digital music services

Every music newsletter I receive these days either talks about a new digital music service, debates subscription services (Napster et al) vs. single sales (iTunes et al) or the rumour about iTunes going for a subscription service OR should we stay away from iTunes et al/digital sales at all?

According to Bob Lefsetz (2008) selling single tracks via iTunes is why the labels got in trouble to begin with. Suddenly one didn’t have to buy a whole album, where 4 out of 10 songs (guestimate) were shit anyway.

Apparently Kid Rock’s huge summer hit (yes, the funny cover of Sweet Home Alabama played EVERYWHERE these days (almost as bad as Nickelback’s Rockstar)) wasn’t released through iTunes in America and was able to top the charts anyway. Now the success and apparently the non-release digitally managed to get Kid Rock a whole lotta album sales.

Yet again, iTunes has become the biggest music retailer in the US, surpassing the mighty WalMart in the first quarter of 2008.

Here’s what I think:

Digital Music is the future, although I love my CD’s (or vinyl’s if I had the money, the space and someone to help me move them every time I decide to live somewhere else).
It is inevitable to have your music available for online sales these days. The physical sales are going down and digital sales up. Just look at Japan.
And screw the people who moan about Album covers/booklets, etc. I love ‘em too but the new kids on the block don’t. Covers and booklets will only remain a part for collectors. Otherwise it is a nice, colourful but tiny addition to your iTunes / iPod – A bonus.
There are too many digital music stores out there. I love iTunes. I’ve become a mac girl. And guess what: it usually is the cheapest of all anyway with 99 US/Euro cent/ 79 pence per track while others start at 1,29 Euro cent. And yes, they might not have every track available online but certainly one of the most popular collections. And if they shouldn’t have it available I go buy it in the record store. Or amazon.
And subscription services? Great stuff for music fans, but I don’t think it will pay musicians as much as single sales would…Yet again, at least they get paid at all.
And I get too confused about compatibility, DRM free or not, will it work on my iPod and will I be able to listen to the track as long as I want or does it expire once I quit my membership?

So here is where I stand. If I buy digital I want:

• compatibility with my preferred music player (iTunes) and with my mp3 player (iPod)
• I hope for DRM free tracks
• I want an easy accessible website or digital shop that allows me to search for tracks easily
• Fast and smooth download
• I want the track to be in my possession until I decide I do not want to have it anymore (no subscription service with limited access to track once I quit my membership)
• And how about a selection of bootlegs/live versions? Add a special note to it. Or have interesting recommendation

What are your thoughts?