I've been thinking alot lately about the future of music sales and how this will change with technology. Folks like Rick Rubin, David Geffen, and my friend Josh, believe the subscription model is the future of the industry. They say you'll pay a certain amount each month to gain access to virtually any music you're interested in hearing. It sounds great, but I'm not thrilled about having to pay yet another monthly bill. And since the beginning of recorded music sales, we've owned our music. I just can't believe that we'll all be content to pay $19.95 per month (Rubin's figure, not mine) to essentially RENT music. If I decide I can't afford it anymore, I'm stuck with...NO music. We're collectors of music. That's part of the fun of it, right?
What about a "rent to own" option? Say you've rented for 12 months and you decide you can't afford it anymore. You decide you'll stop paying, but you'll get to keep a portion of the music you've downloaded equal to the amount you've paid. For example, you've spent $239.40 for the year ($19.95 per month) and you've downloaded 500 songs. When you leave the rental agreement you get to keep 239 of those songs (you didn't think the record companies would round up to 240 did you?). You choose which ones you want.
Has this been proposed anywhere? Your thoughts?
UPDATE: PLEASE SEE THE COMMENT BELOW. THERE'S AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION MADE BY ONE OF THE THREE PEOPLE REFERENCED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. OBVIOUSLY I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISREPRESENTATION.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Rent to Own music
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1 comments:
just to be clear, I only said that it work best for me, not a collector, more of a browser of music. i have a core of music i may listen to regularly, but what i appreciate about "renting" music is the sampling of music i would more than likely not partake in for an additional charge. also there is something to be said about say a family of 4 who all enjoy music, and different types of music at that, all having access to "all the Music they want" for a household cost of 15 bucks. it is defiantly not for everyone, but is quickly growing in popularity, the main drawback is if the company goes under, (which i have experienced) and then you lose your collection of music even though you where willing to pay the $15, now that sucks.
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