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Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

layandreas.github.io

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Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#11

Post by DelightOne »

cdrnsf wrote: post #7
geekamongus wrote: post #5

A couple of points missed for why Spotify is bad: - Paying musicians cheap wages to make boring music (ghost artists) for playlists they promote: https://harpers.org/archive/2025/01/the-ghosts-in-the-machin... - Not paying musicians anything at all if they don't have enough streams: https://www.engadget.com/spotify-confirms-it-wont-offer-payo... - Not preventing the deluge of AI-generated music flooding the platform:…

They also commission music from "ghost artists" that they can pay a fix rate, then place said artists in popular playlists to reduce royalty payouts.

Isn't that how every streaming service does it?

Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#13

Post by geekamongus »

DelightOne wrote: post #11
cdrnsf wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also commission music from "ghost artists" that they can pay a fix rate, then place said artists in popular playlists to reduce royalty payouts.

Isn't that how every streaming service does it?

The only evidence I can find is with Spotify doing this.

Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#14

Post by Zanfa »

barbs wrote: post #10
geekamongus wrote: post #5

A couple of points missed for why Spotify is bad: - Paying musicians cheap wages to make boring music (ghost artists) for playlists they promote: https://harpers.org/archive/2025/01/the-ghosts-in-the-machin... - Not paying musicians anything at all if they don't have enough streams: https://www.engadget.com/spotify-confirms-it-wont-offer-payo... - Not preventing the deluge of AI-generated music flooding the platform:…

Also: - the chief executive invests money into AI weaponry https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-12/spotify-boycott-danie...

It's perfectly reasonable for a Swede to invest in miltech, given current political climate. In fact, it would be irresponsible not to.

Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#15

Post by f33d5173 »

tomashertus wrote: post #4

The article is surprisingly missing the most important part: a cost comparison. I understand and share the frustration with rising prices and ads creeping into paid plans, but for people who value optionality and broad access, streaming is still meaningfully cheaper than owning content. In many cases, the price of a single movie is comparable to an entire month of a streaming service, which gives access to thousands…

For the most part, you aren't meaningfully paying for content when you use streaming services. This has the effect of making it not cost effective to produce good content you enjoy, while still costing you money to pay for the services, most of that money being funneled towards slop and execs. The ecosystem as a whole would benefit if you set aside the money you would ordinarily pay for streaming, and instead spent it on choice works you appreciate, while downloading whatever you like.

For movies specifically, you should consider paying substantially more than you would on streaming if you watch any substantial amount of movies. It is very hard to fund good movies with only streaming revenue.

Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#18

Post by pjmlp »

I never used Spotify, keep buying CDs, and occasionally MP3 from digital stores.

Still doing the modern version of mix tapes.

Haven't lost anything, and is with a smile I observe kids today being responsible for the revival of portable tape and CD players.

Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#19

Post by wismwasm »

tomashertus wrote: post #4

The article is surprisingly missing the most important part: a cost comparison. I understand and share the frustration with rising prices and ads creeping into paid plans, but for people who value optionality and broad access, streaming is still meaningfully cheaper than owning content. In many cases, the price of a single movie is comparable to an entire month of a streaming service, which gives access to thousands…

Fair enough! However you need to consider:

- Depending on your taste you will need to subscribe to multiple servics. Shows / movies I enjoy are scattered across Netflix, AppleTV+, Prime, Disney+. And it's increasingly unlikely that IP is licensed out (i.e. no Star Wars on Netflix)

- There is a surprising amount of movies which are not on any streaming service (at least in Germany) OR they are but you still need to buy a digital copy or rent

- The UX of self hosted solutions like for example Jellyfin or other open source can (surprisingly!) be better than the paid solutions. I.e. no ads & and no UX redesigns

I'm not opposed to streaming services at all. I will subscribe to them as long as it's value for money.

However in recent years streaming services got worse while self hosted solutions got much much better.

Your point - subscription is cheaper than self hosting - may still hold, but the balance has definitely shifted in favor of self hosted solution.

I don't think it'll become mainstream in the near future (or ever) but for me personally it's worth it!

It's also not "either / or". You can both self-host and have subscriptions, but maybe you can cut down on some subscription services:)

Re: Self hosting my media library with Jellyfin and Wireguard on Hetzner

#20

Post by qwerpy »

geekamongus wrote: post #5

A couple of points missed for why Spotify is bad: - Paying musicians cheap wages to make boring music (ghost artists) for playlists they promote: https://harpers.org/archive/2025/01/the-ghosts-in-the-machin... - Not paying musicians anything at all if they don't have enough streams: https://www.engadget.com/spotify-confirms-it-wont-offer-payo... - Not preventing the deluge of AI-generated music flooding the platform:…

Also, even for premium customers they will display ads (local concert tickets) and add sponsored albums/tracks to playlists and the home screen.
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