How do you like me now? Napster and Napster-owner Best Buy
have to be wondering what consumers are going to answer to this pivotal
question as they launch their new music pricing model. The new scheme is a
hybrid of the unlimited music for a monthly fee and iTunes pay for what you
play model. But can the ‘best of both worlds’ approach pull customers from
either? Depends. What’s it gonna cost?
Since being tossed a life-preserver by Best Buy back in
September 2008, Napster has done little to assert itself as one of the industry’s
big players. Their $14 subscription service is on par with many others,
including Zune and Rhapsody. And for a brand name that was nearly synonymous
with mp3s Napster has had a long, unchecked fall from ubiquity. But that might
change with an aggressive new pricing model. For just $5 a month U.S. Napster
subscribers will have unlimited access to over 7 million songs via streaming. In
addition, Napster will throw in 5 DRM-free tracks a month. Translated into the
iTunes model, buy an EP get unlimited streaming access for a month.
At first glance this is a very persuasive package. Five
songs, five bucks, and the entire back catalogue of Dan Duran? No brainer. But
upon closer inspection, this package may only satisfy a select few.
Firstly, as it stands, the service is only available to
American subscribers, despite the global reach of Napster. Secondly, Napster’s
longstanding Achilles’ Heel remains in
that the streaming service only services PCs. If you combine the advent of the
3G network and the fast approaching upgrade to 4G, with the increasing availability
of WiFi, and you get zero excuses for a company looking to make ground in the
music subscription business. Their old mode, which is still the status quo for
everyone outside the States, essentially provides on-demand music at your PC
for $15 a month. In the meantime the music service Pandora allows you to line
up bands and genres that you like and stream them directly to your iPhone. For
free.
So what’s the bottom line? If you buy about 5 tracks a
month, consider a Napster subscription. Any more or any less and you’re better
off with what you’ve got. For now at least.
Source
if napster want to increase their sales, they’ve got to come up with something better than this. 5 tracks a month.. do me a favour.. The trouble is that companies like itunes and napstercharge too much for their music and that is why piracy is so rife… if you add up the cost of a dozen songs from itunes, it’s pretty much the same price as buying the actual CD album… so where is the incentive not to buy one copy then pass it on to all your mates?