Apple and Sony 'iRadio' Negotiations Stalling Over Skipped Songs

[zorinlynx]

Can someone explain the rationale for making the radio provider pay for skipped songs?

It's the radio provider's bandwidth that gets used, and the song isn't listened to. It sounds like the most ridiculous concept ever.

And how does Spotify get around it? Can I cost Spotify big bucks by sitting there skipping songs all day on their radio?

 

[Porchland]

lol those stuck in the 90s labels trying to hold onto the past with every little redic straw tryin to make money

The labels think users should pay licensing for a song they didn't pick, didn't like, barely listened to, and never want to hear again? Gees.

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Spotify does seem to have negotiated an amazing deal. Why doesn't Apple just negotiate based on what Spotify currently has?

I wondered the same: Start, get a foothold, prove the value of your proposed new model to the labels, and evolve as you go.

 

[marksman]

No one wants a bloody radio ffs.

Just give me itunes entire library to stream in spotify form and you would get up to $15 a month out of me.

Most people don't want to pay 10-15 dollars a month.

An improved pandora model launched by apple immediately becomes the largest streaming service in the world the day it launches.

Being able to replay songs and allowed a lot more skipping is a huge improvement over pandora and given the cost of zero would find mass appeal and instant adoption.

 

[S.B.G]

Apple should launch it with a configuration option to exclude Sony music from the service and explain why. If people choose to include Sony music they will be unable to skip their songs.

Make blocking Sony the default option and I bet Sony gets in line very quickly.

Now that's an industrious idea. I think Apple has the wherewithal to do that too if they wanted.

Can someone explain the rationale for making the radio provider pay for skipped songs?

I don't think there is anything rational about it at all. Sony just wants to get paid no matter what. After all the skipped songs on Pandora apparently pay a fraction of a price to Sony. They're getting paid whether we listen to their stuff or skip it. It's a poor deal for Pandora and the others like them.

 

[LunaticSX]

Since when has stalled negotiations with only one media company stopped Apple from announcing or launching a service?

 

[tarasis]

They want to get paid for the songs people don't listen to? Of all the money grubbing, piece of greedy crap moves, this is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. Launch without them.

Exactly, this is ridiculous. Sony want payed for skipped songs which is nuts and so thoroughly money grabbing. This should piss the hell off.

 

[Oletros]

And how does Spotify get around it? Can I cost Spotify big bucks by sitting there skipping songs all day on their radio?

Spotify is totally different from Pandora like offerings. In the first you choose what song you listen and if you can skip all you want. In the second, you don't choose what songs you listen and you can't skip all you want.

Spotify is paying more to the studios

 

[Rogifan]

Most people don't want to pay 10-15 dollars a month.

An improved pandora model launched by apple immediately becomes the largest streaming service in the world the day it launches.

Being able to replay songs and allowed a lot more skipping is a huge improvement over pandora and given the cost of zero would find mass appeal and instant adoption.

Are there any stats on the number of paying subscribers for Spotify and Panora? Apple offering a Pandora/Spotify hybrid at $15/mo seems like a disaster to me. It surely wouldn't make me leave Spotify.

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Spotify is totally different from Pandora like offerings. In the first you choose what song you listen and if you can skip all you want. In the second, you don't choose what songs you listen and you can't skip all you want.

Spotify is paying more to the studios

Does Spotify radio in the free version allow users to skip songs whenever they want?

 

[marksman]

Are there any stats on the number of paying subscribers for Spotify and Panora? Apple offering a Pandora/Spotify hybrid at $15/mo seems like a disaster to me. It surely wouldn't make me leave Spotify.

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Does Spotify radio in the free version allow users to skip songs whenever they want?

Apples version will be free. That is why it will instantly become the largest streaming service the day it launches.

It will likely be a much improved version of pandora and be free.

 

[kwizatz]

Apple should launch it with a configuration option to exclude Sony music from the service and explain why. If people choose to include Sony music they will be unable to skip their songs.

Make blocking Sony the default option and I bet Sony gets in line very quickly.

Just launch it without Sony altogether, and they'll change their tune.

 

[OllyW]

Apples version will be free. That is why it will instantly become the largest streaming service the day it launches.

It will likely be a much improved version of pandora and be free.

If so, it's probably going to be full of adverts.

 

[milo]

No one wants a bloody radio ffs.

Really? You don't, or "no one" does?

Funny, people seem do be using Pandora. And I assume plenty are using the free version of Spotify.

Spotify model please...

