Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Amazon May Add Streaming Music to Prime Service
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Depends on the music choices for me, and if there will be a native mac and mobile music player. If so, then I'll definitely drop the $120/year I spend on Spotify.
I use the hell out of my Prime for shipping, but honestly, their Video for Prime selection sucks.
I use the hell out of my Prime for shipping, but honestly, their Video for Prime selection sucks.
As far as I'm concerned Prime is one of the best deals going right now. Video selection is so-so for sure, but the time and gas savings for a heavy user are nearly invaluable. I highly doubt they raise it 40 bucks if they started streaming music, but if they did I would still subscribe.
Surprise !
On one hand, I like Amazons style. See how it plays out, figure out whats wrong with it and do their own.
On the other hand, How many friggin music streaming services do we need?
On one hand, I like Amazons style. See how it plays out, figure out whats wrong with it and do their own.
On the other hand, How many friggin music streaming services do we need?
It has little to do with streaming music. Most of the increase is due to shipping cost with a slight increase due to video content cost. By supplying free streaming music, Amazon makes the increased price not seem as bad (yes the price is going up but now you get free streaming music).
Most companies want to raise the price as infrequently as possible so the increase will be $40 so that they don't have to increase it again for awhile.
Note - As others have said, I just wish Amazon would have a membership for Prime shipping without all the add-ons.
I purchase a lot of things off Amazon, so Prime is definitely worth it for me. The streaming from them is pretty good (in quality and content) IMO. They may not offer what's popular like Netflix, but you can find some older movies on there that Netflix simply doesn't offer. Type in "Bette Davis" in Netflix streaming and you'll get maybe 1 hit; Amazon you'll get a bunch, and if it's not Prime, you can still rent it. I have Netflix too and find I use them both 50-50. Music, on the other hand, I would probably rarely use.
The Amazon Instant Video is good. The free video you get through Prime membership is pretty bad and you will end up renting the video. Get Amazon Prime for your shipping but don't bother with it just for streaming free video.
With all these evaluations and companies getting into streaming, it would be interesting to see how much iTunes Radio would be worth if it were a seperate company 
, with all the installed user base..
, with all the installed user base..
Amazon's big thing was free 2-day shipping.
I ordered something on a Wednesday evening and got it Friday afternoon.
Sure... everyone will give you free shipping if you want to wait 5 days or more.
I know there are edges case where you will get stuff sooner than that... but Amazon Prime made it even sweeter.
Right now I subscribe to Netflix and Google Play Music All Access. I have 3 Apple TVs, an Android phone, an Android tablet and an iPad. I just signed up for Prime a couple days ago for the shipping. If they add music I would seriously consider switching to Roku boxes and going Amazon exclusive. I just wish they had an app on the Play store. If they do streaming music, I need an app on my phone.
I have a hard time believing Amazon won't just launch a higher level of Prime -- something like Prime+ or Primal Sound. Ha ha. Latter just a lame pun.
Seriously, Amazon would be committing hari- kari if they forced streaming on everyone at a higher price. I know I'd drop it for sure (and with it my constant ordering from Amazon) because I'm fine with free Spotify and Pandora. If they keep the current program for $79 I'll stick around. Now, maybe if they increased the quality of the video offerings too I'd pay more otherwise gimme the basic plan.
----------
I'd assume Amazon would use the current Cloud Player app just as it uses the Amazon Instant Video app even for free Prime videos. So you'd be set there.
Seriously, Amazon would be committing hari- kari if they forced streaming on everyone at a higher price. I know I'd drop it for sure (and with it my constant ordering from Amazon) because I'm fine with free Spotify and Pandora. If they keep the current program for $79 I'll stick around. Now, maybe if they increased the quality of the video offerings too I'd pay more otherwise gimme the basic plan.
----------
I'd assume Amazon would use the current Cloud Player app just as it uses the Amazon Instant Video app even for free Prime videos. So you'd be set there.
Depending on how much they raise the price by, I would consider dropping Spotify and using Amazon's music service. But I do agree that not everyone wants video/music streaming so Amazon should offer a separate Prime membership for just shipping.
$40.00 a year is like $3.33 /month. If they provide streaming music like spotify, rhapsody or google play, it couuld be a good deal.
The problem is that shipping cost have sky rocketed since Amazon started the $79 prime membership. Most of the discussed $40 increase would be allocated for increased shipping cost while only a small allocation would be for the video and audio streaming.
The one annoyance I have with Amazon is that even though the shipping takes two days, it seems to take four business days to prepare the shipment for shipping
.Apple has ad free streaming for $25 / year (free with ads).
Amazon was losing money on the shipping anyway. Why not lose a little more?
$80 a year would only cover a few 2-day shipments. But people generally make many more purchases than that with Prime over an entire year.
Amazon was losing money on the shipping anyway. Why not lose a little more?
Have you looked at shipping cost lately. Amazon is losing a lot more and feel they need to charge more.
No... I don't know what the exact shipping costs are today.
But I do know that even $120 a year still won't cover the cost of Prime 2-day shipping.
Normal shipping rates are 5-7 days or maybe 3-5 days.
2-day shipping has always been expensive... the only thing higher is overnight.
I see your point... Amazon will charge more for Prime to battle the rising costs of shipping.
But my point is... they will still be losing money from people who order more than a few times a year. That's fine though... because Amazon always made money in other ways. I was just pointing it out.
You are correct. I also believe that they will not lose many prime members when they increase the price by $40. People are addicted to two day shipping
.
Amazon's biggest thing is reliable 2-day shipping. If I order Monday I can expect to get it on Wednesday, not Thursday or Friday when I'm not home. I won't order expensive products off other sites because if I'm not home when they happen to deliver, often they will leave my package outside the door or leave it outside the door of the apartment building...
Why they think that is a good idea ever is beyond me.
meh, not me
Amazon raises the price of prime to $120 and I'm going to say, nope, not me. The current price is just barely worth it for me and the amount of stuff I do on Amazon, so the price hike, if it's "for everybody", won't be for me.
Amazon raises the price of prime to $120 and I'm going to say, nope, not me. The current price is just barely worth it for me and the amount of stuff I do on Amazon, so the price hike, if it's "for everybody", won't be for me.
Really? Still cheaper than Netflix and offers a lot more, your loss.
----------
The problem is that shipping cost have sky rocketed since Amazon started the $79 prime membership. Most of the discussed $40 increase would be allocated for increased shipping cost while only a small allocation would be for the video and audio streaming.
The one annoyance I have with Amazon is that even though the shipping takes two days, it seems to take four business days to prepare the shipment for shipping
Apple has ad free streaming for $25 / year (free with ads).
Yes Apple's iTunes radio is $25 a year ad free but if Amazon Prime does it like Spotify than Apple really needs to step up their game because Pandora style streaming music is not really cutting it when Music could be streamed like a movie on Prime or Netflix freely where you can listen a full album.
Apple needs to step up and also start streaming movie like Amazon Prime to stay in the game at these moment it is okay but rental and purchasing a movie or TV Show is not the same people want On Demand and many reason is because of Cable prices going up. Not saying streaming is perfect since we got those greedy ISP who throttle.
----------
As long as it is like Spotify I will not mind this feature and I get student discount for Amazon Prime so it is all good price increase will not make much difference for me plus I enjoy Amazon Prime for reading books that I can borrow for a month sadly Apple does not allow that with iBooks.