Music lovers everywhere have more options than ever for mobile, music-based applications. These Android apps allow users to manage, mix, download and stream music right to their handhelds 
or tablets. And the sheer amount of available apps ensures that anyone, regardless of his or her tech prowess, finds an application suited to their particular tastes and skill level.
So in the interests of option management, below is a list of current, top music apps that meet certain criteria, namely:
- They are all free. While some of these apps may charge for certain specific services, all of them offer a basic free service.
- All apps in the list are for Android-based devices running 2.2 or higher.
Winamp
The granddaddy on the list, this music program has been around since 1997. Now in app form, Winamp features a basic, slick interface that allows for easy music management. It can group music lilbraries by genre and can tune into radio stations via Shoutcast – with the requisite WiFi connection.
Songbird
Songbird was initially developed as a 2-in-1 music player/web browser desktop program. Using Mozilla’s framework, Songbird offers a minimalist interface geared towards easy navigation. This allows users to quickly group their music library by genre, album, artists and song. The app is also open source and completely free.
Cubed
Cubed is a music app that combines simple functionality and minimal features with sleek graphics and eye-catching design. There aren’t many tabs or pages with this app, just smooth screen movements and an abundance of style. Some people enjoy the focus on eye candy while others complain of it hindering navigation.
Double Twist Player
This application took the number one spot in Newsweek’s Top Android Apps for 2011. The basic features on this app are laid out in an easy-to-use, lush interface. But while the regular features are free, advanced features such as AirSync, AirTwist and AirPlay must be purchased. And because these features allow the user to sync up with their computers and stream to video game consoles, the app isn’t really complete without the pay service.
MixZing
MixZing is a well-known Android app precisely because it offers a number of unique features. For example. On top of being a standard music player, MixZing can access info about the song that is currently playing with a single tap. This data gathering yields such useful tidbits as artists’ bios, YouTube videos and lyrics. The app also offers useful features such as a sleep timer, graphic equalizer and fully customizable settings.
The biggest issue many have with the app is the interface. While no slouch by any stretch of the imagination, MixZing’s menus and text don’t exactly pop. Add to that the fact that the app will occasionally display banner ads and the user should expect the occasional marketing eyesore.
These are just a few of the most popular music-based Android apps on the market available for free download. The good news is that, while almost every music-based app around has some kind of pay model, there will always be a market for free services in the world of mobile applications.
Justin Miller is a professional blogger that writes on a variety of topics including electric guitar lessons. He writes for JamPlay.com, a leading online music educator offering 2,000+ guitar lessons for kids online in HD.
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