3 ms·

I don't pirate, I pay for content, but I like to own a digital copy of music content. So I buy MP3s rather than subscribe to a service. It's probably strange-

I don't pirate, I pay for content, but I like to own a digital copy of music content. So I buy MP3s rather than subscribe to a service. It's probably strange-- and maybe dumb-- but I feel like in the long run I never know what will happen to a service in terms of how it may change in price or quality. If I own a CD or an MP3, I know I have what I want. It may not be rational. I know some people think I am crazy.

lobocinza 4y ago
It makes sense but on practical terms it's expensive and uncovenient to buy MP3s.
- georgeecollins 4y ago
  That is true. But if say Spotify costs $9.99 / month and you buy tracks for $0.99 or album $8.99 (average ~12 tracks, maybe $0.60). After three years you have a pretty big collection, like 600 songs. And it would just get bigger. I have sirius xm in my car, which is how I learn about new things. But you could hear new stuff via FM or YouTube. The truth is I don't spent $9.99 a month on average so maybe it is not that expensive.
  - lobocinza 4y ago
    Where can you buy an album at $8.99? Spotify, if I were a customer, would cost me ~$4 / month. Music streaming at current prices isn't profitable. It makes sense for the average dude to subscribe to Spotify.
    - troyvit 4y ago
      Lots of albums on bandcamp are in this price range[1]. Some are even "pay what you want." [1] Example: https://rubberoh.bandcamp.com https://rubberoh.bandcamp.com If what spotify is doing isn't profitable then it isn't sustainable, so why sink your time into it? When they go belly up what happens to all the time you invested in it?
      - lobocinza 4y ago
        > Lots of albums on bandcamp are in this price range Thanks, didn't know about it and it's an interesting marketplace. Catalog is limited but I found bands that I follow there. > When they go belly up what happens to all the time you invested in it? Spotify is just a platform to listening to music, the subscription fee is like paying rent, time is invested in what I listen to. And it will not go belly up, at least not all streaming services, it will just raise subscription fees. I understood your argument it's better to buy the albums now than to expend all that money on streaming and then later having to buy all of that anyways. But that is a misconception because not everyone is a collector and some are just explorers and like to listen to a new artist/album for a weeek and then move on.
- jafo 4y ago
  Long ago, computing was about freedom. "I can organize a music collection the way I want...AND take it with me wherever I go?" Somewhere along the line "convenience" displaced "freedom". "Why manage my own collection when I have Spotify or Apple Music?" I suspect the pendulum will swing back at some point.
  - lobocinza 4y ago
    Don't get me wrong, I gave up on streaming services a long time ago and started pirating again because streaming services started being incovenient. Buying things is the most incovenient choice because the industry in general give consumers only two choices: A- cheap streaming, B- expensive physical media.
- jjav 4y ago
  > It makes sense but on practical terms it's expensive and uncovenient to buy MP3s. I don't identify with this comment at all! How is it expensive and inconvenient? I prefer to buyt the CD and rip it if possible, as then I have built-in backup. But if not, I'll buy the MP3 online, from amazon usually. Very easy.
dummy_physicist 4y ago
I'm starting to do this, bought some albums from bands I hear a lot on bandcamp friday. I like the idea of supporting the musicians more directly, but I still use streaming platforms, as I can't buy every song I hear, and it is easier to discover new music
pjmlp 4y ago
You're fine, I do the same. Either that or we're on the same hallway. :)
dhimes 4y ago
I do the same thing.
jjav 4y ago
> It may not be rational. I know some people think I am crazy. It's entirely rational. The availability of music/video on streaming services is very ephemeral. If you really like something, buy a copy and store it locally.
raxxorraxor 4y ago
I don't think this is irrational at all. Listening "offline" by installing a shitty app is a severe service problem. It punishes me as a customer and doesn't stop any piracy anyway. Files are just so much more flexible than an app. From my favorite artists I usually still buy CD since there are almost no alternatives. Of course I would prefer a digital download. Some offer it and that is much appreciated.

lobocinza 4y ago

It makes sense but on practical terms it's expensive and uncovenient to buy MP3s.

georgeecollins 4y ago
That is true. But if say Spotify costs $9.99 / month and you buy tracks for $0.99 or album $8.99 (average ~12 tracks, maybe $0.60). After three years you have a pretty big collection, like 600 songs. And it would just get bigger. I have sirius xm in my car, which is how I learn about new things. But you could hear new stuff via FM or YouTube. The truth is I don't spent $9.99 a month on average so maybe it is not that expensive.
- lobocinza 4y ago
  Where can you buy an album at $8.99? Spotify, if I were a customer, would cost me ~$4 / month. Music streaming at current prices isn't profitable. It makes sense for the average dude to subscribe to Spotify.
  - troyvit 4y ago
    Lots of albums on bandcamp are in this price range[1]. Some are even "pay what you want." [1] Example: https://rubberoh.bandcamp.com https://rubberoh.bandcamp.com If what spotify is doing isn't profitable then it isn't sustainable, so why sink your time into it? When they go belly up what happens to all the time you invested in it?
    - lobocinza 4y ago
      > Lots of albums on bandcamp are in this price range Thanks, didn't know about it and it's an interesting marketplace. Catalog is limited but I found bands that I follow there. > When they go belly up what happens to all the time you invested in it? Spotify is just a platform to listening to music, the subscription fee is like paying rent, time is invested in what I listen to. And it will not go belly up, at least not all streaming services, it will just raise subscription fees. I understood your argument it's better to buy the albums now than to expend all that money on streaming and then later having to buy all of that anyways. But that is a misconception because not everyone is a collector and some are just explorers and like to listen to a new artist/album for a weeek and then move on.
jafo 4y ago
Long ago, computing was about freedom. "I can organize a music collection the way I want...AND take it with me wherever I go?" Somewhere along the line "convenience" displaced "freedom". "Why manage my own collection when I have Spotify or Apple Music?" I suspect the pendulum will swing back at some point.
- lobocinza 4y ago
  Don't get me wrong, I gave up on streaming services a long time ago and started pirating again because streaming services started being incovenient. Buying things is the most incovenient choice because the industry in general give consumers only two choices: A- cheap streaming, B- expensive physical media.
jjav 4y ago
> It makes sense but on practical terms it's expensive and uncovenient to buy MP3s. I don't identify with this comment at all! How is it expensive and inconvenient? I prefer to buyt the CD and rip it if possible, as then I have built-in backup. But if not, I'll buy the MP3 online, from amazon usually. Very easy.

dummy_physicist 4y ago

I'm starting to do this, bought some albums from bands I hear a lot on bandcamp friday. I like the idea of supporting the musicians more directly, but I still use streaming platforms, as I can't buy every song I hear, and it is easier to discover new music

pjmlp 4y ago

You're fine, I do the same. Either that or we're on the same hallway. :)

dhimes 4y ago

I do the same thing.

jjav 4y ago

> It may not be rational. I know some people think I am crazy. It's entirely rational. The availability of music/video on streaming services is very ephemeral. If you really like something, buy a copy and store it locally.

raxxorraxor 4y ago

I don't think this is irrational at all. Listening "offline" by installing a shitty app is a severe service problem. It punishes me as a customer and doesn't stop any piracy anyway. Files are just so much more flexible than an app. From my favorite artists I usually still buy CD since there are almost no alternatives. Of course I would prefer a digital download. Some offer it and that is much appreciated.