Napster.com Free Again
Well, Kind of (Not Really)
Today, Napster.com reveled another business model (surprise, surprise). First it was free, then it was for money, now it's free again... Only there's a catch. You can only play a track for five times, and then they charge you $0.99 (which is still fine for people with really short attention spans). If you want to copy the song to your MP3 player, then you need to join Napster To Go for $14.95. If that's not enough, there are more catches for you, but I am getting bored of this story (and company). Want more fun? Check out AllofMP3.com (a legal Russian site with ALBUMS for $1).
Trend Themes
1. Free-to-paid Transition - Opportunity to explore innovative ways to transition from free to paid models while retaining user engagement.
2. Limited Usage Models - Potential for disruptive innovation in developing limited usage models that offer a balance between free access and monetization.
3. Alternative Pricing Structures - Opportunity to explore alternative pricing structures that cater to different customer needs and preferences.
Industry Implications
1. Streaming Services - Opportunity for streaming platforms to experiment with innovative pricing models to drive revenue growth and customer retention.
2. Digital Music Industry - Potential for disruptive innovation in the digital music industry to create new revenue streams and address changing consumer behavior.
3. Online Subscription Services - Opportunity for online subscription services to develop unique and compelling value propositions to attract and retain customers in a competitive market.