What is the difference between Beats and the 9000 other apps like Pandora, Slacker, Spotify etc that stream music for a monthly subscription?
Depends on when the question is asked in time:
Before Apple took a shot at the streaming radio market, "we" would have gushed for Pandora and/or Spotify as best available.
Then Apple launched iTunes Radio and "we" took a lot of shots at those two in trying to spin Apple's version as the best version… kind of like how Apple Maps was superior to Google Maps once Apple decided to create it's own maps.
Throughout all of this time, if someone brought up Beats, they would have probably gotten a beat-down.
Then the rumors started flying about Apple in talks to buy Beats. Collectively, this appeared to be viewed as nearly abhorrent. The Apple fans could not see Apple going toward the bottom of the barrel when there were many other choices considered higher quality.
Then, Apple bought Beats. For a while there was a split in fandom (much like iPhone 6 vs. 6+ now) but then it "evolved" until people got to the "but then I tried them out" phase which flowed into general, group support of how great Beats was/is (sometimes it just takes a while for the fans to collectively find their marketing spin to support a shocking Apple move).
I think if Apple had kept them fully separate companies, Beats would have been treated like other businesses Apple purchased but largely kept separate. However, once Apple gave Beats a tab in the store and rewrote the marketing in Apple "wow" copy touting Beats as best right in the Apple website (even though it was obvious there had not been time for Apple to improve the quality of the Beats product mix), "we" had to take that endorsement as proof they were best.
So now, "we" have almost embraced Beats as best and this rumor flies. It sort of reminds me of how AT&T got some fandom halo while it was the exclusive carrier associated with iPhone.
And why would anyone pay for any of them when you can get it for free (with ads) from iTunes Radio or ad free if you have iTunes Match?
They are better? If you could get anyone
objective to evaluate each option, I doubt they would vote iTunes Radio (or Beats) ahead of Spotify or Pandora. But of course here, iTunes Radio is Apple's cut at it so it must be the best. That's the rules.
