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Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

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Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#41

Post by brennebeck »

newsat13 wrote: post #33
JamilD wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spotify has partnered with telecoms, newspapers, and others to provide bundled subscriptions -- inflating their "paid" subscriber amount. A good chunk of those 50m aren't paying $10/mo; they've expanded their partnerships (in part) to inflate that number.

Very interesting. Can you give me some pointers on what kind of partnerships they have?

Here in the Philippines the major providers bundle Spotify with data plans. Also, a family subscription here is a fraction of what it was back home in the US (~P159 vs ~$10+)

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#42

Post by visarga »

I got 99 problems but Spotify ain't one! because I live outside their small map. I don't exist for them and they don't exist for me.

Edit: just joking, I am actually irritated I can't check out the Discover Weekly playlist, whenever it comes out in discussion. I just checked, my country is still not on their list.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#43

Post by ikt »

shmerl wrote: post #34
alex_anglin wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DRM aside, one thing that Spotify seems to have done quite well is to integrate its service in to many other devices and services: Much like what Netflix has done for video. For many people, having their music collection readily available is quite valuable.

I'd say the opposite - you described the benefits of DRM-free media. You don't need to worry about OSes, devices and etc. Standard formats are accessible everywhere. And if you are using some really quirky system, you can always transcode it into supported format (that's why it's always better to buy lossless music). DRMed ones on the other hand, are tied to officially supported systems only, therefore it always will…

I think he's pointing out for example that you can discover a new song you love in spotify, add it to your playlist, have that sync with your phone automatically or if you login at work whether using the pc app or website it'll be there for you as well. Pretty much add to playlist once, play anywhere.

I'm not sure what would be involved to be able to access my music through a web browser at multiple locations that syncronises with multiple devices every time I add a song to a playlist but I don't think 'effortless' would describe it.

That's one way music availability on spotify is better, the other thing is that I honestly don't even remember what music discovery was like before spotify, I think it was mostly youtube videos...

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#44

Post by visarga »

refulgentis wrote: post #9
anotherthrow2 wrote: post #2

This is nothing more than PR fluff. Spotify is in big trouble, as waging war with Apple is proving to be far more costly than they expected. I want to know how much Techcrunch got paid for this advertisement.

My instincts feel that way, but Apple Music announced they crossed 20 million paid users in 12/2016, 40% of Spotify's 50+ million. Anecdotally, discover weekly is a tremendous hit. Makes you wish for functional public capital markets so we knew the real story.

> Anecdotally, discover weekly is a tremendous hit.

Would be nice to try, but it is restricted for me.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#45

Post by [deleted] »

visarga wrote: post #42

I got 99 problems but Spotify ain't one! because I live outside their small map. I don't exist for them and they don't exist for me. Edit: just joking, I am actually irritated I can't check out the Discover Weekly playlist, whenever it comes out in discussion. I just checked, my country is still not on their list.

[deleted]

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#46

Post by andkenneth »

refulgentis wrote: post #9
anotherthrow2 wrote: post #2

This is nothing more than PR fluff. Spotify is in big trouble, as waging war with Apple is proving to be far more costly than they expected. I want to know how much Techcrunch got paid for this advertisement.

My instincts feel that way, but Apple Music announced they crossed 20 million paid users in 12/2016, 40% of Spotify's 50+ million. Anecdotally, discover weekly is a tremendous hit. Makes you wish for functional public capital markets so we knew the real story.

I switched from Google Play Music to Spotify specifically because of Discover Weekly and the curated playlists that spotify hosts. I pretty much only listen to music from one of those two.

Conversely, the "daily mix" playlists seem to be utter crap for me.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#47

Post by shmerl »

ikt wrote: post #43
shmerl wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say the opposite - you described the benefits of DRM-free media. You don't need to worry about OSes, devices and etc. Standard formats are accessible everywhere. And if you are using some really quirky system, you can always transcode it into supported format (that's why it's always better to buy lossless music). DRMed ones on the other hand, are tied to officially supported systems only, therefore it always will…

I think he's pointing out for example that you can discover a new song you love in spotify, add it to your playlist, have that sync with your phone automatically or if you login at work whether using the pc app or website it'll be there for you as well. Pretty much add to playlist once, play anywhere. I'm not sure what would be involved to be able to access my music through a web browser at multiple locations that sy…

My tastes in music aren't mass market by far and I don't buy it in huge quantities. May be it makes it easier for me, but I don't mind managing my music collection myself.

And if we are talking convenience, it's really not related to DRM. I.e. nothing stops DRM free store from offering you a sync service or anything of that sort (GOG do it with Galaxy for instance). If anything, DRM always reduces potential usability as above.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#48

Post by mattm »

newsat13 wrote: post #33
JamilD wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spotify has partnered with telecoms, newspapers, and others to provide bundled subscriptions -- inflating their "paid" subscriber amount. A good chunk of those 50m aren't paying $10/mo; they've expanded their partnerships (in part) to inflate that number.

Very interesting. Can you give me some pointers on what kind of partnerships they have?

With Rogers in Canada some plans get Spotify free for 6 months.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#49

Post by ripdog »

newsat13 wrote: post #33
JamilD wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spotify has partnered with telecoms, newspapers, and others to provide bundled subscriptions -- inflating their "paid" subscriber amount. A good chunk of those 50m aren't paying $10/mo; they've expanded their partnerships (in part) to inflate that number.

Very interesting. Can you give me some pointers on what kind of partnerships they have?

In New Zealand, Spark (our largest telco, the ex-state monopoly) offers free Spotify with their mobile plans.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#50

Post by yellow_postit »

newsat13 wrote: post #33
JamilD wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spotify has partnered with telecoms, newspapers, and others to provide bundled subscriptions -- inflating their "paid" subscriber amount. A good chunk of those 50m aren't paying $10/mo; they've expanded their partnerships (in part) to inflate that number.

Very interesting. Can you give me some pointers on what kind of partnerships they have?

NYTimes All Access subscription ($5/week) includes a free year of Spotify premium.
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