Apple Music Tops 17 Million Users, With Service Growing at Steady Rate

[MacBAir]

From the reports I see, Spotify is becoming more and more less relevant as they continue to operate at a loss. How can they remain in business for many more years to come like that?

Because of the imaginary business called "stock value" and the fact that they are the only viable alternative to apple music in the minds of pretty much everybody.

They can borrow all the money they need from shareholders and banks while paying for it with their stock, that is based on hype and hopes and dreams. I know, brilliant.

 

[Rigby]

Is Spotify still growing too? Just wondering if this is indicative of the whole streaming segment continuing to grow or the start of cannibalization of Spotify users.

The number of paying Spotify subscribers has reportedly grown from 30 million in March to 39 million in August, i.e. a growth of ~30%. Total number of users is now around 125 million.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/08/25/spotify-39-million-paying-subscribers/

 

[Zirel]

Those are the real criminals.

Nobody said that.

But yes, Spotify is taking advantage of the dumb contracts the labels signed.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

The number of paying Spotify subscribers has reportedly grown from 30 million in March to 39 million in August, i.e. a growth of ~30%. Total number of users is now around 125 million.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2016/08/25/spotify-39-million-paying-subscribers/

Nice, good to see streaming continuing to thrive. Thank you!

 

[alexgowers]

I can see lack of headphone jack eating into potential growth.

 

[RudySnow]

I still like to buy my music. I have yet to be won over. My wife loves Spotify (her free full of comercial Spotify) and says she has built up a nice playlist over there. No way I will do commercials. Do you know if there is a way to import the playlist from Spotify? I may do that for my wife and see how it goes on Apple Music. Maybe I will convert (but I am a doubter right now).

Stamp Music Importer. Available for Mac and iOS. The iOS version is $10 but I was able to transfer and match all of my dozens of playlists from Spotify to AM with no hiccups.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I can see lack of headphone jack eating into potential growth.

Really? When every one of those new iPhones come with a new set of headphones with a compatible Lightning connector? The only "lost" people are those that refuse to use the Apple-supplied adapter for their 3.5mm plug-equipped headphones. Funny, do they also refuse to use an adapter when their headphones have a 1/4" plug and their gear has a 3.5mm jack (or vice versa)?

 

[newyorkone]

I still like to buy my music. I have yet to be won over. My wife loves Spotify (her free full of comercial Spotify) and says she has built up a nice playlist over there. No way I will do commercials. Do you know if there is a way to import the playlist from Spotify? I may do that for my wife and see how it goes on Apple Music. Maybe I will convert (but I am a doubter right now).

I still purchase music and love to support artists that I love. Apple Music allows me to try out music before buying, and it helps me to discover new music that have since become new favorites. That to me is priceless. I used to just listen to my iTunes collection over and over again. Learning about new music that I never even knew existed is amazing. Some recent finds...Electric Youth, Saint Saviour, Gallant, etc. With the family plan it makes even more sense. 6 people using it on my plan. Everyone has their own set of music, and even my in-laws and parents have learned to use it and love it. Brilliant.

 

[2457282]

I still purchase music and love to support artists that I love. Apple Music allows me to try out music before buying, and it helps me to discover new music that have since become new favorites. That to me is priceless. I used to just listen to my iTunes collection over and over again. Learning about new music that I never even knew existed is amazing. Some recent finds...Electric Youth, Saint Saviour, Gallant, etc. With the family plan it makes even more sense. 6 people using it on my plan. Everyone has their own set of music, and even my in-laws and parents have learned to use it and love it. Brilliant.

I loved it when Apple had the radio outside the paywall. I used that all the time to discover new music. But since they moved it behind the paywall I no longer discover or buy that much music. I rely on my wife or hearing something in a store or restaurant. I just can't see me buying and paying for streaming. To me it's like a double whammy. At 20k songs in my library, I can tell you that I do love music. But the rate of growth of my library has significantly slowed since Apple took everything behind the paywall. I should probably thank them as I have more money for other things now.

 

[ErikGrim]

That is if they have the mood music selections Spotify do, I'm hooked on them

They do. Browse -> Activities & Moods

 

[Zoboomafoo]

From the reports I see, Spotify is becoming more and more less relevant as they continue to operate at a loss. How can they remain in business for many more years to come like that?

Acquisition I guess, it worked for Instagram.

 

[ipedro]

Is Spotify still growing too? Just wondering if this is indicative of the whole streaming segment continuing to grow or the start of cannibalization of Spotify users.

Cannibalization isn't what you think it means.

 

[Keirasplace]

Because of the imaginary business called "stock value" and the fact that they are the only viable alternative to apple music in the minds of pretty much everybody.

They can borrow all the money they need from shareholders and banks while paying for it with their stock, that is based on hype and hopes and dreams. I know, brilliant.

You can only do that at IPO or by releasing new stock (diluting existing stock, which is why you don't do that often). Once the stock is bought, you don't any more money from shareholders. Banks don't really take stock, banks want to be paid and running a kinda of piramid scheme by constantly borrowing will only end in bankruptcy eventually. Even Amazon who's been almost without profit for a long time could at least explain that on capital investments and not paying the grocery bill (aka marketing costs, which is what the free segment is really).

All the whines about Apple is because Apple is making it harder for them to get money (as competition increases risk and thus reduces the potential stock price and increases borrowing costs).