U.S. Music Fans Continue Shift to Streaming Services as Apple Readies Beats Revamp

[Razeus]

As history has shown, I can't trust Apple's services, especially internet based ones. They usually end up in disaster.

I tend to go with the companies that make it their bread and butter to provide their offerings:

Music: Spotify
Cloud Storage: Dropbox
Office Documents: Microsoft Office
Photo Storage: Carousel by Dropbox
Movies: Netflix
Internet services: Google

I'll stick to iOS and Apple's hardware, as that's what they do best. I don't have much hope for Beats. Music is a commodity at this point, so what you're really paying for is the UI.

 

[Razeus]

Tidal is about to relaunch. They just cut their $19.99 service for HD FLAC streaming to $9.99.

You were dead before you were alive Beats. RIP Spotify.

 

[josephd]

Here is my take. I agree with both sides here. I to like to own my own music.
And I had a hard time getting past paying $10 a month.
Yesterday my Nephew who has premium convinced me to give it a try. There is only a handful of songs in my iTunes library.
When I was younger, I never really collected much music.
Some got lost, others through time wore out. I remember when music was offered in singles on cassette versions.
With Spotify Premium, it's not so much the removal of the ads which is nice, I like the offline mode.
I can plug my iPhone into the USB in my car stereo, and listen to what I like without using data.
Some of the albums are relaxing to listen to on my drive to and from work.
Whereas I probably wouldn't buy the album or track otherwise.
I agree that some Artists may pull themselves from Spotify.
That's fine, if I like their music enough. I will purchase the album or tracks in iTunes.
Netflix did the same thing once. I am a big fan of all the James Bond flicks.
I had them all saved in the streaming list. One day they were all removed.
The license expired, so when iTunes had that $100 Christmas special I bought them.
In the meantime, I already paid for a month of Spotify.
I'll run with it, and see how it goes. And one last thing, I also agree that streaming music is going to be the future.