“Apple ought to change its tune on iTunes… I’m coming around to the notion that an iTunes subscription model, alongside Apple’s existing system, could work quite well, especially if it’s sold in conjunction with a network-ready piece of hardware,” Arik Hesseldahl writes for BusinessWeek.
“I’m imagining a shelf-top audio system that would contain what you’d expect: an iPod dock, a conventional AM-FM radio, and perhaps HD Radio (BusinessWeek.com, 5/29/07), or the option to add on the satellite radio service of your choice. But it would also connect to a home network, via both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. This would make it the ultimate Internet radio right out of the gate,” Hesseldahl writes.
“Products like this exist. Denon’s S-32 and S-52 come to mind. They’re expensive, starting at about $500, and aimed at big-spending audiophiles. But Apple can bring a few things to the table that no one else can. First would be its unmatched sense of aesthetic design. Second, Apple could include a touch-screen interface similar to the one on the iPhone and iPod Touch,” Hesseldahl writes.
“This device would also support a new iTunes subscription option. As long as you keep your subscription paid up, you’d have access to the full catalog of whatever record labels sign on. New releases would be available to everyone who owns this device… And if after a few months you decide don’t want to pay the monthly fee? No problem. Since it’s optional, you can just cancel it and continue downloading music à la carte at 99¢ a track like always,” Hesseldahl writes.
More in the full article here.
As we’ve often said, Apple should offer an iTunes music subscription option if and when it makes business sense (i.e. development and operational costs are less than profit potential).
I would love to replace my satellite radio subscription with an iTunes subscription. Then buy the songs that I like.
A cheap subscription service similar to Netflix. Let me pay $5/mo to sample songs of my choice. Limit it to 50 songs ‘checked out’ at a time. This way I can see if something is worth it. If I want to keep it and transfer to other devices, I’ll buy it for $.99.
“Apple should offer an iTunes music subscription option if it makes business sense ”
Kinda going out on a limb there MDN. You do have an interesting business strategy…lets see if it works.
i whould like apple to have only one subscription model that allows de consumer to have cable tv via hardware or a real appletv conected to the wi-fi network,if that was possible i think that Apple whould make the step in the living-room(s).
I could see a subscription service where you are limited on the number of songs you can download a month but get to keep the songs if you cancel your subscription. That way, people don’t feel like they are losing anything.
If you can guarantee that this potential iTunes subscription will have EVERY SINGLE SONG ever recorded in the history of the universe….then I’m in. Otherwise, just leave me alone and let me buy my songs $0.99 at a time…
You know, I pay Sirius an extra three bucks or so a month to stream 128k music through the internet. It actually sounds pretty good through Airfoil to AirTunes to my Kenwood receiver and Bose speakers, but the main reason I got it was to stream through my iPhone.
No can-do.
If iTunes works on the iPhone, I will subscribe.
Not gonna happen! The only “problem” with the current iTunes model has to do with music discovery. A subscription model would solve that as you could listen to whatever you just “discovered” on a whim. but there are other ways to this end…yet Apple hasn’t implemented any. see Pandora & last.fm for decent examples. if Apple can somehow let us sample WHOLE songs possibly on a personalized radio feed then allow us to tag, then purchase, the ones we like they’d hit a home run and this whole music subscription BS would go away! Here’s hoping the dinosaur record labels will allow Apple to do something of the sort!
I never want and never will rent music. Unlike movies there is a market for renting. As far as what “iListen” said about satellite radio it will be a hard to listen to a iTunes subscription while your driving on a road trip. It have already been set in stone that Steve Jobs will not go the route of subscriptions for music. Just look at what a failure the online subscription sites have been.
The punters have it all wrong. If and only if, Apple offers a subscription Music Service in iTunes it will only be to get what they really want, which will a fully DRM free music catalog sells model. I do think the punters have it all wrong, I think Apple is working on a Movie subscription service and not a Music subscription service, that will be introduced in the last quarter of this year to spark Apple TV Sales and to give Netflix a heart attack. Movie subscription service is more in line with Apple’s path of the Apple TV then the iPod.
