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Google Music Store Inches Closer?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the launch-it-already dept.

smallguy78 writes "Forbes is once again reporting on Google plans to launch its own competitor to iTunes, a Google music store. From the article: 'The music industry is broadly unhappy with the fixed pricing and lack of subscription options at the market-leading iTunes Music Store and likely to support alternative services.'" We have touched on this subject previously. This most recent report would seem to indicate the launch will happen sooner rather than later.

6 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. Google's first serious misstep? by yagu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From the Fine Article:

    "The music industry is broadly unhappy with the fixed pricing and lack of subscription options at the market-leading iTunes Music Store and likely to support alternative services," wrote the analyst in a recent report.

    One of two things has to give here: either the music industry's unhappiness is sustained because Google has enough principle to do on-line music equitably (which, by definition will be unhappiness for the music industry); or Google capitulates and in the process violates their "Do No Evil" credo.

    This could be a misstep for Google if they appear to be in the pockets of an increasingly strident and miserable music industry. Please let them do the right thing.

    Of course, for the gazillionth time, the only right way to do this is unencumbered media. Hey, I can hope.

    1. Re:Google's first serious misstep? by Pieroxy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I see this as a great opportunity. But Google will only ever have the same leverage that Apple has over the Majors. What we really need, is Google (or another well-publicized company) to become a music label. They have the guts to do their own promotion, they can distribute non-DRM stuff and they can easily attract existing well-known artists with attractive deals.

      This IMO is the only short-term hope against the majors.

      Basically, we need a Good Guy (TM) with deep pockets to raise a middle finger to the majors.

      However, I fear this is not going to happen anytime soon.

      --
      XviD review

      --
      Write boring code, not shiny code!
    2. Re:Google's first serious misstep? by n8_f · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Did you read the rest of the post? Please do.

      I don't believe Apple is altruistic, just as I don't believe Google is altruistic, and I never said so. What I did say is that Apple is the best consumer representative we're going to get for digital music under the current system, because Apple makes their money primarily from hardware sales, with the lion's share of song profits going to the RIAA. Apple could conceivably stop selling songs online. They'd take a hit, but people could go back to buying CDs and pirating music just as the did before iTMS. The hit to the RIAA would be greater.

      As I said, the lock-in does benefit Apple. But what is the upside to Apple opening up FairPlay, even to device manufacturers? Now they have to support a bunch of different MP3 players and they have to make up in song sales what they lose in hardware sales. And then they are dependent on the RIAA and they lose their bargaining power. Their sole advantage is that the RIAA needs them a lot more than they need the RIAA. Take that away and Apple is beholden to the RIAA, just like every other music company, and we lose the only advocate we have.

  2. I have a good idea? by Bromskloss · · Score: 5, Funny

    Probably, filtering out stories who's headline ends with a question mark would augment the overall quality of the Slashdot content and, especially, the headlines.

    --
    Swedish plasma phys. PhD student; MSc EE; knows maths, programming, electronics; finance interest; seeks opportunities
  3. The Missing Link Found? by TEMMiNK · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps the eternally elusive missing link has been found...

    Step 1. Anything

    Step 2. Google

    Step 3. Profit!

    --
    "The stupider people think you are, the more surprised they will be when you kill them..."
  4. Who wants the service - industry or consumer? by dougman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When I read the comment pulled from the article:

    "The music industry is broadly unhappy with the fixed pricing and lack of subscription options at the market-leading iTunes Music Store and likely to support alternative services."

    I thought to myself, "If the music industry is broadly unhappy, then Apple is probably doing something right."

    What we should be hearing is how Google is stepping up to offer alternative services that address a gap that consumers are experiencing. Instead that quote would indicate that Google is stepping up to offer alternatives to the music industry. Frankly, I don't hear too many people (myself included) in the mainstream complaining about the options. I'm all for capitalism and competition and welcome Google to the game. However, I'm going to remain skeptical about this until I fully understand where Google is going with this.

    --
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Churchill