Apple isn't a benevolent entity, they're doing this because it helps them and will help their pockets in the long run.
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Apple's New Music Royalty Proposal Would Make Streaming Costlier for Free Services Like Spotify
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I agree that it should cost money. I don't agree that it should cost more than it's worth. If you're me, $10/mo is a lot of money to pay for music... because the music is hardly worth anything to me. I don't really listen to new music. I could spend the $10/mo elsewhere. Even if you're more interested in new music, why pay Beyonce prices for no-name artists? It would only be worth it to, say, a hipster.
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According to the original Billboard article that doesn't seem to be so clear. Referring to the rate proposed by Apple:
"At the same time, such a rate could reduce the royalties paid to songwriters and publishers from services like Rhapsody."
And as someone mentioned above, Apple would likely also pay less than they do now.
swingerofbirch
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This is like the Ebook collusion scandal all over again.
I'm a happy Spotify Premium subscriber, so I really don't care unless it means Spotify going under. Spotify's interface (on the Mac--which is where I use it almost alway), is everything iTunes used to be. It just makes sense. iTunes feels like NASA software for launching a rocket ship.
And Spotify does magical things that I didn't even know existed until recently. I play music on my Mac as I'm going to sleep because the speakers are better than on my iPhone. I rolled over and picked up my phone and found I could control all my Spotify music and my Mac's volume directly from the Spotify iPhone app.
I did the 3-month trial of Apple Music. Found it cumbersome. I would keep using Spotify Premium even if Apple Music were free. It's too much hassle to get anything Apple makes these days to feel Apple like. I used to root for them to update their software, and now I root against it because they can't touch anything without messing it up. I just partitioned a disk for the first time since El Capitan got the new Disk Utility. It used to be partitioning a disk 12 equal ways took writing the number 12 and hitting enter. Now you have to wrestle with a pie chart circle in a way that's like an SAT question to get 12 equal partitions.
I'm a happy Spotify Premium subscriber, so I really don't care unless it means Spotify going under. Spotify's interface (on the Mac--which is where I use it almost alway), is everything iTunes used to be. It just makes sense. iTunes feels like NASA software for launching a rocket ship.
And Spotify does magical things that I didn't even know existed until recently. I play music on my Mac as I'm going to sleep because the speakers are better than on my iPhone. I rolled over and picked up my phone and found I could control all my Spotify music and my Mac's volume directly from the Spotify iPhone app.
I did the 3-month trial of Apple Music. Found it cumbersome. I would keep using Spotify Premium even if Apple Music were free. It's too much hassle to get anything Apple makes these days to feel Apple like. I used to root for them to update their software, and now I root against it because they can't touch anything without messing it up. I just partitioned a disk for the first time since El Capitan got the new Disk Utility. It used to be partitioning a disk 12 equal ways took writing the number 12 and hitting enter. Now you have to wrestle with a pie chart circle in a way that's like an SAT question to get 12 equal partitions.
Sorry, but it IS retroactive. Meaning most Spotify subscribers will already be on the 15% rate already.
There is no FREE option though is there? You either pay a subscription for music or its funded via adverts.
Be careful with this attitude. When you have to pay Apple more to get better experience you have less money left for other experiences.
This isn't collusion at all. In a way, it's a way for Spotify to save face. Spotify won't go under, it'll just get rid of a free tier, something it can't afford to keep doing forever.
It's actually the opposite. Because I don't have to waste time managing my Apple devices or troubleshooting them, I have MORE time to do other things. And my time is worth more than a little bit of money.
Isn't it obvious that Apple is doing what big, bad Microsoft did in the 90's? Of course it's different and OK when Apple does it.
That's why I put afaik. If I may, where'd you get the quote about retroactive subscribers? I don't ask because I doubt it's veracity. I ask because I read something completely different. To be fair, I could have incorrectly interpreted what I read (likely).
https://itunespartner.apple.com/en/apps/faq/In-App Purchases_Auto-Renewable Subscriptions
relevant portion:
When will I earn 85% of my auto-renewable subscription’s price?
After a subscriber completes one year of paid service of your auto-renewable subscription, you automatically receive 85% of the subscription price, minus applicable taxes, on the subscriber’s subsequent renewals. Service level changes within a subscription group do not interrupt days of paid service.
The ability to earn 85% takes effect in June 2016 for subscription renewals occurring after that date. iOS, OS X, tvOS and watchOS apps are eligible.
Looking back at it, they definitely could have meant that it included time from older subs. Again, that's why I put afaik.
It's not hard to tell at all. Apple is doing it to help Apple. Get rid of the competition and they get it all. They could give two hoots about the artists.
exactly why i no longer have an apple device. too much time getting things to work, and most of the time no matter how much time you spend to try and make it work, it just won't. so android it is for me because it just simply works
Apple's just accelerating the inevitable. Spotify will end their free streaming soon because it's not sustainable. Here just trying to capture as many users as possible before they flip the switch to paid streams. Is that really any sleazier than Apple trying to get more money to artists?
I could have picked a better quote. This all came out when Bruce Sewell (Apples lawyer) tore Spotify a new one over their whiny btch session about Apple being anti-competitive.
In Sewell's letter to Spotify he explicitly states that if you have subscribers that have already been with you for a year, the 85/15 split starts immediately.
Which brings up a very interesting point. Why does Spotify still charge 30% more for in-App subscriptions when most of their subscribers are now on the 15% rate? I fully expect the next Spotify App update to hit The App Store to reflect this new reality and charge customers less for an in-App subscription.
Do you really believe that Apple is doing this to help the artists?
Mixed feelings on this one. I like the idea of artists getting paid more.
But let's be honest here. Apple's only objective is to squeeze out the competition and make more money for themselves. Apple got caught behind napping on the streaming music industry. They scrambled to play catch up and are naturally gonna go to any lengths to eliminate the competition.
But if they do, you KNOW Apple is going to raise rates...not just to pay artists, but to pad their bottom line. To that end I want to see as much competition as possible.
But let's be honest here. Apple's only objective is to squeeze out the competition and make more money for themselves. Apple got caught behind napping on the streaming music industry. They scrambled to play catch up and are naturally gonna go to any lengths to eliminate the competition.
But if they do, you KNOW Apple is going to raise rates...not just to pay artists, but to pad their bottom line. To that end I want to see as much competition as possible.
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It sux, I prefer Spotify Premium over Apple Music, sorry but it is just better in everything, no big fonts, no statics lyrics on three songs, no bugs, no a bad radio with just hip hop, no Taylor Swift etc
Ok I understand you prefer Spotify, which is cool. And that their UI is better than Apple Music. But..... What does that have to do with this article?
What Sux?
I don't. I either download from torrent site or download from YouTube. I also use QQ Music for streaming music.
I never buy any song nor pay for movie.
Huh, so petty thief then. Do you also shoplift most of the physical goods you desire?
Implying anyone other than Chinese would use a Chinese multimedia service. Maybe, MAYBE, if they had English versions of the APPs.