I just read an article in Wired magazine which said that the CEO of Universal Music is trying to take away the strangle hold that iTunes has on digital downloads. I know this is old news but there is something called "Total Music" which Universal is trying to push which would replace owning music with a subscription service. It has been gaining traction. Universal has been courting the other large record companies to do the same along with Microsoft and other MP3 player companies.
The basic idea is that the new "Total Music" players would allow a user to play any songs they want in the library but they don't get to own it. The most interesting part is that Universal wants the music players to either give away the subscription for 6 months or even forever. Footing the bill themselves. I guess based on them recuping this cost with the profits from the player. It looks like iTunes has become the Microsoft empire of music which many want to remove.
It was interesting that in the article, the Universal CEO said that iTunes does bring in a substantial amount of money right now and they would not want to lose that. So they are going to have to be delicate about how they go about doing this.
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2 comments:
I just don't know if the average music consumer will stomach something like that, Stitch. It reminds me a little bit of selling PC's with a bunch of crap on them. And they can't keep giving consumers free subscriptions - that would have to stop because they would be giving away free music then. I know I wouldn't want to do it.
However, I may be "old school". I want to own music that is very special to me. I never want to keep paying for it. To me, music is not a disposable quantity that I go through, forget, and move on. Music has a bit of meaning, and I'm willing to pay for and own that particular music that means the most to me.
I still think it looks like the ultimate dream of a continuous revenue stream that the music companies are dreaming of.
I agree with you, and Steve Jobs, that people want to own their music, not rent it. The article in my view made the CEO of Universal out to be extremely out of touch. He had been in the music business for a long long time. And is ingrained in the old way of doing things. Records and CD's which people can purchase a real object. He even compared Universals ability to sell music online themselves as performing surgery on your own child. You need to bring in an expert. And then he went on to say he would not be able to tell a true expert and someone who is pulling the wool over his eyes. I think Microsoft and Yahoo are trying to pull the wool over their eyes with this Total Music concept. Where is the proof that people have been willing to rent music? Are they going to hold their entire catalog for ransom until people sign up for the rental model? I don't think it will take off. Some people may try it if the free period is long enough, so this may be their only in. But these same people may cancel as soon as they have to pay on their own.
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