I’ve recently come across an application called “Spotify”, many of you may well have already stumbled across reference to it on the net or possibly recieved an invite to gain access to the application which is currently in its Beta stage.
It’s best described as “iTunes on demand” with no price to pay per track. Approximatly 80% of iTunes music content is available with full tracks readily available for you to listen to at a click of a button. In return for this extensive library of musical delights you’re expected to put up with a 30 second audio ad every 20 to 25 minutes which will be placed in between tracks you have queued up in your playlists. Alternatively there is a “premium” service which avoids the ad’s but costs £10 a month.
Those that are curious but haven’t recieved an invite can try it out here:
Now that the description of the application is over, the debate can begin over whether one 30 second advert every 25 minutes for a service which is only reaching a limited number of people at the current moment in time is a sustainable model.
After my personal experience of Spotify, I do believe it to be a great application which could develop into a household name similar to the way iTunes has in recent years. The audio ad’s have generally been for music artists or to raise awareness of various appeals such as aid for Darfur and have not pushed me in any way to consider the Premium service.
However, I am expecting the development to be similar to that of Facebook, beginning life as a very clean application which appeals in its simplicity (i.e. no regular obtrusive adverts), only to gradually gain a more commercialised style once the popularity and potential is realised and brands start to want association with a program which could pioneer the future of the music industry. I’m expecting to hear an ad every 10 minutes and see a permanent flash promotion within the application once your friends have invited their friends!
Whoever is smart will get in there while it’s cheap.
THe service is really cool. And they’re working on a mobile app (that’ll be life changing). However, I read recently that they’re cutting DOWN on albums featured. Guess record companies, laws, regulations etc caught up with them… Still works well though, but until it’s mobile, we still have to fill our drives with music to get it onto iPod. Changing that is the real revolution. Personaly I think iTune has got a big red button waiting to be pushed – which will kill all competition. Catch you on Twitter.