“Apple is gearing up for a music announcement [on September 9th]. The trouble is, nobody in music appears to know anything about it. My sources say that they don’t expect Apple to announce anything to do with music content, and they are sure Apple won’t be rolling out an iTunes music subscription service,” Greg Sandoval reports for CNET.
“Such a service has been rumored for some time but Apple still only has licenses with the major labels to offer digital downloads, sources said,” Sandoval reports.
Full article here.
And they’re 100% sure Apple will not open a chain of laundromats or a new industrial lubricant designed for ocean floor laboratories.
No poop! No one wants an out modes business model except the labels.
“or a new”
s/b “or unveil a new”
Please continue.
Maybe instead of letting your rent songs, they’ll let you rent iPods.
I’m sure many feel passionately about the subscription issue, but I fail to see why. In some ways, this has been treated by many here just like the gay marriage issue. Those who oppose it with passion aren’t really affected by it in any way.
Allowing the subscription store would only interest a fraction of the general population. It wouldn’t really affect those who buy their music in any way; if they don’t want to subscribe, they won’t have to.
If it does appear next Tuesday, I don’t think we should be starting a revolution agains Apple here. Why not let Apple take away marketshare from Real, Napster and similar, as tiny as it currently is?
Renting music? No thanks.
I would not rent music. I don’t see why you would rent something that only costs 99 cents.
@predrag
You’re right. Renting music is sort of gay.
(and don’t think I’ve got anything against gays and lesbians by that — just saw a chance for a joke and couldn’t stop myself)
I have no problem with subscription as long as I can still purchase without having to subscribe.
And I’m not gay…
As far as I know.
I could be Bi…
But definitely not gay…
Probably…
I’m pretty sure…
…that I’m not…
… gay, that is.
kinda lame. what happened to people wanting to own their music?
“Renting music is sort of gay.”
Only the show tunes, Liza and of course, Barbra.
(j/k – Who doesn’t love “Shipoopi” ?)
I would consider subscription music, but Apple has to do more than just let me “subscribe” to a song.
What I want to see from a subscription service is the ability to create smart playlists based upon various criteria. These would sync with my iPod.
So, for example, I can have a Playlist on my iPod called “Drive To/From Work” which will subscribe to the ABC news and Weather Channel local weather podcast and all music in the Billboard Top 40 singles whose genre is not “Rap.” It will also include a few favorites that I own, and all songs that I own but have not listened to in 6 months.
Heck, if I plug my iPod in when I get to work (or use an iPod touch with WiFi or an iPhone), it will update it so that when I get back in the car for the ride home, I have updated news and weather information.
Mash it all up and I have the radio station for the drive to and from work. I have news and weather, the latest hits (except for the genre that I don’t like), some old favorites, and some songs I haven’t heard for awhile.
Who needs satellite radio?
I’m not saying Apple will or should offer subscriptions, but now, with the iPhone and iPod touch, it puts them in a different situation. Now, instead of downloading rented tracks and transfering them from your computer to your iPod, you could just stream them directly. It would be more of a music-on-demand service. Pay your membership fee and stream anything anywere you have a connection…no “downloading” required. No “exploding” tracks. That might be enough of a shift in peoples and Steve’s perception of the issue to now see it as a valid option. Also, assuming you might not always be connected (especially with an iPod touch) they might be able to offer a membership cheaper than previous subscription plans.
Not sayin’ they will or should…just sayin’.
Peter, dude! You have pushed the iPod technology to a whole new and creative high. Retitle your Playlist to “Mesh it all up!”
Great way to go down the road!