The free version of Spotify limits skips as well. Looks like Apple is interested in doing a free streaming service with ads instead of a paid one.

And how does Spotify get around it? Can I cost Spotify big bucks by sitting there skipping songs all day on their radio?

Spotify free also has a skip limit. Paid Spotify probably doesn't, but when the user is paying, the record company gets a cut of their monthly fee so they don't care about skips.

 

[Yvan256]

Netflix

I hope these music execs don't expect users to pay for listening to music.

1. There's already plenty of free radio stations listed in iTunes itself.

2. We can watch movies and TV shows for only 7.99$CAD per month via Netflix.

The simple fact that we'll be able to click-to-buy while listening should make the whole thing free to use and they should be damn happy about it, too.

 

[gri]

Spotify does seem to have negotiated an amazing deal. Why doesn't Apple just negotiate based on what Spotify currently has?

And, quite frankly, I love Spotify. I am a classic buff (with the occasional rock stuff) and am amazed what I can find there. My CD purchases went down significantly - but on the other hand I can discover stuff, listen to it and if I really love it still buy the CD. What do these people want, every little cent at the cost of maybe getting nothing - or get streamed, listened to and paid? Seems so typical for the industry that didn't learn a bit from the past.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

T.T

Publishers must die. Their continued existence in the digital age doesn't make a lick of sense, as their benefits (improved visibility) no longer exist while their burden (they screw over the creators and the consumers) continues.

 

[Rocko1]

No one wants a bloody radio ffs.

Just give me itunes entire library to stream in spotify form and you would get up to $15 a month out of me.

You obviously don't use Spotify or Pandora or know what you are talking about.

 

[Rogifan]

Apples version will be free. That is why it will instantly become the largest streaming service the day it launches.

It will likely be a much improved version of pandora and be free.

And full of ads. No thanks. But I'm guessing there's lots of people who will put up with ads to get something for "free". Wouldn't it make more sense to have a paid model too?

 

[S.B.G]

T.T

Publishers must die. Their continued existence in the digital age doesn't make a lick of sense, as their benefits (improved visibility) no longer exist while their burden (they screw over the creators and the consumers) continues.

Good idea.

I wonder if it would be possible for artists to sell their music directly to consumers via iTunes. Then Apple would take a percentage like they do in the App Store from developers and the artist gets the rest. It's 30/70 right?

Cut out the middle man.

 

[Rocko1]

Spotify free also has a skip limit. Paid Spotify probably doesn't, but when the user is paying, the record company gets a cut of their monthly fee so they don't care about skips.

Yes, they all do. The services pay the labels per song played. If you skip 500 songs, depending on their contract with the music companies, they may have to pay for those. Skipping is a huge deal.

 

[timvinc]

We're all missing the important question here

Why would anyone skip an Iron & Wine song, particularly off that album?

 

[S.B.G]

And full of ads. No thanks. But I'm guessing there's lots of people who will put up with ads to get something for "free". Wouldn't it make more sense to have a paid model too?

That's what I would expect. Free versions of a service have adverts interspersed and a paid service does not.

 

[NewAnger]

The skipping thing is also annoying to people who want use the Pandora service too. I was ready to pay for Pandora One until I found out that it didn't remove the skipping limit.

If I don't want to listen to a song, then I don't want to listen to it. I don't think the labels should be charging the providers for skipped songs. If it wasn't listened to, then you don't need to get paid.

The music and movie labels are the most annoying companies in America when it comes to the entertainment industry.

I quit using Pandora because of the skip limit and still keep iHeart Radio and listen to it sometimes. When I hit the skip limit, I just quit listening until next time which could be a month or two later.

 

[JayCee842]

Oh man, really Sony? Why are you doing this to us?

I hope they can reach an agreement really soon. I'd love to try iRadio and wouldn't want to see it not even hit the market.

 

[bsolar]

Exactly, this is ridiculous. Sony want payed for skipped songs which is nuts and so thoroughly money grabbing. This should piss the hell off.

It's Sony, greed at ridiculous levels and complete disregard for the customer's interests is to be expected. People should be pissed off already from the rootkit scandal and actively boycott them. I'd absolutely love Apple going ahead without them.

 

[S.B.G]

I quit using Pandora because of the skip limit and still keep iHeart Radio and listen to it sometimes. When I hit the skip limit, I just quit listening until next time which could be a month or two later.

Yep, same here. I usually listen to my iTunes music most of the time. I don't like adverts and am willing to pay for an ad-free service if it's reasonably priced and I can skip any amount of songs I desire. But apparently that type of service doesn't exist.