscription services, there is a trial period that’s free and a Premium service which of course comes with a fee. Powered by the MusicQubed platform, MTV Trax offers a two-week trial period and after which, you’d have to pay $2.99 monthly or $0.99 for a seven-day Premium pass.
The UI for MTV Trax is – as with all things MTV – very aesthetically pleasing. MTV’s pronounced playful, pop culture identity is translated on the app, and as compared to other blah music streaming services out there, it’s refreshing and relatable. The app is straightforward, with only four tabs to select from, and it’s easy to navigate through its offerings.
The music is categorised into various playlists and although I like the simplicity of it, there seems to be a lack of music selections on the app. Yes, the app gets refreshed daily and I’ll get to listen to something new tomorrow, but when I’m feeling a certain artist or song at that very moment, it may not be available to me and that gets a little annoying. Some playlists have 30 tracks, but others only have 10.
One thing I do like about MTV Trax though is that I get to choose a themed playlist to match whatever mood I’m in, whether it’s R&B, pop or electronic dance music. Albeit taking up a little more space on my smartphone, I highly appreciate that the app downloads music straight onto my smartphone so that I can listen offline without incurring extra cost, old-school style.
I was very sceptical, but after utilising the app for a while, I have to say that it’s growing on me. It’s not the best, but it’s not the worst either and I’m excited to watch the app evolve. MTV Trax is more affordable compared to many other music streaming services out there, and it’s unambiguous offline-listening feature is worth giving a shot.
You can download MTV Trax on your Android, iOS or Windows devices and enjoy a two week trial period before upgrading to a Premium account, which will cost $2.99 a month or $0.99 for a 7-day Premium pass.
