Digital Pessimism We hope to disappoint
New signing three months ago of a new CEO for Digital Business Department Spotify is already starting to punch. Lee J. McLeland, former co-director of Digital Business Apple has announced a strategic shift in the musical catalog of the leading streaming platform.
While its direct competitors, such as iTunes or Pandora, struggling to expand its music catalog as possible, through extensive contracts with record companies, Spotify Spotify reported on High Note held this afternoon, which will reduce its catalog only 40 issues.
“ We have made a thorough analysis of consumer behavior in the sector and we have seen that more than 80% of users listen to the same songs ,” said McLeland. So far, we had gathered in playlists. But we then asked, why maintain a catalog of millions of songs?
As of January 1, 2017, McLeland has announced that the free version of Spotify will stop working. Meanwhile, the Premium version, which will not change the price of 9.99 € / month, will be entitled only to listen to 40 songs. These 40 songs will vary each day depending on an algorithm of Big Data, which is being developed.
“ The core of the idea is to apply the philosophy I’ve always followed in Apple ” continued this afternoon McLeland. “ You have to focus on products that are profitable, though they are few, and leave the rest “.
As an example, there has been what would be the selection of songs today, which would include issues such as Let Me Love You Justin Bieber Side to Side Ariana Grande, Too Good Rihanna and Drake, Send My Love Adele or Can not Stop the Feeling, Justin Timberlake.
Early reviews
Faced with this unprecedented, critical comments have been expected at the same conference. Some participants have asked what will happen with that though minority classical music has its audience.
“ Mozart thank his contribution to music, no doubt, but we respond to our shareholders. Mozart had its time, but has passed ,” replied one of the assistants McLeland.
To clarify the doubts, McLeland has confirmed that, according to the data they handle, is not likely to genres like Jazz, Progressive Rock singer-songwriters or reappear in Spotify.
“ We believe that it is a change that also will make our social and community platform, as we will be offering easy and immediate those topics that people really want to hear “, he added.
Similarly, the functionality of the web and desktop clients will be simplified, since, according to the new address, include many things that are hardly used.
“ Things like streaming high-quality, private sessions, integrations scrobbling, crossfade and many other uses not one “.
The features that remain, as announced, will be: play button, pause button and volume up / down.
Comments on social networks
How could it be otherwise, Twitter has echoed before anyone critical pulse on social networks. We highlight some tweets sent during the conference:
@queenforever: “ Hell, we have not left the We’re the Champions “.
@clasicboy: “ Mozart already had his moment says … I will go there to sing the Requiem, and mask, so that acojone “.
@larubiadelmedio: “ So has my m parce guai, aora m liava mutxo 🙂 :-): -) “
@perezreverte: “ If you were criticizing both men dejaríais and eggs iríais to cut this son of a thousand fathers “
@Change.org: “ We propose that all references to listen to the Symphony in F sharp minor 325 unfinished Bach and exit the playlist of January 1 “.
