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Read the following story by Kanin Srimaneekulroj from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Thailand has recently welcomed Spotify, the hugely successful international music-streaming service.
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Spotify joins the likes of Deezer, Joox and Apple Music in the competitive Thai market. Listeners are spoiled for choice when it comes to their preferred platform. So to help you decide on the best service for your musical tastes, we have compiled a list of the available music-streaming platforms, with a rundown of prices and features.
APPLE MUSIC
Price: 129 baht per month, 69 baht for students, 199 baht for families (six people)
Available on: All devices that support iTunes
In brief: One of the first streaming services to gain mainstream recognition, Apple Music allows you access to iTunes’ extensive library, which offers over 30 million songs from around the world to its subscribers.
The service also provides podcasts and the Beats radio function for those who want something a little different. New users get a free three-month subscription. Apple also regularly makes deals with famous artists to release new songs or music videos on its platform first (or even exclusively).
SPOTIFY
Price: 129 baht per month, 199 baht for families (six people)
Available on: PCs, Mac and smart devices
In brief: With a user-base second only to YouTube, Spotify is considered the most popular music-streaming platform in the world. Its enormous library can be compared to Apple Music. It is best known for its varied playlists and social media features that allow users to see each other’s playlists.
The service uses an algorithm to determine each individual user’s tastes. It then automatically compiles playlists based on the user’s listening history. Podcasts also are available.
JOOX
Price: 69 baht per week, 129 baht per month, 349 baht for three months, 639 baht for six months, 1,099 baht per year
Available on: Smart devices and PCs
In brief: With about 3.5 million songs in its library, Joox doesn’t have the variety offered by Apple Music or Spotify. What makes Joox different from its rivals is that it offers the most localised content for Thai users. Those who enjoy listening to local radio stations or luk thung songs will find a lot to like here.
Joox is almost entirely accessible for free. Some VIP songs may only be accessed by subscribers, but free users can access to these songs by sharing their music on social media. This means that everything on the app is free, as long as you’re willing to go through a few extra steps
DEEZER
Price: 129 baht per month, 199 baht for families (six people)
Available on: Smart devices and PCs
In brief: While not as internationally recognised as Spotify, Deezer provides very similar features to its competitor. It is also better established in Thailand, having been in available here since 2012. It can be used for free as well.
New users can enjoy the premium service for free for 30 days. However, if you use DTAC as your mobile carrier, you may be eligible to use Deezer’s premium service for free. The platform has been partners with the mobile carrier since it first became available.
TIDAL
Price: Standard - 179 baht per month, 269 baht for families (six people), HiFi - 358 baht per month, 537 baht for families (six people)
Available on: Smart devices and PCs
In brief: With over 46 million songs and 190,000 videos available on its platform, Tidal is the perfect platform for those who want a more high-end music-streaming experience. The sound quality of the app is equivalent to that of a CD, a claim few other services can match.
FUNGJAI
Price: Free
Available on: Smart devices and PCs
In brief: Compared to the others on this list, Fungjai is not a fully developed streaming service. The service is very limited, offering only around 8,000 songs at present. The music that it does feature is almost exclusively from Thai indie musicians, some of whom are amateurs. However, Fungjai has no subscription costs at all. As such, it is the perfect service for those who want to discover new music from new Thai artists.
SECTION 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. How to download music.
b. Music-streaming service providers.
c. Music trends in Thailand and around the world.
2. Which is the most expensive platform?
a. Spotify.
b. Joox.
c. Tidal.
3. Which is the most limited platform?
a. Apple Music.
b. Spotify.
c. Fungjai.
4. Which platform is able to learn what your musical preferences are?
a. Spotify.
b. Tidal.
c. Apple Music.
5. Which platform recommends music for you to listen to?
a. Spotify.
b. Deezer.
c. Apple Music.
6. Which is the most popular platform?
a. Spotify.
b. Deezer.
c. Apple Music.
7. Which platform is the best option for those who prefer Thai music?
a. Fungjai.
b. Joox.
c. Deezer.
SECTION 2
Read through the story. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
8. Tidal offers an extensive video library.
……………………
9. Apple Music sometimes releases new music from top artists before any of its rivals.
……………………
10. Deezer differs significantly from Spotify.
……………………
11. Tidal can offer superior sound quality.
……………………
12. Fungjai features music from indie artists from Thailand and abroad.
……………………
13. It’s possible to use Joox without paying anything at all.
……………………
SECTION 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Like the switch from cassettes to CDs, or even from MP3s to YouTube, the Thai music industry …..14….. faced many changes over the past decade - and not just for listeners. The shift …..15….. the dominant media over the years has shaped …..16….. artists and labels have worked to appeal …..17….. audiences. With the continuous growth in the …..18…… of music streaming …..19….. Thai music industry is likely to face further change.
14.
a. have
b. has
c. having
15.
a. above
b. on
c. in
16.
a. which
b. how
c. who
17.
a. to
b. for
c. with
18.
a. popular
b. popularly
c. popularity
19.
a. a
b. an
c. the
SECTION 4
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, adjective or adverb.
20. equivalent
…………………………
21. match
…………………………
22. fully
…………………………
23. amateur
…………………………
24. high-end
…………………………
Answers
Section 1
1. b.
2. c.
3. c.
4. a.
5. a.
6. a.
7. b.
Section 2
8. True.
9. True.
10. False.
11. True.
12. False.
13. True.
Section 3
14. b.
15. c.
16. b.
17. a.
18. c.
19. c.
Section 4
20. Adjective.
21. Verb.
22. Adverb.
23. Noun.
24. Adjective.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
