5 ms·

DRM aside, one thing that Spotify seems to have done quite well is to integrate its service in to many other devices and services: Much like what Netflix has do

DRM aside, one thing that Spotify seems to have done quite well is to integrate its service in to many other devices and services: Much like what Netflix has done for video. For many people, having their music collection readily available is quite valuable.

shmerl 10y ago
I'd say the opposite - you described the benefits of DRM-free media. You don't need to worry about OSes, devices and etc. Standard formats are accessible everywhere. And if you are using some really quirky system, you can always transcode it into supported format (that's why it's always better to buy lossless music). DRMed ones on the other hand, are tied to officially supported systems only, therefore it always will have less reach.
- ikt 10y ago
  I think he's pointing out for example that you can discover a new song you love in spotify, add it to your playlist, have that sync with your phone automatically or if you login at work whether using the pc app or website it'll be there for you as well. Pretty much add to playlist once, play anywhere. I'm not sure what would be involved to be able to access my music through a web browser at multiple locations that syncronises with multiple devices every time I add a song to a playlist but I don't think 'effortless' would describe it. That's one way music availability on spotify is better, the other thing is that I honestly don't even remember what music discovery was like before spotify, I think it was mostly youtube videos...
  - shmerl 10y ago
    My tastes in music aren't mass market by far and I don't buy it in huge quantities. May be it makes it easier for me, but I don't mind managing my music collection myself. And if we are talking convenience, it's really not related to DRM. I.e. nothing stops DRM free store from offering you a sync service or anything of that sort (GOG do it with Galaxy for instance). If anything, DRM always reduces potential usability as above.
    - ikt 10y ago
      > My tastes in music aren't mass market by far Neither are mine, I intentionally avoid pop, rap or rnb and other soft mainstream music. > May be it makes it easier for me Certainly would, there's no way I could manage this: https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week > nothing stops DRM free store to offer you a sync service or anything of that sort Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system: https://www.slideshare.net/davidpoblador/spotify-bcn2013slideshare https://www.slideshare.net/davidpoblador/spotify-bcn2013slid... I'm sure someone could setup a drm free store that sync'd to phones etc but then I'm limited in music discovery, I don't have the sort of money to swing around at albums and songs that may or may not sound good to me. If I have to purchase a song before I can hear it I'm reluctant to, so i'll then go to youtube and that immediately invalidates the whole point of DRM. What would be nice is DRM free streaming, and I'm spending more time on soundcloud but again that's not as good as spotify is in anything.
      - shmerl 10y ago
        > Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system: If you think it's proper, you can charge for such convenience (i.e. some subscription fee). Why not? Those who want it, will pay for it. If you think you can manage without charging - all the better (GOG don't charge for it for example). Nothing from the above requires DRM. > What would be nice is DRM free streaming Bandcamp offer that too. You can download what you paid for, and you can stream it as well.
        deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
        ikt 10y ago
        > Bandcamp offer that too. Bandcamp is an online music store, not a music discovery service. > Nothing from the above requires DRM. Correct, however there's nothing currently out there that compares to spotify which is my original argument. What you described as "the benefits of DRM-free media.", I've described as "the current inconvenience of DRM-free media.". Maybe in the future there will be a DRM free service that has the same features as Spotify, if that's the case I'll sign up, but until then the limitations of DRM free streaming are obvious, I'm just trying to point them out to you.

shmerl 10y ago

I'd say the opposite - you described the benefits of DRM-free media. You don't need to worry about OSes, devices and etc. Standard formats are accessible everywhere. And if you are using some really quirky system, you can always transcode it into supported format (that's why it's always better to buy lossless music). DRMed ones on the other hand, are tied to officially supported systems only, therefore it always will have less reach.

ikt 10y ago
I think he's pointing out for example that you can discover a new song you love in spotify, add it to your playlist, have that sync with your phone automatically or if you login at work whether using the pc app or website it'll be there for you as well. Pretty much add to playlist once, play anywhere. I'm not sure what would be involved to be able to access my music through a web browser at multiple locations that syncronises with multiple devices every time I add a song to a playlist but I don't think 'effortless' would describe it. That's one way music availability on spotify is better, the other thing is that I honestly don't even remember what music discovery was like before spotify, I think it was mostly youtube videos...
- shmerl 10y ago
  My tastes in music aren't mass market by far and I don't buy it in huge quantities. May be it makes it easier for me, but I don't mind managing my music collection myself. And if we are talking convenience, it's really not related to DRM. I.e. nothing stops DRM free store from offering you a sync service or anything of that sort (GOG do it with Galaxy for instance). If anything, DRM always reduces potential usability as above.
  - ikt 10y ago
    > My tastes in music aren't mass market by far Neither are mine, I intentionally avoid pop, rap or rnb and other soft mainstream music. > May be it makes it easier for me Certainly would, there's no way I could manage this: https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week https://www.last.fm/user/ikt123/listening-report/week > nothing stops DRM free store to offer you a sync service or anything of that sort Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system: https://www.slideshare.net/davidpoblador/spotify-bcn2013slideshare https://www.slideshare.net/davidpoblador/spotify-bcn2013slid... I'm sure someone could setup a drm free store that sync'd to phones etc but then I'm limited in music discovery, I don't have the sort of money to swing around at albums and songs that may or may not sound good to me. If I have to purchase a song before I can hear it I'm reluctant to, so i'll then go to youtube and that immediately invalidates the whole point of DRM. What would be nice is DRM free streaming, and I'm spending more time on soundcloud but again that's not as good as spotify is in anything.
    - shmerl 10y ago
      > Except the insane amount of effort and cost involved in running such a system: If you think it's proper, you can charge for such convenience (i.e. some subscription fee). Why not? Those who want it, will pay for it. If you think you can manage without charging - all the better (GOG don't charge for it for example). Nothing from the above requires DRM. > What would be nice is DRM free streaming Bandcamp offer that too. You can download what you paid for, and you can stream it as well.
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
      - ikt 10y ago
        > Bandcamp offer that too. Bandcamp is an online music store, not a music discovery service. > Nothing from the above requires DRM. Correct, however there's nothing currently out there that compares to spotify which is my original argument. What you described as "the benefits of DRM-free media.", I've described as "the current inconvenience of DRM-free media.". Maybe in the future there will be a DRM free service that has the same features as Spotify, if that's the case I'll sign up, but until then the limitations of DRM free streaming are obvious, I'm just trying to point them out to you.