On another topic, I was just wondering after the latest depressing perusal of the emusic discussion board, is emusic actually large enough to be having an effect on Amazon prices? If/when emusic go under, will the big three then just undercut each other like crazy on one or two of the latest pop releases like they are now but gladly raise the prices on everything else? Or is $5-$8 really about what the market will bear if you're not iTunes and haven't brainwashed so many people into believing you need to buy from them if you have an iPod?
I really accumulated a serious backlog of work over the last two months. Between preparing for the move, the actual move, and then an extended illness, I got way behind on a lot of stuff. I don't think it would've been so bad, except that my "obstacles" came at a time when I was taking on more things, so I kind of doubled up on my workload in a way.
But I've been cranking out the reviews for AAJ and BitW, getting my AAJ dotd schedule back in shape, and now I can start looking at other things, too, like getting some stuff up on MiG. Especially now that it looks like this week will be my last for the local CPA (at least, for a little while), so I should have more time on my hands.
@GP: I don't think that eMusic influence Amazon's prices the way it used to. I can only think of one time since Sony came on board that Amazon even responded to an eMusic sale (Avett Brothers albums in Fall 1999), and since Sony, Amazon has had higher prices on its deals o the day. Perhaps eMusic still exerts some downward pressure on Amazon's prices, but I don't think it's demise would lead to a competition for lower prices.
Haven't been a Mordac subscriber for years, now, but still getting the daily downloads. Every once in a while I forget, or there is a probalem one day on the Mordac side. Well, three days in a row....no daily download. I checked the Mordac message boards and mailman had hte same complaint.
The good news is, mailman posted thier daily tweet which has the track name in it. So I was able to go to today's download and get it that way. LOL. This might be too much work to get their daily tracks. Maybe I really am done with them?
Today's tweet on the emu dotd didn't even provide a link. Something on the Naxos label. I also missed the Cline for the same reason, though I was kinda ambivalent about getting it anyways. If the tweet w/link hadn't popped up right there in front of me, I never would've cared enough to find out what it was.
Btw, I'm thinking that BN's image copy of the countdown clock probably coincided with emu bringing 17 Dots onto the main site and expanding it (though I'm not really sure about the timing of that).
In the uK emusic isn't big enough to have any impact upon amazon and itunes. itunes always seems oblivious to any outside influence in its prices anyway, but 7digital may be having some influence upon amazon, as there does seem to be some following with album prices on chart stuff. 7 digital and amazon do have similar offers on, eg, jazz compilations, but I'm not sure who is following who. But like GP I do wonder about the if/when of emusic going under or being bought out, as they surely must have lost sales over recent months.
I'm getting offers to come back for a free month - or a 99 cent month. Each offer is good for about one month, and as soon as it expires, it seems there is another offer in my email.I can't believe I'm turning down free music, but it just doesn't tempt me anymore.
I doubt eMusic's influence in the U.S. as well. Even with the large label acquisition, it still seems targeted at people with broad and eclectic tastes. People who only listen to top 40 stuff seem to quit quickly, if they join at all.
I think you have to reach the conclusion the market for an ongoing music DL subscription is limited. If there were more fish out there to hook with the addition of the "majors," they'd have been hooked long ago. It does seem sometimes like Amazon is aware of eMusic as a price competitor, at least for the alt/indie stuff. I see no evidence of that with iTunes.
I think itunes always seems to do its own thing and ignore all competitors with its pricing. For example, Amazon often seems to be slightly cheaper than itunes. It would be good for consummers both sides of the Atlantic if itunes did respond to other companies' prices, as it could force a bit more competition into the markets. And I agree Doofy, DL subscription must be limited as emusic has stayed fairly static with members even though the overall market has grown.
I always just assume iTunes is expensive and not worth looking at. Have bought maybe two albums there in the last 5 years, in both cases because that was the only place they were digitally available. Evidence at the moment seems to be that the Google/Amazon fight might do purchasers the most favors. Part of original wondering was: imagine a scenario in which Google fails to make this late entry into the game work, and emusic goes under, and the main competitors are then Amazon and iTunes. Is there any reason then for Amazon to offer $5 albums?
Shame we don't have Google Music yet, as we do not get the same Amazon offers. I've never understood why 7 digitl can offer virtually the same deals on the same range of artists, yet others cannot do the same, including emusic.
Good point Doofy. I often forget about that part of eMusic for some reason. Maybe because I never have trouble spending my monthly allocation. There is no end of complaints on the emu board about those that forget to use it.
GP: That could happen. I wonder too when Amazon will increase the price of their eBooks.
I've just been looking at the emusic message board. As usual most of the threads are about technical issues. I wondered if there are other similar websites that have the number of technical issues that emusic has? I have never had problems with Amazon or itunes. I know emusic is doing it 'on the cheap' to keep prices down, but a bit of investment to get it right might actually be worthwhile to enable growth, but I suspect that the money is just not there to do it.
That is a good point, actually. I only visited the Amazon boards once, maybe twice, long ago and out of morbid curiosity. After reading very little, I was turned off enough to never return. My assumption has always been about the older emu downloaders that, well, I've never had this problem on Amazon so why am I having it on emu? But maybe others have problems with the amazon downloader and are on their message boards complaining about it. How would I know, I never go there. There could be lots of emu customers having no problems and not even aware that others are, because, they too, have been to the emu forum just briefly and were so turned off by it, they never returned.
