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Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

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Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#51

Post by robryan »

shmerl wrote: post #40
robryan wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it's is highly unlikely there will be no one that you can buy a similar service from in future, if Spotify goes away.

Point is, you'll have to pay again. I prefer to pay once, and then have it in my collection.

Yeah fair enough, I think even if I didn't value their discovery the way I listen to music now it would cost too much to buy it all individually. I would probably just end up having to use youtube to sample things, the way I do with Spotify currently.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#52

Post by shmerl »

robryan wrote: post #51
shmerl wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Point is, you'll have to pay again. I prefer to pay once, and then have it in my collection.

Yeah fair enough, I think even if I didn't value their discovery the way I listen to music now it would cost too much to buy it all individually. I would probably just end up having to use youtube to sample things, the way I do with Spotify currently.

Many albums on Bandcamp are available fully (or at least partially), so you can easily sample and discover them. If I like something, I buy it.

Some albums I bought recently:

* https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/album/scotland

* https://jonathangeer.bandcamp.com/album/owlboy-ost

* https://danielamosboots.bandcamp.com/album/neverhood-songs-d...

And you are right. Stuff often ends up on Youtube, which is great for discovery too. And again, if I like something, I'll gladly buy it (as long as it's accessible in DRM-free stores).

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#53

Post by ikt »

shmerl wrote: post #47
ikt wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> My tastes in music aren't mass market by far

Neither are mine, I intentionally avoid pop, rap or rnb and other soft mainstream music.

> May be it makes it easier for me

Certainly would, there's no way I could manage this:

https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week

> nothing stops DRM free store to offer you a sync service or anything of that sort

Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system:

https://www.slideshare.net/davidpoblador/spotify-bcn2013slid...

I'm sure someone could setup a drm free store that sync'd to phones etc but then I'm limited in music discovery, I don't have the sort of money to swing around at albums and songs that may or may not sound good to me.

If I have to purchase a song before I can hear it I'm reluctant to, so i'll then go to youtube and that immediately invalidates the whole point of DRM.

What would be nice is DRM free streaming, and I'm spending more time on soundcloud but again that's not as good as spotify is in anything.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#54

Post by shmerl »

ikt wrote: post #53
shmerl wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

> My tastes in music aren't mass market by far Neither are mine, I intentionally avoid pop, rap or rnb and other soft mainstream music. > May be it makes it easier for me Certainly would, there's no way I could manage this: https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week > nothing stops DRM free store to offer you a sync service or anything of that sort Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in ru…

> Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system:

If you think it's proper, you can charge for such convenience (i.e. some subscription fee). Why not? Those who want it, will pay for it. If you think you can manage without charging - all the better (GOG don't charge for it for example). Nothing from the above requires DRM.

> What would be nice is DRM free streaming

Bandcamp offer that too. You can download what you paid for, and you can stream it as well.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#55

Post by sk5t »

andkenneth wrote: post #46
refulgentis wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I like the daily mixes, possibly because I have hundreds of saved songs across dozens of playlists.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#56

Post by caryhartline »

ikt wrote: post #32
citruspi wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

184.5 MM € in 2015[0]. [0]: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-spotify-revenues-grow-80-pe...

And what is Apple music's operating losses? Spotify has always talked about losses being expected, they want user growth at any cost. http://www.recode.net/2016/5/23/11749122/spotify-losses-reve...

It is certainly normal for startups to expect losses and only want to gain users, but it's not a sign of strength in themselves or their business model.

If you're trying to gain users at any cost then other businesses will take advantage of that desperation.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#57

Post by [deleted] »

shmerl wrote: post #54
ikt wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My tastes in music aren't mass market by far Neither are mine, I intentionally avoid pop, rap or rnb and other soft mainstream music. > May be it makes it easier for me Certainly would, there's no way I could manage this: https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week > nothing stops DRM free store to offer you a sync service or anything of that sort Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in ru…

> Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system: If you think it's proper, you can charge for such convenience (i.e. some subscription fee). Why not? Those who want it, will pay for it. If you think you can manage without charging - all the better (GOG don't charge for it for example). Nothing from the above requires DRM. > What would be nice is DRM free streaming Bandcamp offer that t…

[deleted]

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#58

Post by yellow_postit »

shmerl wrote: post #52
robryan wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah fair enough, I think even if I didn't value their discovery the way I listen to music now it would cost too much to buy it all individually. I would probably just end up having to use youtube to sample things, the way I do with Spotify currently.

Many albums on Bandcamp are available fully (or at least partially), so you can easily sample and discover them. If I like something, I buy it. Some albums I bought recently: * https://dbfiechter.bandcamp.com/album/scotland * https://jonathangeer.bandcamp.com/album/owlboy-ost * https://danielamosboots.bandcamp.com/album/neverhood-songs-d... And you are right. Stuff often ends up on Youtube, which is great for discove…

If I have a digital collection I'll be paying storage costs on an ongoing basis for backups so it seems like a wash compared to Spotify and similar services.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#59

Post by bergjs »

Spotify is the one service I'm happy to pay for. Their weekly mixes keep blowing my mind because it's such a great way to discover new music tailored to my taste. Plus, Spotify connect is a genius way to play music on loudspeakers. It works incredibly well with my Bose speakers. My impression is that they will continue to innovate in all kinds of areas so I think they have a good chance of winning. I needed to write this because just yesterday I thought how happy I am with Spotify. In case it sounds too fanboy-ish.

Re: Spotify is gaining leverage over record labels

#60

Post by anlif »

JamilD wrote: post #10
refulgentis wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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.

There's also Spotify family. I'm paying 15 USD for 5 (extended) family members. Dirt cheap. Discover weekly is amazing. Wish for the best for Spotify.
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