A few months ago Spotify introduced the ability to purchase songs and albums directly from them, though it was a little long-winded and hard to find. Users had to right-click on songs to see the “Buy” option before being directed to partner 7digital’s site to complete the purchase.
There is now a clear “Buy” button next to all songs and albums available to purchase and the transaction process is pretty much the same as iTunes.
Despite the lack of success music subscription services have had, entrepreneurs seem to be lining up to have shot at it. We’re hearing about new subscription services every week, and none of them have a USP. They all seem to have the same business model – pay a high monthly fee for a very limited access to music.
The latest company to try their hand at it is satellite television company Sky. Sky’s plan is to charge £7.99 a month for unlimited streaming and 1 album download (or 10 songs) – downloading more songs will cost extra.
Details on the new service are sketchy, some sources say they have partnered with Universal, while others say they have struck deals with all the majors and a number of indie labels.
On September 8th, Apple unveiled its latest ‘innovation’ to help prop up the recorded music industry – the iTunes LP. For only seven bucks more than a regular digital album, you can get some pretty pictures and liner notes. Facepalm!
But the story doesn’t end there.
Last week, Brian McKinney of Chocolate Lab Records told Gizmodo that Apple was charging record labels $10,000 in production costs to release an album in the iTunes LP format – and indie record labels need not apply. Apple later denied that allegation and said it is working on releasing the specs for the LP format and making them available to all, indie and major labels alike.
Regardless of the outcome of this “he said she said” tempest, it amplifies the silliness of the iTunes LP format itself.
Several web developers have dissected the format to find that it is essentially HTML, Javascript, CSS, and multimedia content – a website. For a little more than the cost of an actual physical CD, you get to save files to your hard drive that largely mirror content you can find online, from the artist’s website itself to Wikipedia, YouTube, and others. Read more…
On October 10, 2009 Mariah Carey will make “history”. Well, “history” according to Def Jam and Global Digital Entertainment.
Here’s the details, Mariah Carey recently linked up with Global Digital Entertainment which is, you guessed it, a digital entertainment company. This Saturday GDE will be launching iviago.com, which is, well, let me get to the point.
On October 10, 2009 a concert simply titled “Mariah Carey: Live in Las Vegas” will be the first concert simulcasted to a great number of digital and mobile devices. The only way to see this concert is by texting Mariah @ 313131 for a virtual concert ticket which cost 9.99. (7.99 if you pre-order).
“Fans from all over the world can now share the excitement of a live concert, wherever, whenever, and on whatever digital device they chose,” - Steve Bartels President and COO of Island Def Jam Music Group.
Despite the lack of success music subscription services have had, entrepreneurs seem to be lining up to have shot at it. We’re hearing about new subscription services every week, and none of them have a USP. They all seem to have the same business model – pay a high monthly fee for a very limited access to music.
On September 8th, Apple unveiled its latest ‘innovation’ to help prop up the recorded music industry – the iTunes LP. For only seven bucks more than a regular digital album, you can get some pretty pictures and liner notes. 
On October 10, 2009 Mariah Carey will make “history”. Well, “history” according to Def Jam and Global Digital Entertainment.
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