http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/5645cf6c-ce73-11e4-900c-00144feab7de.html#axzz3VDqO6OQ5
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/major-labels-question-free-model-20150320#ixzz3V2w4nhlp
Labels really don't like this "free" business.
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Universal Music Group pressures Spotify to scale back free streaming
- Thread starter Guevara
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Labels really don't like this "free" business.
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
It is because of Spotify that illegal activity like torrenting has decreased so much.
CapitalismSucks DonkeyBalls
Banned
Commercials every 2-3 songs is more than enough. If they start playing one between every song, I'm just going back to downloading.
War Peaceman
You're a big guy.
I mean, it makes sense for these big corporations to push for better terms. That is exactly what I would expect them to do in negotiations.
However, they should seriously look at how they utilise Spotify/its rivals to maximise other avenues of earning money. Be it through merchandise or shows, these streaming services can provide excellent marketing for their artists whilst also earning a little bit of money. Music is no longer about the sale of the music, but the corollary aspects.
I really hope the streaming services don't back down and keep free services strong. But concurrently, Spotify does need to better differentiate its premium service. Ideally through more and better features.
However, they should seriously look at how they utilise Spotify/its rivals to maximise other avenues of earning money. Be it through merchandise or shows, these streaming services can provide excellent marketing for their artists whilst also earning a little bit of money. Music is no longer about the sale of the music, but the corollary aspects.
I really hope the streaming services don't back down and keep free services strong. But concurrently, Spotify does need to better differentiate its premium service. Ideally through more and better features.
DonasaurusRex
Online Ho Champ
if Universal gets their way....spotify it was a good run....
Mechanized
Member
This is what I don't understand, didn't they have to sign contracts and shit with Spotify? Now they want to change things so they get more money I guess. The music industry is such horseshit.
all streaming sites, it was a good run....
FallingEdge
Member
Google Music to reign supreme.
There is no free option for Google Music, is there?
There is no free option for Google Music, is there?
JustinSane
Neo Member
If they want people to keep torrenting their stuff, this is the way to go about it. The music industry is the worst.
War Peaceman
You're a big guy.
Contracts and shit expire. They aren't infinite.
The Last Wizard
Member
This is the same shit starz network was and did to Netflix a few years back, these fucking licensers always get greedy after someone else lays the ground work.
They wanted Netflix to increase the price of membership to $10+ or they'd take there content and leave, a lot of Disney content was part of the deal. Netflix didn't agree so Starz took their ball and went home and now Netflix is still doing good and they actually have a contract through Disney themselves and they don't have all that lame ass Sd starz content lol
They wanted Netflix to increase the price of membership to $10+ or they'd take there content and leave, a lot of Disney content was part of the deal. Netflix didn't agree so Starz took their ball and went home and now Netflix is still doing good and they actually have a contract through Disney themselves and they don't have all that lame ass Sd starz content lol
This is why your Netflix library is (at times) subpar.
Regurgitated
Banned
Do you want piracy? Because that's how you get piracy.
Rock And Roll
Member
It's funny because you know even if Spotify did listen to the major labels and scaled back on free streaming, the labels wouldn't increase payouts to their artists. They would just make more money and as usual continue to pay the talent next to nothing.
Not for streaming music you don't own, no. You can use their music hosting/streaming for free with your own albums for free, though.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Spotify had a good run. UMG damn near owns every major label under the sun so if they want it scaled back its getting scaled back.
Uncle_Classy
Member
Ha, yeah. Take away Spotify and people will just return to the iTunes store in droves right? Fuck off with that.
This, so much. What other possible end can come out of it?
What's funniest about this line of thought, is that even Apple recognizes people aren't coming back to iTunes. That's why they bought Beats, and why they're launching their own streaming service later this year.
teruterubozu
Member
I think they're fine with this actually. As long as they can sue more people.
Google Music allows people to upload all their pirated music for free streaming.
And that's exactly what restricting Spotify and other free streaming services would do.
Music executives still haven't learned. Greed has blinded them.
