Rumor: Apple to offer access to the entire iTunes library for a lump sum price

[Mango]

Just came across this:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...ith-ipods.html

I like to buy from iTunes when I'm buying rare tracks (mixes, extended versions, B-sides). I think I'd really benifit from this service, but I don't know what others think. I guess it all depends on the additional cost. It looks like it would be a yearly rate.

[HotHotHeat]

If this involves anything to do with DRM, Steve Jobs will want nothing to do with it. If it's DRM free...Wow...

[underGRADFlame]

Holy F^&$#&( S&%$& if this is true!!!! I'll need a much bigger hard drive, much much bigger!

[Mango]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Holy F^&$#&( S&%$& if this is true!!!! I'll need a much bigger hard drive, much much bigger!

Indeed! I would go ccrrazzy

[burn_this_city]

So lump sum would mean which appendage..? Arm or leg?

[photon]

That would be pretty great. Combine that with fast downloads off the iTunes store right on the device though WiFi or hopefully 3G at some point and that's a pretty killer combo.

Heck I'd probably buy it, and I hate iTunes.

[SebC]

$20 bucks? Even 80 bucks would be phenomenal. I'm sure the RIAA will managed to screw this up though. Even though the average user only makes $20 worth of purchases from iTunes, when they implement this and the average goes up to 1000 downloads, the RIAA will probably use their usual twisted logic and claim that they're "losing" $980 per customer.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by underGRADFlame

Holy F^&$#&( S&%$& if this is true!!!! I'll need a much bigger hard drive, much much bigger!

Well if it was unlimited usage, you could just download and delete and you saw fit.

This would revolutionise the music industry, if true. Amazing.

[RW99]

I pirate, but I'd pay for a good unlimited service as long as it encompasses the vast majority of artists and is DRM free. I might even be swayed to spend my first penny on an Apple product...

[icarus]

Originally Posted by RW99

I pirate, but I'd pay for a good unlimited service as long as it encompasses the vast majority of artists and is DRM free. I might even be swayed to spend my first penny on an Apple product...

I am sure this is exactly what Apple is banking on from most people.

[HotHotHeat]

The more I think about this, the more it makes sense.

Consider all the other forms of technology we use. Internet/TV/Cellphone plans...All monthly subscriptions that offer unlimited consumption of a product.

Apple is considering two options for an unlimited service. The first would be you by an unlimited lifetime subscription for iTunes when you by your iPod for $100, or you pay $8/month.

The problem would be people would just sign up 1 month of the year, download all the tracks they wanted, then unsubscribe until next year. That's why there would have to be some sort of DRM...Which I don't see happening.

Hmmm.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Mango

Indeed! I would go ccrrazzy

Should i get the boys in the white suits?

Seriously that sounds too good to be true. Keep us music lovers posted!

[icarus]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Consider all the other forms of technology we use. Internet/TV/Cellphone plans...All monthly subscriptions that offer unlimited consumption of a product.

Well not all of these things are universally unlimited (yet), except maybe TV.

I work for a major software company and the trend towards unlimited usage licences is very apparent throughout the technology sector. The benefits are numerous, for both users and providers--depending on the price point of course.

At our company unlimited licence agreements are still relatively young, and currently only the largest companies are able to make the commitments to enter into them, but it seems almost certain that ten years down the line ULAs will be the norm.

So it only makes sense that the digital music industry should follow suit. It really marks a revolution in how data is provided and sold.

[Barnes]

Bad bad bad.

I am not sure people fully understand the possible consequences of what the subscription model is.

First, this can't happen without record labels. How do indie bands get in on this? We are finally seeing the power taken away from labels and people want to give it right back.

The Subscription model can not live without DRM. DRM bad.

What happens if Sony all of a sudden decides that they don't want to play ball anymore and pulls their songs a la NBC and Fox and start their own service. Your subscription fee is no longer as valuable anymore now is it?

A subscription is typically tied to a device. What happens if your iPod gets stolen or you drop it in the toilet? You buy a new one and have to pay the fee again.

What does the music do in iTunes. Will it even play? Will it stream through Bonjour? Probably not. They obviously won't let you burn to a disc or convert it to another format. This is a huge step backwards.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Barnes

First, this can't happen without record labels. How do indie bands get in on this? We are finally seeing the power taken away from labels and people want to give it right back.

Not really, unless Apple agrees to exclude indie bands. They could easily do something similar to they're doing with the iPhone SDK where an indie band could just provide their music and get the money from Apple.

The Subscription model can not live without DRM. DRM bad.

That's not what they're describing here though, the downloads wouldn't be contingent on you maintaining a subscription, they're saying that you pay the premium on your device, you get access to iTunes while you own your device, and you own your music even after you get rid of your device. That doesn't sound like it's DRMed, though we won't know for sure until the full details are announced.

If it's all DRMed, this is nothing new then, services like Rhapsody already do this.

What happens if Sony all of a sudden decides that they don't want to play ball anymore and pulls their songs a la NBC and Fox and start their own service.

They say that you will own the music, which implies DRM free.

A subscription is typically tied to a device. What happens if your iPod gets stolen or you drop it in the toilet? You buy a new one and have to pay the fee again.

Good point, but again having access to your music isn't contingent on the device, just the access to the unlimited downloads.

The implication of the article isn't what you describe, what you describe already exists in other services, and I agree those are the wrong way to go.

If what is being implied by this article is true, that it'd be unlimited non-DRMed music downloads then that's a true shift and something that would be great.

[llama64]

If Apple gives me the ability to pay a lump sum per month for a certain amount of kB downloaded... oh hell yeah. As long as it gives me the ability to move that music onto my iPod and burn a CD/DVD, it's all good.

[Bobblehead]

I'm thinking this is Apple's answer to Amazon.com

Amazon is selling DRM free downloads (link) and they are getting a pretty solid catalog.

[photon]

Apple's stuff is all DRM free now too isn't it?

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by photon

Not really, unless Apple agrees to exclude indie bands. They could easily do something similar to they're doing with the iPhone SDK where an indie band could just provide their music and get the money from Apple.

Apple will put anyone's songs on iTunes now but bands have to go through a 3rd party service to submit content. Apple doesn't want to deal with sending out thousands of checks to individuals, they just send a few checks to the clearinghouses. A subscription model does not benefit independent artists as their take from the large subscription pool would be next to nothing.

That's not what they're describing here though, the downloads wouldn't be contingent on you maintaining a subscription, they're saying that you pay the premium on your device, you get access to iTunes while you own your device, and you own your music even after you get rid of your device. That doesn't sound like it's DRMed, though we won't know for sure until the full details are announced.

Sorry, I had only read early articles on this rumour and that confused me. They seemed to be pointing towards a Napster like service. The articles before the Ars article described the rumoured service much differently. It makes a little more sense to me now.

If it's all DRMed, this is nothing new then, services like Rhapsody already do this.

None of which are terribly successful from what I am hearing and Apple would never do this.

If what is being implied by this article is true, that it'd be unlimited non-DRMed music downloads then that's a true shift and something that would be great.

Indeed it would be great. The idea is just way to progressive for the music industry for me to believe. Steve Jobs has always hated the subscription model and criticized it in the past so........ it's entirely possible that this will actually happen.

Plus I just bought a new iPod so something big is coming up. Apple waits to see my credit card number come up before releasing new products and services.

I personally don't like subscription services for music. I would like to see the service for TV Shows though. It makes more sense to me.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by photon

Apple's stuff is all DRM free now too isn't it?

No. The big labels seem to want to try and hurt Apple's dominance in the market by offering it to amazon hoping people leave itunes.