Read before continuing: what we’re about to tell you does NOT give you permission to stop listening to Israel Hour Radio. Got it? Okay, read on.

Earlier this week, the Israeli government released a new music-streaming app called “Shiri”. The app already features 40,000 Israeli songs, with many more promised in the future.

The app was developed by the Culture and Sport Ministry, in conjunction with the National Library of Israel and the music nonprofit Finjan.

According to The Jerusalem Post (2/4/19):

The Culture Ministry said it was making the app available – advertisement-free – to the general public “with the goal of conserving and preserving Israeli music throughout the generations.” The ministry said that the application “provides royalties equally to creators, record companies and performers.” And unlike many of the other music streaming apps – like Spotify and Apple Music – users are able to skip songs they don’t like without limitations.

The app also claims that the artists you listen to earn much more money from “Shiri” than from any other streaming service.

Of course, I had to take it for a test drive.

My date with “Shiri”

Upon installation, “Shiri” asks you to choose three of your favorite Israeli artists, and then creates a personalized playlist based on your selections. It then allows you to give each song a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”, hopefully teaching the app what kinds of music you enjoy. (BTW, the interface of the app is entirely in Hebrew.)

So I entered three artists I enjoy: Rami Kleinstein, Shiri Maimon, and, for the sake of variety, Static & Ben-El Tavori. I would have liked to enter a few more artists, but they only allow three.

Here are the first ten songs I heard:

1. Rami Kleinstein – BaYom Shel Haptzatza
2. Shiri Maimon – Kshehalachta
3. Static & Ben-El – Tudu Bom
4. Yardena Arazi – Ata Li Eretz
5. Adam – Pa’amayim BaYom
6. Hadag Nachash & Avraham Tal – Ten Li Manginah
7. Ariel Zilber – Titorer
8. Shiri Maimon – Shvii L’Rega
9. Segol 59 – HaDor Haba
10. B’not Pessya – Chashmal B’chapot Yadecha

OK, not bad. It looks like the playlist skews a bit older, since none of the songs I’ve encountered so far have been relatively new. However, I’m excited to keep listening. What a great way to get people listening to Israeli music!

Will you download the “Shiri” app? If you do, let us know your artist selections and your own personal first ten songs!