But, if Apple did a Music Subscription Service I would expect the sells catalog will go fully DRM Free and once Apple proved to the labels that a subscription service wasn’t cost effective for the labels or the retailer they’d discontinue it in short order.
“As we’ve often said, Apple should offer an iTunes music subscription option if and when it makes business sense (i.e. development and operational costs are less than profit potential).”
Bull shit! You guys have trashed it constantly.
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/16276/
Caught in a lie!
Not owning music only makes sense when you only wanna hear the latest hits (latest crap that just happens to be trendy).
I carefully choose the albums I pay for, that’s why subscription model would just suck the money out of my wallet, compared to the owning. What I want is good music, and for some reason it usually comes from indie labels.
Record companies would love to get money for nothing.
Music worth listening to is worth buying. If what you listen to is so vapid that it has the shelf life of a house fly you need to step up to something better.
All right! I will get a 2 month subscription and Audio Hijak every damn tune in the collection just like almost every subscriber on the Windows side has done since subscription music started.
I can’t wait.
Subscription music is ultimately bad for consumers. Period.
If Apple jumps on the subscription model, then the Labels are that much closer to the day when music is like HBO–only available via subscription.
Paying rent to listen to music is a stupid idea that only stupid people would do.
BS,
I wouldn’t say they were caught in a lie, but their statements are contradictory, that is, they are playing both sides of the line in the debate.
They trashed existing music subscription services by saying they are diametrically opposed to human nature and thus doomed to failure. But in order to cover their bases in case Apple decided to at some future time incorporate the doomed business venture, they say they would be OK with it. In other words, subscriptions are a stupid idea unless Apple decides to do it, in which case Apple will then be geniuses.
BS:
You’ve named yourself aptly.
MacDailyNews has stated the same quote in multiple Takes spanning years, including, but not limited to:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/16114/
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/14772/
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/13919/
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/13471/
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/13418/
MacDailyNews – you have flipflopped on this issue. Aren’t you the same people who’ve constantly said “business models that fly in the face of human nature are doomed to” blah blah blah. But, hey, if Apple can make a profit on it, music subscriptions can’t be all bad, huh? Is Dvorak working for you guys now?
“MacDailyNews – you have flipflopped on this issue. Aren’t you the same people who’ve constantly said “business models that fly in the face of human nature are doomed to” blah blah blah. But, hey, if Apple can make a profit on it, music subscriptions can’t be all bad, huh? Is Dvorak working for you guys now?”
MDN’s point is that most people do not want to use a subscription service, therefore basing an online music service on subscriptions is not a good idea (though it is the wet dream of the music industry). Most people like to own songs. Importantly, MDN’s comment is not endorsing exclusivity.
I agree with MDN that at this point the market is going to kill online music businesses based on subscription services. However, a pay-as-you-go store can augment their business with a subscription service for the minority that want it.
“MDN’s point is that most people do not want to use a subscription service, therefore basing an online music service on subscriptions is not a good idea (though it is the wet dream of the music industry). Most people like to own songs. Importantly, MDN’s comment is not endorsing exclusivity. “
No. MDN is clearly trying to cover their asses.They have trashed the model constantly and now that their are heavy rumors that Apple might be moving to this model, they are trying to back track. Once again we see the two faced crap by MDN and their followers. They have been totally caught this time.
@Tired of Retards
Not sure what you response to me was trying to accomplish, but you actually proved my point. Thanks.
I love Pandora.
I do end up fast forwarding through most tracks, I mean if you’re into Yes that doesn’t mean you’re into Reo (ooh yeah baby yeah) Speedwagon.
And no, I don’t rip the tracks.
There are so many songs I’d love to just hear a few times I think an iTunes subscription thing would be great.
But… Pandora is FREE.