Apps are fast, convenient, easy-to-use, and personalised, but a long-standing issue for many has been the inability to play some music platforms through other apps – or even through a locked screen. As the most accessible music platform is YouTube, many use it as their go-to player, but it puts up many of its own roadblocks.
Through pre-installed mobile browsers, you tend to need to have the browser app open and on-screen for YouTube to play music. The immensely popular site even designed its app not to work when not present on the screen, with background and drawing options traditionally hidden behind a premium subscription.
Still, in an age without real crowd noise, silent experiences, and less-inspiring soundtracks, many sports fans find that they want their own music to play while enjoying other sports apps. So, which apps can you use to enable music over the top of your sports apps?
Making use of music to enhance the sports experience
Mobile is slowly becoming one of the key ways to engage with modern sports. Just about every worthy sports channel has a companion app for viewing on the go, and some have established themselves as a part of the future, being sports streaming platforms in their entirety. DAZN.com, for examples, offers a vast range of live sports predominantly through their specialised app. However, as convenient and accessible as the apps are, some fans don’t like the commentary, such as through BT Sport, and others just want to drown out the crowd noise.
The same goes for sports experiences beyond watching live. What used to be done in a little shop has now moved to apps, with the most reputable brands offering comprehensive betting options through mobile apps. The platform SBO.net details that good betting apps offer live stats and streaming, a cash-out feature, and in-play betting. So, when the sport’s on, having the top betting apps open and ready can allow savvy fans to pounce on new opportunities. However, even the best sports betting apps don’t offer a soundtrack, and betting in silence can undoubtedly be improved by your favourite tracks.
Finally, perhaps the most prominent form of sports interaction through mobiles, Android and iOS sports games tend to come with a small soundtrack of songs or tunes, but few are very good. In fact, for as far as app games like Madden NFL Mobile Football, MLB 9 Innings, and eFootball PES have come in terms of graphics and gameplay, it’s tough not to see the soundtracks as a con to the experience. So, without using the risky ‘Draw Over Other Apps’ additional permission, or the ‘Picture-in-Picture’ hack, here’re some of the best apps that allow you to play your music of choice while in other apps.
Top apps to consider for playing music over other apps
As discussed earlier, YouTube and other online browser-based platforms are often the first port-of-call for music on-demand. YouTube has been around for so long that millions of its users boast several extensive playlists of their favourite tracks. Of course, most browsers make it a struggle to use YouTube in the background, but not Brave Browser. The online browser app supports background mode, allowing you to loop through YouTube playlists while making your way around the rest of your smartphone.
When it comes to music apps, however, one name dominates the space: Spotify. The music streaming platform boasts an ocean of tracks to stream at your convenience, with the free version being a strong choice for those who don’t want to upgrade. On both Android and iOS devices, Spotify can be customised to run in the background via the ‘App Info’ option or in the ‘Settings’ of an Apple device. Another worthy choice in the music streaming space is Deezer. Although not as renowned as Spotify, its built-in equaliser, high-quality audio, and ‘Flow’ feature help it to compete with its better-known counterpart. Like Spotify, you can also play Deezer in the background on Android and iOS smartphones.
As a final solution, you could give in to YouTube’s arm-twisting and join its premium subscription plan. YouTube.com has a great many uses, from finding music to launching your own music career, but as a consumer of content, you can certainly do worse than joining YouTube Premium. Initially known as YouTube Red, many see the offering as tedious, but those who peak behind the curtain gain ad-free access to videos, offline playback, and the coveted background play options. The two-month free trial helps to see if it’s worthwhile, but after that, it’s a hefty £11.99 per month – double the base Netflix plan of £5.99 per month.
YouTube is certainly the prominent name in accessible music, but there are many other more cost-effective options that allow you to listen to your music over the top of your favourite sports apps.