Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels • Hacker News Board

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#21

Post by shmerl » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:10 AM UTC

SteveNuts wrote: post #16

shmerl wrote: post #11

I prefer DRM-free stores and musicians who release there.

I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month. I can see how it would be a fun hobby to curate your own collection, but for me it's really hard to beat services like Spotify, Steam, Netflix - DRM or not.

I buy in stores like Bandcamp which sell FLAC, and then encode in Opus for playback. Also, prospects of your collection evaporating because DRMed service could suddenly close down tomorrow don't sound good. Convenience or not, I prefer to back up what I paid for.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#22

Post by SteveNuts » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:10 AM UTC

SomeStupidPoint wrote: post #20

SteveNuts wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month. I can see how it would be a fun hobby to curate your own collection, but for me it's really hard to beat services like Spotify, Steam, Netflix - DRM or not.

I like Netflix and Spotify, but dislike Steam. I just find it different to rent me content transparently, eg Netflix and Spotify, versus rent-by-pretending-to-sell, eg Steam. If you sell me something, I should be able to use and transfer it at my discretion without your permission. Steam, instead, leases you something on no fixed term and presumably without any guaranteed lifetime.

Yeah I prefer the GOG model, if something ever happened to my Steam library I'd probably revert back to curating my own DRM free library.

I'd be inconsolable for a few days though.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#23

Post by shmerl » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:12 AM UTC

SomeStupidPoint wrote: post #20

SteveNuts wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month. I can see how it would be a fun hobby to curate your own collection, but for me it's really hard to beat services like Spotify, Steam, Netflix - DRM or not.

I like Netflix and Spotify, but dislike Steam. I just find it different to rent me content transparently, eg Netflix and Spotify, versus rent-by-pretending-to-sell, eg Steam. If you sell me something, I should be able to use and transfer it at my discretion without your permission. Steam, instead, leases you something on no fixed term and presumably without any guaranteed lifetime.

I don't see why music should be different than games in regards to DRM-free.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#24

Post by coldtea » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:13 AM UTC

edblarney wrote: post #7

anotherthrow2 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Access to scoops and leaks, which translate into articles that get page views, which translate into ad dollars, is an indirect way to pay off a journalist.

So by your logic they are 'bribing' the journalist and 'paying them off' by 'giving them a scoop'? Ergo - every decent news story amounts to 'bribery'? I think you bit your tongue on that one.

>So by your logic they are 'bribing' the journalist and 'paying them off' by 'giving them a scoop'?

Yes, it happens often. Journalists get paid with scoops, etc (aka in the industry as "access") and that buys some favorable pieces and a sympathetic ear on the other side.

Here's an example (there are countless others from all parties and from tons of companies): http://gawker.com/this-is-how-hillary-clinton-gets-the-cover...

>Ergo - every decent news story amounts to 'bribery'?

Where did you came with this weirdo conclusion?

Bribing a journalist/media with scoops if something that happens, not something that ALWAYS happen -- so it doesn't apply to "every decent news story".

For one, not every scoop has been leaked to the outlet breaking it by the company/organization that the scoop is about.

>I think you bit your tongue on that one.

No, he really didn't.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#25

Post by shmerl » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:14 AM UTC

rev_bird wrote: post #14

shmerl wrote: post #11

I prefer DRM-free stores and musicians who release there.

So do I, but the ones on Spotify sound a lot better. Unfortunately, I'd bet most people favor listening to the music they want over supporting the digital freedoms they endorse.

"Better" is pretty subjective here.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#26

Post by citruspi » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:15 AM UTC

usaphp wrote: post #17

smpetrey wrote: post #13

If anyone thinks Spotify has leverage over record labels, I would challenge you to compare Spotify's operating losses year over year VS. Apple Music's operating losses year over year.

Can you elaborate on that? What are their losses?

184.5 MM € in 2015[0].

[0]: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-spotify-revenues-grow-80-pe...

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#27

Post by pyromine » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:16 AM UTC

shmerl wrote: post #21

SteveNuts wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month. I can see how it would be a fun hobby to curate your own collection, but for me it's really hard to beat services like Spotify, Steam, Netflix - DRM or not.

I buy in stores like Bandcamp which sell FLAC, and then encode in Opus for playback. Also, prospects of your collection evaporating because DRMed service could suddenly close down tomorrow don't sound good. Convenience or not, I prefer to back up what I paid for.

Talk about the freedoms you care about as much as you want, but at the end of the day the people who care about those things are such a small minority it has virtually no effect on the greater market.

Yah there's enough of you to support some niche stores, but it's great this works for you, but it doesn't matter for most consumers.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#28

Post by shmerl » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:29 AM UTC

pyromine wrote: post #27

shmerl wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I buy in stores like Bandcamp which sell FLAC, and then encode in Opus for playback. Also, prospects of your collection evaporating because DRMed service could suddenly close down tomorrow don't sound good. Convenience or not, I prefer to back up what I paid for.

Talk about the freedoms you care about as much as you want, but at the end of the day the people who care about those things are such a small minority it has virtually no effect on the greater market. Yah there's enough of you to support some niche stores, but it's great this works for you, but it doesn't matter for most consumers.

Small or not, Bandcamp noted gradual growth. Enough people care about it to make it work.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#29

Post by SteveNuts » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:32 AM UTC

shmerl wrote: post #21

SteveNuts wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month. I can see how it would be a fun hobby to curate your own collection, but for me it's really hard to beat services like Spotify, Steam, Netflix - DRM or not.

I buy in stores like Bandcamp which sell FLAC, and then encode in Opus for playback. Also, prospects of your collection evaporating because DRMed service could suddenly close down tomorrow don't sound good. Convenience or not, I prefer to back up what I paid for.

> DRMed service could suddenly close down tomorrow don't sound good

I'm not worried about that - it's not my collection, it's Spotify's. I'm merely paying for the unlimited consumption of their collection on demand, not to purchase the songs and have them for life.

It'd be a different story if I expected the songs I listen to on Spotify to be available forever, but I don't, and that's not what I'm paying for.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#30

Post by techsupporter » Sun, Mar 19, 2017, 4:33 AM UTC

SteveNuts wrote: post #16

shmerl wrote: post #11

I prefer DRM-free stores and musicians who release there.

I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month. I can see how it would be a fun hobby to curate your own collection, but for me it's really hard to beat services like Spotify, Steam, Netflix - DRM or not.

> I prefer the convenience of having access to an effectively unlimited music library, on demand, for a flat cost per month.

This is what I do. I use Spotify as an on-demand radio. If I like an artist or album, I buy it in physical form. (Usually on record because why not? And it often comes with a download code.)