I'm with you in terms of listening, actually (at least partially; I have a large stereo at home on which I do actively listen to a lot of music; but I also have background music while I work during the day). That's why I find the subscription model a bit limiting currently.
I see your point about the more passive listeners leaning more towards the subscription model. My argument has long been that for a more passive experience, you need more complete library coverage because the expectation is that you can "get anything" pumped into your ears in that passive mode. I contrast it with Netflix where the forced active nature of the viewing means that the catalog need not have full coverage--so long as it has enough coverage to keep you actively engaged when you choose to use the service. That thinking (at least for me personally) has been why I've long avoided streaming music services but use Netflix streaming regularly.
Agreed. The catalogue thing is annoying. But I do remember it took a while for iTunes to have a complete catalogue as well. I feel like eventually though that problem should self-correct for subscription based model over time, as it increasingly becomes the de-facto medium to consume music. Either way, I suppose we'll find out the answer in a few years ;-)
Streaming is different from the purchasing model of itunes. Consider Netflix. It will probably never have new releases first and subscription music services will likely go that way, if not already there.
My argument is that model is sustainable for film and television content but not for music content. It's simply impossible to consume the same quantity (in terms of unique pieces of content) of 2 hour movie content (or even 45 minute television content) as 3-4 minute music content. It takes a much larger, and much broader catalogue given the difference in rate of consumption.
As of a few months ago, most of the news I heard was around some labels choosing to pull content from streaming services rather than add more. I'm not going to jump to conclusions as I certainly think it can reverse course; but, for the moment, things aren't trending that way.
Comments
I'm with you in terms of listening, actually (at least partially; I have a large stereo at home on which I do actively listen to a lot of music; but I also have background music while I work during the day). That's why I find the subscription model a bit limiting currently.
I see your point about the more passive listeners leaning more towards the subscription model. My argument has long been that for a more passive experience, you need more complete library coverage because the expectation is that you can "get anything" pumped into your ears in that passive mode. I contrast it with Netflix where the forced active nature of the viewing means that the catalog need not have full coverage--so long as it has enough coverage to keep you actively engaged when you choose to use the service. That thinking (at least for me personally) has been why I've long avoided streaming music services but use Netflix streaming regularly.
Agreed. The catalogue thing is annoying. But I do remember it took a while for iTunes to have a complete catalogue as well. I feel like eventually though that problem should self-correct for subscription based model over time, as it increasingly becomes the de-facto medium to consume music. Either way, I suppose we'll find out the answer in a few years ;-)
Streaming is different from the purchasing model of itunes. Consider Netflix. It will probably never have new releases first and subscription music services will likely go that way, if not already there.
My argument is that model is sustainable for film and television content but not for music content. It's simply impossible to consume the same quantity (in terms of unique pieces of content) of 2 hour movie content (or even 45 minute television content) as 3-4 minute music content. It takes a much larger, and much broader catalogue given the difference in rate of consumption.
As of a few months ago, most of the news I heard was around some labels choosing to pull content from streaming services rather than add more. I'm not going to jump to conclusions as I certainly think it can reverse course; but, for the moment, things aren't trending that way.