I’ve got to say that Spotify is one of the best things that could have happened to music in a long while. I’m currently listening to Meshuggah’s “I” and I never had to download it, steal it, or pay for it. And I’m completely allowed to because that is what this service is. You search for what you want and you listen to on the spot, no waiting (unless it happens to be the free variety and an audio advertisement comes on).
I cannot understand how some labels have still chosen to stray away from this awesome service because it could crack down on all of their complaining of the music being stolen. Because we all know that in reality, it is the labels suffering from downloading, not the musicians. The musicians are being heard and, really, that is the best way to sell them. How can you buy something and not know what it is until you buy it. It’s almost a necessity to hear what you want to pay for before you pay for it. Because if you buy a TV or phone and it just sucks, you can return it, but with music you can’t. Spotify makes it so you can listen to music, and then abandon it altogether if it sucks.
Maybe that is what the labels are afraid of. They know they sell crap product and when people can listen for themselves and decide, they know they wont make shit for money when no one revisits it. So if anything, this may revitalize the music that we all listen to because we are more capable of finding what appeals to us and what we will continue to listen to. I would love to be back in a place where bands actually have to be talented in the way they write and perform, because you can get away with a lot of after polish in the production stage these days.
I am at a point where I am heavily considering paying the ten bucks for the full use of the service with the higher quality songs. I think this is the solution to my adamant stance of supporting musicians while also still having my choice in the matter. I never wanted to download illegally because I thought it was a bit unfair but more importantly, I wasn’t going to get sued by some label that was afraid of change. It also gives me a better interface than youtube because it is all about the music and I can listen to full albums. Check it out if you can, totally amazing service.
RJ Ellsworth 