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So why don't the record companies do MP3's like this?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by haven, Sep 3, 2002.

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  1. haven

    haven Member

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    This morning, I was trying to think of a better way for the record companies to handle mp3's and internet radio.

    Charge $10-$20 dollars per month for unlimited access to a radio-type library. You could purchase access to a modern-rock like collection, top 20 collection, r&b, whatever. As soon as the song was out of air play, it would be unavailable. The files would be kept on-line, so there wouldn't be ownership issues.

    This would net a nice profit for the record companies. Everyone would still buy music they wanted to keep permanently - after all, this stuff would be gone after a couple months. And most people don't make impulse buys of music they won't listen to for long to the tune of $20 per month. In addition, they might even sell more CD's, since people might find they couldn't do without certain songs once they were out of rotation.

    Personally, I hate the radio. Commercials suck, there are songs even on my favorite stations that I don't like, and most DJ's annoy me. This leaves me usually listening to my CDs, instead. But occasionally, I want to hear something different... and sometimes good stuff actually comes out that I don't hear of by word of mouth ;).

    Would something like this work? (or perhaps is already being done)
     
    #1 haven, Sep 3, 2002
  2. Sonny

    Sonny Member

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    Would these MP3's you download expire? If not then couldn't you just burn them to CD. I think this is a great idea though and they will go to something like this soon. I think there are some sites that let you download the music if you order the CD from them.
     
    #2 Sonny, Sep 3, 2002
  3. mfclark

    mfclark Member

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    I believe there are plans from the major record labels to set up such a thing, charging users about $10/month for online access to copyrighted music files.

    You can't download them, and I believe they have digital markers in them to wreak havoc if you try to record them. But, it does allow you to listen to them as much as you want (over the Internet, of course) for that one month span.

    I'd rather listen to what little bit of Internet radio is left, not just from the actual radio stations, but from the online stations that just play music. Most of 'em are free, too.
     
    #3 mfclark, Sep 3, 2002
  4. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    Hmm... mp3 files you can't download, but can listen to whenever you want. Oh boy... I hope my car has a long-ass ethernet connection. :D

    Seriously though, this is great for people that want to listen to music on their pc's, but how about people in cars, on planes, joggers/workout nuts, etc.

    The other thing to think about is if you are saying they have to connect to a server to download these mp3's, that's some serious infrastructure they'd have to put in place to handle the requests (assuming it becomes popular). Streaming audio for thousands/millions of file requests per day. And it better work, or you will have spent a fortune on something the people are getting pissed at not being able to access...

    How about this : If I have a login for "DrOfDunk", what's to stop me from sharing that login with family and friends?

    I'm not saying the idea can't work... it can, but there's no way I'm paying money to listen to songs for a short period of time and only on my pc. Most of the music I listen to is in my car driving around.

    By the way, is it just me or radio more annoying than ever with their commercials?! I swear I'm getting XM Radio or something when I get my next car... :rolleyes:
     
    #4 Dr of Dunk, Sep 3, 2002
  5. Vengeance

    Vengeance Member

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    The RIAA has tried online music before, but they keep getting it wrong. Rather than not worrying about people downloading it or whatever, their goal has been to REALLY gouge the consumer, and as a result, they have attempted to do lots of squirrley things to limit how often you can listen to the music and so on. Remember Liquid Music? Exactly . . .
     
    #5 Vengeance, Sep 3, 2002
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