The past several years have seen repeated clashes between the music industry and P2P networks. The hard-core pirates won’t rest until the suits in the music business are all unemployed. Meanwhile, services like iTunes, Last.FM, and others try to appeal to music lovers who are 1) sick and tired of having to buy a whole CD for the one or two songs they like, and 2) completely put off by commercial radio of any kind, usually due to an overly-homogenized playlist.
Spotify is another option that has come along recently. It is a music service with free (advertiser supported) or paid subscriptions that gives its users access to a huge, comprehensive library of music. The application users download has been described as a blend of the best of iTunes and Last.FM. The music is streamed and is partly supported by P2P technology, so there is at least an element of “the masses” choosing and sharing music. Spotify’s claim to fame other than the extensive library of music is that it plays instantly, without waiting around for buffering.
Spotify is a viable alternative to music piracy
According to Spotify programmers, the company wants to be a viable alternative to music piracy that is legal and sustainable. The sound quality on Spotify is comparable to 160kbps mp3s, which is quite good for a streaming application. Spotify made deals with the big boys: EMI, Warner Music, Sony BMG and others. The big labels responded positively and filled up Spotify’s library. The P2P route will be used to stream tracks that are most frequently accessed.
The hybrid streaming/P2P protocol allows users to create and share playlists, and allows Spotify to deliver music that may not be easy to find as well as serving up the hits that many users want. The P2P allows Spotify to increase the speed at which they deliver music and keep streaming costs under control.
Spotify is currently only available in the UK, Finland, Sweden, Norway, France, and Spain, and has generated much buzz in the UK. There are, however, those who believe that Spotify sold its soul to the devil by working with the mega-labels on the venture. On the other hand, there are many users of the Beta version who have been very impressed by what they’ve experienced: a seemingly endless music catalog, and the speed with which the music is delivered.
Spotify does have its shortcomings, though. It is not compatible with portable mp3 players or iPods. While Spotify hasn’t ruled out making an iPod version, it is currently focusing on the application for Windows and Macs.
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