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The French government decimated What. It had nothing but growth even long after Spotify. It was a music fan's heaven; it had virtually every version of every re
by ukyrgf 7y ago
The French government decimated What. It had nothing but growth even long after Spotify. It was a music fan's heaven; it had virtually every version of every record ever released. You can't put a price on that. Also, as a musician of nearly 20 years, I would 100% absolutely rather have a person pirate my music than pay $10/mo to play it on Spotify.
Waffles didn't innovate. The site that launched after Oink shutdown is largely the same site that is up today (figuratively, I'm sure it'll be back at some point).
- bredren 7y agoI think ultimately it would have suffered from Spotify and Apple Music. Both them have grown an enormous amount since What went away. That said, I agree it was a music fan's heaven. Just as Oink was before it. It is sad how badly Apple Music's recommendation system is, how bloated it is with recording industry pushed crap.
- mustacheemperor 7y agoI would absolutely rather pay $100/month for a legal version of What.cd than use Spotify :/ The worst part isn't that What is gone, it's that What is gone and nothing can replace it. Like with older games that can't be purchased legally online, the rightsholders have kept us from consuming that content at all. In order to preserve their absolute right to distribute it for money! The number of people here suggesting Apple Music would have killed it anyway or that Tidal etc is an adequate replacement shows just how effectively the rightsholders have deluded us all again. The currently available streaming services are almost entirely incomparable to the collection once available at What, it's like comparing your local library to the statewide database.