I just don't know. But I'm always fascinated when someone makes a point that makes me rethink my preconceptions and previously stated assumptions.
We moan about emusic because that is what most of us know, but the message board only represents a small proportion of members. I, for example, have gripes about 7 digital because it is amazingly difficult to find something unless you have a good idea of the title or artist you are looking for - but as it is a site I don't often use, I just keep quiet about it.
I've had isolated problems downloading from AMZ, and once even from iTunes. Guess what, you call or e-mail them, they treat you like a customer trying to make a purchase, and fix the problem.
And of course now in both cases, if you have a DL problem on either Amazon or iTunes, you can just re-DL. Hey, maybe eMusic ought to try that!
I probably have a copy of the old eMu DLM install files on my computer...been meaning to go over there and ask if people would like me to upload. I rarely or ever have problems with it (v. 4.something)
Bandcamp, for all its ethical merits and great utility, is not perfect on the finding things score either. I was searching the other day for Rural Route No. 5 by The Gentleman Losers to link it to the now listening thread. Neither "Rural Route No. 5 The Gentleman Losers" nor "Rural Route No. 5" nor "Rural Route No. 5" produces any results mentioning that album from the Bandcamp search dialog (though Google finds the album OK).
I've never really gotten past the reams of people telling each other they suck or trying to debate creation and evolution or whatever on the Amazon boards. I agree about Amazon CS, though, in the rare instances where there is a problem it's sorted fast and politely. Emusic occasionally rises to that, but not quite often enough to overcome the impression of not caring. I suspect it has more to do with size of staffing than ill will.
Amazon is huge. They're everywhere. That photo tour of the emu offices really brought it home just what a small operation they are. I'm sure they're all overworked. The shot of the two ingestion machines really proves that.
Yes I agree Amazon is huge - their UK warehouse is a few miles away from us. It is bigger than a small town and seems to grow everytime I go by it. And that is just for the physical stuff - never mind the music, video and book downloads. So they should be able to get it right virtually all the time, as they have enough practice!
I had a problem with my kindle the other day. Called the number. Got a real live person with no wait time. Problem solved. How many Kindle owners are there? Total emusic staff would likely be swallowed up by the Kindle call center at Amazon.
I still sometimes wish they'd act smarter with their limited resources. But one effect of ambitions beyond the size of the staff available is having little ability to look up from the immediate task and act strategically.
That sounds like my experience with the Humane Society the last couple of years. I had so many plans I wanted to work on, but the immediately needs of the cats right there in front of me, and the tiny staff we had, it just made any time of long range planning impossible.
Comments
I really accumulated a serious backlog of work over the last two months. Between preparing for the move, the actual move, and then an extended illness, I got way behind on a lot of stuff. I don't think it would've been so bad, except that my "obstacles" came at a time when I was taking on more things, so I kind of doubled up on my workload in a way.
But I've been cranking out the reviews for AAJ and BitW, getting my AAJ dotd schedule back in shape, and now I can start looking at other things, too, like getting some stuff up on MiG. Especially now that it looks like this week will be my last for the local CPA (at least, for a little while), so I should have more time on my hands.
The good news is, mailman posted thier daily tweet which has the track name in it. So I was able to go to today's download and get it that way. LOL. This might be too much work to get their daily tracks. Maybe I really am done with them?
I even responded to the eMu link tweet, they never fixed it...
GP: That could happen. I wonder too when Amazon will increase the price of their eBooks.
I actually think eBook prices are about to fall because of that.
Craig
That is a good point, actually. I only visited the Amazon boards once, maybe twice, long ago and out of morbid curiosity. After reading very little, I was turned off enough to never return. My assumption has always been about the older emu downloaders that, well, I've never had this problem on Amazon so why am I having it on emu? But maybe others have problems with the amazon downloader and are on their message boards complaining about it. How would I know, I never go there. There could be lots of emu customers having no problems and not even aware that others are, because, they too, have been to the emu forum just briefly and were so turned off by it, they never returned.
I just don't know. But I'm always fascinated when someone makes a point that makes me rethink my preconceptions and previously stated assumptions.
Cheers.
And of course now in both cases, if you have a DL problem on either Amazon or iTunes, you can just re-DL. Hey, maybe eMusic ought to try that!
I probably have a copy of the old eMu DLM install files on my computer...been meaning to go over there and ask if people would like me to upload. I rarely or ever have problems with it (v. 4.something)
I've never really gotten past the reams of people telling each other they suck or trying to debate creation and evolution or whatever on the Amazon boards. I agree about Amazon CS, though, in the rare instances where there is a problem it's sorted fast and politely. Emusic occasionally rises to that, but not quite often enough to overcome the impression of not caring. I suspect it has more to do with size of staffing than ill will.
I still sometimes wish they'd act smarter with their limited resources. But one effect of ambitions beyond the size of the staff available is having little ability to look up from the immediate task and act strategically.
That sounds like my experience with the Humane Society the last couple of years. I had so many plans I wanted to work on, but the immediately needs of the cats right there in front of me, and the tiny staff we had, it just made any time of long range planning impossible.