I read the daily Digital Music News email to try and keep up on music business and lately there are lots of stories about stock prices plunging (LiveNation), Stores closing (CircuitCity, Tweeter) and estimates on music sales dropped for the holiday season (Best Buy and Everyone but Walmart). Times are tough for everyone no doubt, but I am not dropping my Rhapsody music subscription and here’s why:’
- I haven’t purchased a new CD is 6+ months. No need to. I can listen to just about everything published without purchasing the CD.
- The artists, writers, publishers of music that I like are still getting paid when I listen - Rhapsody handles all of that (and it’s both complex and intense - believe me).
- I get to sample new music (full songs, not 30 second clips) from new or favorite artists with NO RISK. I’ve already paid the monthly subscription fee, so I can try new music without the risk of wasting $10 - $15 on a CD that I’ll listen to once and then put on my shelf forever. BTW - listen to the new Brad Paisley album - he’s an amazing guitarist.
- I still listen to music pretty much anywhere I want: through my home stereo system, TiVo, computers and MP3 player.

A music subscription service is viable long term solution to the woa’s of the music business. The services are good and only going to get better.