discuss Music Subscriptions

[Unlocked]

I thought this was the most appropriate space for this thread, as even though it's about music, it's more about the technology behind the platforms that bought us music subscription services such as Spotify and Apple Music and so on.

Did anyone envision these platforms being as big as they are 10-15 years ago when they were starting to emerge? I don't know about countries in other parts of the world, but here in the UK, CDs are almost obsolete now and some artists aren't even releasing them anymore. I'm sure that within a few years CDs will be the heading the same way as old audio cassette tapes and essentially will be worthless and not even used.

Did anyone predict the rise of music subscription services so early on, or ever imagine that they could be in such domination of the market as they are today?

 

[Harsh World]

The concept of music streaming, for such a low price, never even crossed my mind when cassettes were $10 and then CDs were $15-20.

Then came Napster, and I knew something had to change because you could get an individual song instead of a whole album. Some albums are worth their weight, but others have 1-3 hit releases. So, that changed the game for how people could access music. However, it still took an iteration or two between Napster and then Limewire, and then torrents before digital music was an accepted format.

Then came streaming.

Now you can stream the whole album or just the hit singles.

I would never have imagined that streaming services would be as big as they are now, but that could be "thanks" to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) going after individuals through their internet service providers and getting them banned from internet services to fines to, I think, even jail time for pirating.

As they instilled fear into the general public about pirating, it made it a lot easier for streaming to grow, in my opinion. That, and the sweet spot of about $5-10, that most anyone can afford, made the growth exponential.

In other words, some steps were gradually taken for streaming to be a thing.

here in the UK, CDs are almost obsolete now and some artists aren't even releasing them anymore.

While they might be obsolete, I think many major record labels still contract out their production, even LPs (records). There are always going to be people who would prefer their music in a specific format.

While I don't think cassettes and CDs will last, I do think records will last the tale of time. There's nothing like having 100-500 records on a bookshelf and being able to select the one you want to put on. There's just something to that over one-clicking a song will never have.

I, myself, am trying to build a record collection, of even artists' music released today. Apart from a collection, a record just sounds different, too.

 

[Shadow]

I agree. We may not see artists going for CDs release in some years because most prefer to enjoy their favorite music via YouTube or other music apps like Spotify etc.

 

[Shortie]

As much as CDs do not seem as popular as they used to, I do know that some artists still release them, as fans like to collect them for merch for certain artists they enjoy. My daughter collects BTS CD albums and also the BTS members' solo albums too, she doesn't play them, just collects them.

I will admit, I did not see subscription services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and even YouTube Music become this popular this quickly, but I guess we are seeing music progress and become available to more people.

 

[MamaFrankie]

I use Spotify but am boycotting YouTube.

 

[Harsh World]

I do know that some artists still release them

I'll buy CDs from independent artists instead of streaming them (but will stream as opposed to putting in the CD as often) because I have a feeling they make more, and I feel that if I enjoy them that much, I should support them a bit more. too.

Maybe in my next planned car upgrade (a Land Ranger or Hilux where there's extra spare room I'll never need), I'll try to find me one of those older (unless they're still in production) 7-disc+ CD changers and put it to more use. Having a plain CD player (1 disc) and being the driver is kind of hard to manage.

 

[Zani]

I agree. We may not see artists going for CDs release in some years because most prefer to enjoy their favorite music via YouTube or other music apps like Spotify etc.

The thing is that music streaming is the big deal for most musicians now. They make their money through it and would be happy to keep enjoying those benefits. I don't think any of them would want to sell Cds anymore.

 

[Kross]

I knew about Spotify since 2012. I never envisaged that they would be a global force in the tech sphere. They created a need, made the world to see the value for that need and today, they are global tech businesses.

 

[Reelz]

The CDs still hold high value for collectors but I lean more towards Music subscription platforms because it has made music more accessible to people and it's even cheaper.