I’m sure everyone has heard of Spotify by now, but I just wanted to salute a cool app and distribution method. As I am sure you know, this little app/service is by invitation only. I like the fact that when you join you get 10 invites (which is a great way of tracking peoples circle of friends i.e. are they an evangelist or recluse) which means you get to pass them onto your tribe. I’ve only given out four invites, but that’s because all my friends are of the ‘connected’ persuasion (meaning they heard it first and invited me) or not at all and so are not interested.
…Anyway, I like the fact that the network of users only grows by word of mouth, only by contact with someone else who has invites. Big props to Spotify for a great distribution method (though not new)…I mean who wouldn’t tell their mates about a free service. The free service has ads though, this then leads me to think about the interesting juxtaposition of new era advertising i.e. Spotify through the tribe and the old fashioned advertising which is shout at you about the product.
I can’t help but think they have missed a trick or two in this era of social networking…where is the “your friends are listening to”, or the user rating system and the usability of the app is a bit frustrating if you want to look for new tracks…..but having said that it is free! 
For those who don’t know what Spotify is, it’s like Free iTunes (streamed).
