First off, be clear that anything you pay for at iTunes is not "ownership" - it's simply a one-time payment for a license agreement. You have a license to re-download just so long as the item is available in iTunes - if the publisher pulls it from the store, all you have left is what's saved on your computer and/or iOS device.
You also only "own" the music on a vinyl disk or CD for as long as the physical media lasts (ditto for the words of a print book). You can't walk into a record or book store and say, "I trashed my copy, give me another." Any conservation efforts are up to you (copying to HDD, etc.).
The only person who "owns" IP is the person who holds the copyright. Everyone else rents the IP and owns the plastic/metal/paper it's stored on.
So what might this rumored change mean? Apple might stop selling individual album/song downloads in the next 2-4 years. Period. The music would still exists on their servers for streaming purposes, so presumably as long as Apple maintains purchase history on its servers, people who had previously paid would be able to re-download. If Apple were to leave the music on the server but deny re-downloads, Apple would be the one violating the license agreement.
"Streaming" undoubtedly refers to the business model (subscriptions), not the technology. Imagine telling people, "You'll never have music unless you have an active Internet connection." Offline listening is a critical capability, as is avoiding the cost of streaming over the cellular network. So save-to-device isn't likely to go away, either.
Overall, this may end up seeming less revolutionary in two years or so than it does today. Apple certainly intends to make more under the subscription model than under pay-per-download, and Apple's not going to get the signatures of the record labels, TV executives, and movie studios unless they, too, stand to make more money. That's what's supposed to happen with subscriptions - subscribers willingly pay extra for things like convenience, selection, and an "it's already paid-for" guilt free experience.
People here tend to underestimate the appeal of all-you-can-eat/pay-one-price packages. When priced correctly (and I'm not ready to say that the typical cable TV subscription is priced correctly), people generally feel they get good value and great convenience, and the people selling the service make more (and on a more stable basis) than they would by selling retail. It also overcomes "retail resistance" - at some point, constantly reaching into your pocket to buy is stressful. Since the subscription is paid for up front, there's no guilt when I'm listening/viewing - if anything, there's guilt when I don't listen. I am sure I'm paying more for music now than I did previously - I went years without buying a new CD or iTunes download - but I've also had more enjoyment listening to music than I'd had in decades.
We'll see what this means in the context of Apple's "cable-cutter" package when it finally arrives. I'd guess they'll also have a Netflix-like component, if they're to replace movie rentals. $15/month for Apple Music for the entire family, another $15/month for Apple Movies for the entire family, maybe $50 for a Music/TV/Movies bundle... I think that'll fly.
You also only "own" the music on a vinyl disk or CD for as long as the physical media lasts (ditto for the words of a print book). You can't walk into a record or book store and say, "I trashed my copy, give me another." Any conservation efforts are up to you (copying to HDD, etc.).
The only person who "owns" IP is the person who holds the copyright. Everyone else rents the IP and owns the plastic/metal/paper it's stored on.
So what might this rumored change mean? Apple might stop selling individual album/song downloads in the next 2-4 years. Period. The music would still exists on their servers for streaming purposes, so presumably as long as Apple maintains purchase history on its servers, people who had previously paid would be able to re-download. If Apple were to leave the music on the server but deny re-downloads, Apple would be the one violating the license agreement.
"Streaming" undoubtedly refers to the business model (subscriptions), not the technology. Imagine telling people, "You'll never have music unless you have an active Internet connection." Offline listening is a critical capability, as is avoiding the cost of streaming over the cellular network. So save-to-device isn't likely to go away, either.
Overall, this may end up seeming less revolutionary in two years or so than it does today. Apple certainly intends to make more under the subscription model than under pay-per-download, and Apple's not going to get the signatures of the record labels, TV executives, and movie studios unless they, too, stand to make more money. That's what's supposed to happen with subscriptions - subscribers willingly pay extra for things like convenience, selection, and an "it's already paid-for" guilt free experience.
People here tend to underestimate the appeal of all-you-can-eat/pay-one-price packages. When priced correctly (and I'm not ready to say that the typical cable TV subscription is priced correctly), people generally feel they get good value and great convenience, and the people selling the service make more (and on a more stable basis) than they would by selling retail. It also overcomes "retail resistance" - at some point, constantly reaching into your pocket to buy is stressful. Since the subscription is paid for up front, there's no guilt when I'm listening/viewing - if anything, there's guilt when I don't listen. I am sure I'm paying more for music now than I did previously - I went years without buying a new CD or iTunes download - but I've also had more enjoyment listening to music than I'd had in decades.
We'll see what this means in the context of Apple's "cable-cutter" package when it finally arrives. I'd guess they'll also have a Netflix-like component, if they're to replace movie rentals. $15/month for Apple Music for the entire family, another $15/month for Apple Movies for the entire family, maybe $50 for a Music/TV/Movies bundle... I think that'll fly.
