Found a good review of the current business models in online music stores … well, pricing models at least, noting some of the problems that are keeping them busy, like (shop) software complexity, procurement pricing and gaping holes in song catalogs.<\/p>\n
a lot has changed in the online music business since Apple opened its wildly successful dollar-a-song iTunes Music Store in 2003. In that time, Apple’s catalog has grown to nearly 1.5 million songs from 200,000, Apple has sold 500 million songs [at 99 cents each], and it has been joined by similar stores run by Microsoft, Yahoo, Sony, Real Networks, MusicMatch, Dell and even Wal-Mart Stores.
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\n[Now] “a dollar a song” is no longer the only game in town. In an effort to exploit the popularity of music downloads and still make money, the music stores have begun to tinker with the formula.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nTinkering sounds a lot like experimenting and optimizing to me … <\/p>\n
One alternative pricing scheme is the subscription plan<\/em> that allows unlimited downloads in the subscription period. The concept: instead of buying songs one at a time, pay a monthly fee for the usage rights to the library, offering one big advantage:<\/p>\n
these rental-music outfits are highly conducive to exploring and discovering new music.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
and yes, clearly:<\/p>\n
the business of downloading music is still in its fumbling, bumbling infancy<\/p><\/blockquote>\n