With Spotify’s recent raise, major music services are settled at $10.99 subscription level

Spotify made news during its Q2 earnings report (See RAIN HERE and HERE) for raising its monthly Spotify Premium subscription rate from $9.99 to $10.99. Investor reaction, as a whole, could be characterized as “It’s about time.” Our survey of current music subscription pricing does support some investor impatience with Spotify, with six competing services having already boosted to that level.
Continue Reading

Spotify reportely to launch “Supremium” plan with higher monthly rate

Spotify will launch a third subscription tier to its legacy two-tier access, introducing a “Supremium” plan above its current subscription and free-listening options. This according the Ashley Carman’s reporting at Bloomberg — and CEO Daniel Ek promised it during the Q1 earnings call. We look at the rumored benefits, and compare to competitors. Featuring RAIN’s Spotify user growth chart. Continue Reading

Beats 1 becomes Apple Music Radio, plus 2 new stations

Changes at Apple Music. The Beats 1 global live-streamed station undergoes a branding change, morphing into Apple Music Radio. More descriptive, if also more bland. Additionally, two new stations are created, forming a small ecosystem of streamed programming: Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Country. All three stations are available in 165 countries. Zane Lowe remains as creative director. Continue Reading