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Friday, August 19, 2011 | 7:41am
SOUND OFF: How do you Consume Digital Music?
Is it possible that Spotify and similar services could bring paid music back?
What’s up Nation. Let me ask you a question.
How do you listen to and build your music library?
I’m wondering if I’m going to get a hundred different answers. It used to be we all had CD’s right? Then Napster came along and changed the game, copycats insued and the music industry squashed it albeit at the expense of…their business. Now a days however we have a much more structured digital music environment. There’s still illegal downloads, burns etc. but success in the pay space is also been realized by an emerging industry lead by iTunes.
On the flip side there are subsription based music services like Spotify. But even that marketplace hasn’t shaked out completely. Recently the company reported losing lost 1.6 million weekly active free users but gained 520,000 paying subscribers in the four-month period. WHY? Well they started implementing limits on free users. U.S. Free users are now limited to 10 hours per month and can listen to any one song up to five times.
Here’s a little look inside the numbers.
In March, Spotify had 4.73 million weekly active free users and 1.02 million paying subscribers.
May 1st they deaded unlimited free use.
By June, Spotify had 3.13 million active free users – a decline of 34% but 1.54 million paying subscribers, up 51%
Does this mean that Spotify and other such services are deemed that important that users would be willing to pay for the service rather than find a free alternative albeit illegal? That’s what the numbers are showing. Could this be the formula that brings the music industry back from the dead? Likely not, but it may indicate where the future of digital music is headed. While the black market of music will always exist, illegal downloads aren’t without risk. As the digital music industry matures, enthusiast will be more inclined to pay for a higher end service. THOUGHTS?
FILED IN Business & Marketing, Entertainment, Music, Technology, Web 2.0
Torrents, torents, torrents. And if I REEEEAAAALLLLLY like the artist, or if its an album that is really hard to find, then itunes. I have a 60GB ipod, purchased about 6 years ago that is about 85% filled and I listen to my run mix on the HTC 4G when running.
Another method… there are several websites that allow you to download you tube videos.
.
Since every popular song is on you tube, free endless music.
I used to have my brother in law get music from torrents but I kept getting viruses on my laptop. I’ve been a cd guy my whole life but now I’m starting to get into iTunes. As for any mixtapes, I let my brother in law get it for me on his computer and I’ll just transfer it to my ipod. Oh and can anyone tell me where I can get Cory Gunz’ mixtape “SON OF A GUN”? I tried getting it from hotnewhiphop.com but they have corrupted files….DJ ILL WILL needs to get that shit fixed….
Try Datpiff.com B.E.B., they have quite a selection of old and new mixtapes.
Appreciate the tip fam. Thx
I tend to try to explore every new music site and I do like Spotify…not enough to pay for it though. I could see other regular users paying for their service but as for me…finding a track by looking for it is like participating in a treasure hunt. Spotify takes the joy out of that for me.
Torrents, Datpiff and Zune Pass
Frostwire and if I like more than 5 songs from the artist, iTunes or Cd’s
Frostwire? Never heard of that one….might have to check it out tonight.