Apple To Launch A Spotify-Like Service this year?

[decafjava]

Well streaming is "ok" for free at least I like streaming radio, though I suspect the radio stations pay royalties more like the traditional ones (ie. some of them braodcast on the web too).

However I hate the idea of renting music, and for mobile devices streaming sucks because internet coverage is still not universal and at least in my experience streaming is far worse for battery life than "on-board" music.

Finally the following article shows why streaming services are bad news for artists - especially if it takes over from cd and digital download purchases.

http://pitchfork.com/features/articles/8993-the-cloud/

[EbookReader]

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/indus...08041672.story
Spotify Now With 5 Million Paying Subs

Ek also disclosed that Spotify now has more than five million paying subscribers, one million of whom are in the U.S., where the four-year-old Swedish service launched just a year ago. He also disclosed that his company had paid out $500 million to artists and labels in royalties, an amount that's rapidly accelerating as the number of users continues to grow. The amount represents roughly 70% of Spotify's revenue, Ek added.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-575...s-in-one-year/

Ek said that Spotify has paid $500 million to artists so far, including $250 million in the last nine months.

January, 2010:------------ 250,000 paying subscribers
March 17, 2010:----------- 320,000
July 20, 2010: ---------------- 500,000
December 8, 2010: ------ 750,000
March 8, 2011:--------------- 1,000,000
July 14, 2011: -----------------1,600,000
Sept 21, 2011: ---------------- 2,000,000
Nov 23, 2011: ------------------2,500,000
Jan 26, 2012: -------------------3,000,000
July 31, 2012:--------------------4,000,000
Dec 6, 2012: ---------------------5,000,000 paying subscribers

5 Million Subscribers Worldwide
*
1 Million In the US
*
Active Users: 20 million
*
$500 Million Paid to Record Labels (70% of Revenues; Up 100% Since March)
*
1 Billion Playlists

In order for Spotify to surpass Itunes music, Spotify would need around 25 million paying subscribers.

Very tough to do.