When do you buy files from a music subscription service?

September 8, 2010 6:48 AM

If you use a subscription download music service, what is your primary motivation for also *buying* files from that service?

I'm very curious how people are approaching the ownership of music files when using something with "unlimited downloads" -- Rdio, Zune, Rhapsody, what have you.

Especially when these services also sell files at the same time — who does this? Is this you?

What is the situation that makes you cross the line and say "I need to also download these files"?

posted by teradome to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

I use Spotify and have two: when I want to cross platforms (eg, have it on my iPod as well), and if I wanted to use it commercially (put on a shop mix).
posted by sagwalla at 7:09 AM on September 8, 2010

Best answer: I don't usually purchase a download through my Rhapsody subscription, but I will typically go out and buy a physical CD every couple months if I really like something. The key for me is liking an album enough to think that I'll want to listen to it several years from now. I occasionally despair thinking that I'll lose all the good music I've found in the past 5 years if I ever drop my Rhapsody subscription, but it turns out very few albums make it so far into my consciousness that I keep listening to them for more than a year anyway. The ones that do last that long, get bought. And anything that I could see myself teaching my [future, not even twinkle in my eye yet] kids to sing along with, that gets bought.
posted by vytae at 7:19 AM on September 8, 2010

I have the Zune Pass subscription. I think I would be more inclined to buy music (with $$$) if it didn't come with 10 free songs a month. Though that feature is one of the main reasons I can justify the subscription fee in the first place.

The biggest reason I have for downloading/buying is to burn the songs to disc. I usually burn MP3 CDs, which means I can put hours of music on 1 CD-RW and take a roadtrip. It's easier for me to use the radio controls than trying to keep the MP3 player charged and connected and all that.
posted by wxguychris at 7:23 AM on September 8, 2010

I buy music from bands/artists I like enough such that I want to hear their next album that they haven't made yet.
posted by K.P. at 11:00 AM on September 8, 2010

Response by poster: @vytae: Yeah, this is generally my approach, mostly because licensing deals always change, so it's a bit like insurance in case it goes "out of print" — if it's good enough to keep, I'll get files to make sure I can always listen to it again. I can't seem to break out of the "curator" mindset of music listening.
posted by teradome at 1:10 PM on September 9, 2010