Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2008 3:49:20 GMT -8
Just had this sent via Google Alert: Microsoft Announces New Zune Pass Music Subscription Model. Simon Renshaw is enthusiastic about it: "The subscription model continues to redefine the digital music landscape, and today's announcement is great news for consumers, artists and labels," said Simon Renshaw, chief executive officer of Strategic Artist Management (representing Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Everclear, Tila Tequila and Aly & AJ). "This breakthrough offer makes it easier than ever for consumers to discover new music and will encourage deeper engagement in the digital music space, and that is good for the entire industry."So maybe that's the way they'll go for any future marketing, and may even withdraw from iTunes? The announcement is a M$ press release carried by lots of sites, not an interview with Simon, however ... so it may well never happen anyway!
|
|
|
Post by eaglemaster on Nov 24, 2008 10:10:23 GMT -8
Thanks for this, Bob.
We shall wait and see...
|
|
|
Post by Bingo on Nov 24, 2008 11:09:04 GMT -8
Not only Simon Renshaw, but also Rick Rubin supports this idea - a monthly subscription fee entitling people to unlimited streaming of major label content - making it a bit like an "on demand" radio service.
Zune intend to "sweeten the deal" by offering ten tracks free each month as permanent MP3s - making the streaming subscription roughly equivalent, they say, to buying one CD a month.
However, the Zune model has limitations: 1. Zune is a Microsoft proprietory system, which requires special software, that (currently) won't run on other operating systems. 2. At present, Zune has only a small market share, compared to iTunes. The way the market has developed, the major labels would be unable to rely on Zune as anything more than an extra - certainly not their main revenue stream 3. Anything you can hear through your speakers is technically recordable - meaning that people could, in theory, pay a short-term subscription fee, record all they wanted, and then leave the service. (However, the major labels will presumably put up with that, on the assumption that only a minority of computer users will go to the trouble) 4. More importantly, the market is now taking off for free legal streaming services, supported by advertising (the record companies get a proportion of the ad revenue). These are likely to attract more listeners, and call into question the future of paid subscription services.
|
|
|
Post by oregonchickfan on Nov 24, 2008 14:04:18 GMT -8
I have a Zune, and yes I do get the 3 free tracks a month. The thing I don't like is that they only work on my Zune, I can't transfer them to my phone. This happeneds with other free downloads as well, like the Nickelback one that I recently received. That's really the only complaint I have about my Zune. Other than that, I love it.
Zune is growing though. As mentioned, it's not as big as iTunes, not yet atleast., but it's getting there.
|
|
Roger
Adult Chick
Posts: 1,568
|
Post by Roger on Nov 25, 2008 8:33:09 GMT -8
I would never go for the subscription model. I am hot and cold when it comes to music. I often go six months or more and never buy or download any song. So paying every month is like paying to enter a CD store. I would never do that - pay just to look! Nah!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2008 12:14:13 GMT -8
I would never go for the subscription model. I am hot and cold when it comes to music. I often go six months or more and never buy or download any song. So paying every month is like paying to enter a CD store. I would never do that - pay just to look! Nah! Me neither ... can't imagine doing it that way. Rather like those book clubs, where you had to buy a certain number each year, and were a bit stuck if you didn't like their choice. The iTunes model suits me better. I get hooked on something, buy a couple of dozen tracks, and then maybe nothing for months; but I do pop in to see if there's anything I've overlooked, or (more likely) whether they have finally got somebody's third album Trouble with the streaming model, as Bingo notes, is that anything can be recorded. Which also suits me, but I don't think is the best way forward as too many people doing that = internet popularity but no cash rewards as an incentive to continue, or measure of real popularity to persuade promoters to book an artist = we get out less and less to see live concerts. Each model has drawbacks (I won't go into iTunes now!) based upon either over-awareness of possible loss of potential income or over-optimism that punters won't take advantage. Proprietary restrictions and cross-platform incompatibility are nothing new with M$, of course And quality issues can plague all of them ... Hey - what about this for a revolutionary idea?! You go into a shop, look at the merchandise available, ask to listen to (or view) it and go into a booth, and after a fair period of time you come out and decide to purchase or not, with no obligation - wow! [For shop read internet store. For booth read your computer. For fair period of time read expiry-coded, like those trial programs that cease after 2 uses or whatever] Think it could ever catch on?
|
|