Tech Talk
By

Chenda Ngak /

CBS News/ September 27, 2011, 2:47 PM

Facebook login required for Spotify account, here's a little trick for you

Spotify
(CBS) - Our overlords at Spotify are requiring people to sign up with a Facebook account. There's an outcry of inconvenienced users ready to pull out their pitchforks.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. Sure, it's annoying, but Spotify provides a free service with a user interface that is optimized for Facebook integration. That said, there's a way to get access to the music streaming service without having to connect your Facebook to it.

How to sign up to Spotify without connecting your Facebook

A Spotify employee by the name of Darren posted the tip on the customer service site Get Satisfaction.

"Unfortunately you will need a Facebook account to access Spotify from now on, unless you already have an account set up. This does not stop you creating the Facebook account adding nothing to it and making it totally private as the Facebook account does not have to be actively used," said Darren.

Duh. There you have it. Create a dummy account for all your login needs. I've been a fan of compartmentalizing login accounts for a while. I have a separate email address for mailing lists and site registrations. Now that Facebook Connect has become ubiquitous - and in this case, necessary - it would be wise to have a dummy account.

Alternatives to Spotify

If that doesn't work, there are other great services that would fit the needs of music lovers who wish to stay anonymous. Other services have various features that fit the different needs of a wide range of users.

Spotify might be the most social service, with the best Facebook integration, it definitely needs a little help in the Twitter department.

Twitter fans, however, will get the best tweets out of Grooveshark, Rdio and Slacker Radio. Those services blast a tweet with a link to the song. And because these are web-based services, you won't launch an app, like Spotify.

Those who long for music discovery are best with services like Pandora and Turntable.fm. Pandora's music genome project is unmatched and Turntable.fm is great for sharing music with a circle of friends.

Happy downloading!

© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
19 Comments Add a Comment
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jaokguy says:
Where the ******* hell is spotify's ******* customer service phone number? Are they really that afraid of having to answer questions...
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samparmenter says:
Its not exactly a trick is it. Watch as I login to a system that requires a facebook login with ......... a facebook login. Spotify seem to be heading down the wrong path at the moment. Their software seems to be getting worse and as much as it might be madness to say, some of us listen to music to enjoy it, not to broadcast it to the world.

Why do all companies think that poorly executed social integration is the way to go. Everyone uses facebook so everyone will love to share all their music via Facebook. No, some of us are not so sad as to think that anyone cares about what music we listen to. I am capable of logging into a site without facebooks help.
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gamer78956 says:
I know how to use your email to sign up for Spotify!!!
First got to https://www.spotify.com/us/signup/open/
You must be very quick there it will say create a email using an email for only 4 seconds then it will dissapear then click it. If it is too quick for you refresh the page
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margroks says:
Frankly I hate Facebook because they insist on me giving them my cell phone number before they will allow me to use a screen name. As it is, my REAL name is posted and I do not like that at all. Why does Facebook think it needs my cell number? This is more of the same- some affiliated site thinks it has a right to demand more information about people that people want to give.

I really hate that other sites are asking you to use Facebook to login because they are apparently too lazy to maintain their own login area anyway. That's the ponly reason I have a Facebook site anyway.
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rahulgarlic replies:
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Moreover the facebook ads are horrible. I stopped using facebook an year ago and so i will definitely need tricks like this to join social network like spotify. <a href="http://google.com">isnt it?</a>
Elron_Aven replies:
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I gave no phone number to get this FB account. If they demand a number, give them the number of the local FBI field office.
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gaerlic says:
stupid. Why does Spotify need my facebook info? They dont. And in fact never heard of the before that.... As a rule of thumb i generally stay away from sites that require Facebook... Personnally I dont care for it...but only way i can talk to family it seems anymore....
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SB_Florida says:
Dangerous precedent.
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Piocaesare says:
We used our cat's Facebook to get access to Spotify. Ironically, I think I used my dog's Facebook to log on to CBS...
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Shane_isnt_happy says:
Piece of cake. I simply won't use Spotify.
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Shane_isnt_happy replies:
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Or any other site that connects using Facebook. Period. They are NOT the center of the universe, nor will I let them be the center of my life.
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BrianDane says:
It doesn't matter that there are a way around it, it is still a huge inconvenience to people and with alternatives like Rhapsody it will prevent many people from signing up, and even if you make a dummy account you still have to go through the notion of making it private yada yada yada.
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anOPINIONATEDsob says:
Just who elected Facebook the keeper of the keys to the information highway we paid to construct? When Facebook morons decide to censor us then who will we seek recourse from? Will the next step be a Facebook account in order to vote? It already takes an account to afford you the first amendment right to free speech therefore allowing another layer of censorship between you and your ability to voice your opinion. The next time a website forces you to listen or to watch something you did not request send them a bill for the theft of your bought and continually repaid for bandwidth that they now LIMIT you for unlimited access. This is what the folks you elected did to you in the name of obscene tax free profits! How's that trickle down thing workin for ya now???
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John-_Doe replies:
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"It already takes an account to afford you the first amendment right to free speech therefore allowing another layer of censorship between you and your ability to voice your opinion. "

So, the US Government is making you create a Facebook account to use Spotify or other sites?

Note: freedom of speech has NOTHING to do with private companies; they don't have to give you any speech at all.
CensoredByFB replies:
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Facebook bans ALL sex offenders from haiving an account. So regardless of circumstances, guilt or lack of guilt, or any other factors, Facebook has made a decision to alienate this group of our society in the ridiculous concept that they are keeping children safe. Ha! Murderers, thieves, kidnappers, perverts who use fake names, wife beaters, baby beaters, con artists, and every other group of human beings, good and bad, all have and enjoy Facebook accounts. But this one group that Facebook has decided to banish will not be allowed to keep track of family and friends, participate in community discussions, promote their legitimate businesses or ventures, share their positive changes, their knowledge, advice, or any other benefit that so much of today's world is part of. So now, Spotity has also effectively banished this group from listening to music and seeing the ads that Spotify advertisers are paying for. On the Spotify forums they suggest creating a fake Facebook account so you can join Spotify. Wow, that makes me feel like kids are safer. Bad Karma for Spotify. More bad Karma for Facebook. Thus Facenbook's hyped stock offering is sinking. Facebook is asking for failure, using private info for anything they want, banning people who are not being bad, allowing and encouraging anyone to create fake accounts. Sheeees. Makes me sick. They will do something very stupid and anyone with a Facebook account will wish they did not have one.
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