This is what happens when you put MBA's in charge of a creative industry. They're determined to stay ten years behind every technological advance. They didn't think to invent Napster, the iPod, or Youtube. They left the real innovation to actual geniuses while they struggled to control the consumption of products via lawsuits, and wallow in outdated business practices instead of getting in on the ground floor where the innovation was happening and adapt. And when the lawsuits don't work, they cut the jobs of actual creative people instead of putting forward thinking creatives in charge.
Similarly, why isn't there a Kodak or Polaroid branding on Instagram, Vine, or Snapchat? I wonder.
Similarly, why isn't there a Kodak or Polaroid branding on Instagram, Vine, or Snapchat? I wonder.
Hamster Plugin
Member
Spotify already had a good run when they "updated" the desktop app. God damn what were they thinking? Spotify's major advantage over other services on PC (desktop app versus browser app) is now gone.
Their only draw now is being free, and if that goes away Google or Apple will win.
IMO the business model for streaming music just isn't there yet.
At least on the TV and movie side of things the studios get big bucks from all the exclusivity deals that Netflix/Hulu/Amazon sign. Netflix is paying a whopping $2m per episode for NBC's The Blacklist for example (that's $44 million for just one season of one show). For comparison, Taylor Swift reportedly earned only $2 million from Spotify all of last year and she's perhaps the biggest artist out there.
I know the music industry is greedy as fuck, but there's some legitimacy to their complaints imo.
At least on the TV and movie side of things the studios get big bucks from all the exclusivity deals that Netflix/Hulu/Amazon sign. Netflix is paying a whopping $2m per episode for NBC's The Blacklist for example (that's $44 million for just one season of one show). For comparison, Taylor Swift reportedly earned only $2 million from Spotify all of last year and she's perhaps the biggest artist out there.
I know the music industry is greedy as fuck, but there's some legitimacy to their complaints imo.
Artists != labels. Not even remotely.
It's not free, you have limited functionality and get commercials.
Record companies have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
Only Taylor Swift matters.
I see. If I was the label Id force them to make the free service have commercials and be limited to 128kbps.
Is the $44 supposed to be shocking? That's not even 1 season of 13 episode Daredevil!
She made more than $300K from just one song last October alone.
TV shows and movies also cost a hell lot more to make, and require hiring hundreds of people.
evilromero
Member
"Key to success for artists" really means the key to Universal's enormous profits.
Spotify pays out tons of money. Over a billion per year nowadays. If Taylor Swift only made two million, that's not because Spotify doesn't pay out enough, but because the deal she has with her recording label is shit.
'
To give you an idea, Kendrick Lamar's 'To pimp a butterfly' made two million in just the first two days on Spotify. Of course, that money is going to go to the studio and he just gets a part of that, but hard to blame the business model don't you think?
paparazzo
Member
Sounds reasonable. I've seen plenty of entitled people try to argue that music should be free, and having a free, on-demand service with entire artist libraries only re-enforces that idea. It should be a paid-only service ala Netflix.
If people are going to pirate, they weren't paying for the music in the first place. At least this way, there's a better chance they'll grow up and learn to pay for things.
If people are going to pirate, they weren't paying for the music in the first place. At least this way, there's a better chance they'll grow up and learn to pay for things.
sleverfunk
Member
Asia gives no fucks about this.
teruterubozu
Member
Their early and most popular records ("Heat of the Moment") are on Geffen/Universal, so they should.
The music industry's constant resistance to get their stuff together has lead to this situation. They really are at unsustainable levels though, Spotify isn't making money and the money it does make is growing because of subs, not ads. This has to happen either way because eventually streaming will be considered mature and investors will stop holding it up unless it can swim by itself.
Outdoor Miner
Member
Are you a student? If you have an .edu email you can get it for $5/mo.
Record labels finally figuring out that you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Dey scurrd.
Yup, the current market has evolved much more than when Taylor Swift first had her music available. The music industry "invested" in Spotify by undervaluing their content because they saw potential growth in the market. Now that it's becoming fully realized, the industry is going to look for their big cash payout in their next contract negotiations.
I foresee Spotify going through the same growing pains as Netflix did when their VOD service first expanded into the powerhouse it is today.
I wish
I'll just listen to it for free, only big thing for me was being able to download albums for play while I was on vacation away from my home wifi network.
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