Anyone using a pay-to-watch or pay-to-listen service when they have a functional PC/laptop/notebook fails internet forever.
Xbox Music to offer subscription-based streaming - Report
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Sources say Microsoft planning to launch Spotify-like service with annual fee later this year, currently negotiating with major record companies.
Bloomberg sources say Microsoft's Xbox Music service will launch later this year with a subscription model similar to that of streaming giant Spotify. The service was formally announced with little detail last month at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Microsoft is reportedly in talks with the "Big Four" major record firms to secure licensing rights--namely, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and EMI.
Xbox Music will be a streaming service, the sources say, and will charge users an annual fee. Subscribers will also be able to purchase music through online marketplaces like Zune, Apple's iTunes, and Amazon's MP3 store.
Additionally, the report states Microsoft will grant Xbox Music subscribers an "online locker" for their content, which enables them to access their music through multiple mobile devices running Windows 8. Users will be able to upload their music collections to the service, including songs purchased through other channels, for an additional monthly or annual fee, according to the sources.
Users may not want to get too excited about Xbox Music just yet, as Microsoft is reportedly only beginning the process of nailing down licensing agreements with the record companies. A Microsoft representative told GameSpot, "Microsoft does not comment on rumors and speculation."
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
99 comments
"We heard you like paying annual fees, so here's an annual fee to go with your annual fee"
Just a report and already the anti-Xbox groups are out in force.
Time and time again, the Xbox 360 is a multimedia gaming system, PS3 went down this route and we should be getting to an age where one system can do everything.
Is anyone being forced to buy this service? Answer is no and as for Zune, that works fine for me, the publicity right now including zdnet and other computing sites have been anti-Microsoft.
Everyone should be angry and upset at how Apple are getting Samsung devices banned because they're better.
Didn't Microsoft discountinue the making the Zune MP3 player? I would have thought that Microsoft would have learned their lesson about trying to break into the music biz.
Apple was able because of the ipod. But MS with the Zune not so much. Xbox music sound like a long shot for MS. They should stick with gaming for the Xbox brand.
4 Like XBox is dying. No exclusives and they are going more and more away from gaming. :(
@Psychokillaz Trying to be the one stop shop for all (Media, Games, Music.) Good idea because I already use HBOGo more than I do on Xifinity. Plus their app market for the xbox 360 is interesting. Music will be interesting to see though. If I were them. I would just team up with spotify, but that isn't Microsoft's forte.
We'll see though.
2 Like Why would any1 buy this crap? You can download any CD for free or listen to Pandora for free on XBox or PS3 through PlayOn
@Psychokillaz That's what I'm saying. Save yourself a ton of money Microsoft, just team up with Spotify and do some profit sharing bs.
Hell with that. I digitize vinyl and cassettes. No compression, and sound better than cd's.
There's no need for $18 cd's, streaming music, or lossy mp3's in this day and age.
1 Like Too many monthly fees on Xbox Live will just piss people off more than what they already are.
4 Like If M$ could find a way to charge us for time paused for bathroom breaks they would.
6 Like I ain't paying Microsoft not a dime to listen to music . I already premium subscriber to Spotify . Microsoft should just give up adding app if there going to freaking charge .
4 Like Microsoft keeps trying to get into the music, movies, entertainment business and it never works. They've been trying this same strategy for over a decade. Silly MicroSoft.
There's unlimited supply
And there is no reason why
I tell you it was all a frame
They only did it 'cos of fame
Who?
E.M.I.
3 Like Why would I pay to stream music to my Xbox when I can just go on to Youtube on my Xbox and listen to it for free??
2 Like @ziproy Because there is an idiot born every minute and Microsoft is trying to get as many of them as it can to give them cash for things that are already free?
As a note...not saying you are an idiot...just what Microsoft is going for.
5 Like Or....I can just continue to download my music....for free.....like I have been doing for the last 13 years.
4 Like Lol microsoft milking its customers again. Time to bend over and take ur medicine lems!
5 Like Looks at his PS3 which streams Pandora for free. Then his phone which streams his Amazon Cloud music for free (which connects via bluetooth to external speakers).No thanks. I will just keep my Gold account for gaming thank you, no need to pay more.
1 Like @Choad-Warrior after statement : *looks at how by paying the Online Pass for EA games he basically already payed for online gaming twice. "Damn!"
@Choad-Warrior btw sry for the "payed", I usually edit these errors as soon as I post, but I'm having a hard time at deleting stuff.
1 Like ...and you so called Xbox fans have something to brag about, I wouldn't brag about being a tool
1 Like Just got a new PS3 after about a yr and half of my old one being broke. Found out that PSN premium offers some free games with their service plus some discounts on content......XBL adds xbox music........so I guess Zune was always a bad idea huh Microsoft.
XBL on the other hand continues to be all $$$
4 Like Xbox Gold members should get it for free. Stop stealing from us Microsoft. All you really car about is money. It shouldnt be about money its about giving people awsome stuff for free since we are already paying you
2 Like Live really needs 3 subscriptions and price fixes. Silver - Same as is, Gold - party chat + multiplayer, Platinum - Everything gold has now
1 Like @driftingsilvia Shit, you should be allowed to play games online with a Silver account. PS3 gives you that option atleast and it hasn't screwed them over at all. Hell, people pay for the PSN+ because of all the free games they give you.
Ok, I am noticing people are getting this confused. Xbox Music is a replacement for Zune and competition for iTunes and Spotify that will work on Xbox along with other units. They are using the name Xbox Music because the name Xbox carries weight. This has nothing to do with the fact people don't like paying for Xbox live gold and heck if you hate paying for gold then buy a PS3 or use a PC
Pointless. Why doesn't Microsoft do something for its gamers, like, I don't know, maybe lower the XBL Subscription fee or offer some free perks?
Haha NO thank you.
I still buy Vinyl and my Gold/Live acc is almost over after i pulled my CC.
PC for me!
5 Like I can't remember the last time I read an article about the Xbox that had anything to do with games lol. I'll definately be switching to Sony next gen, if I buy any next gen console at all that is.
So another additional monthly fee from Microsoft?
When the next Xbox comes out, will it even switch on without a twenty needing to be inserted first?
1 Like That's a bit of an exaggeration.
Anyway, you already pay Netflix for their app, right? What if Netflix suddenly had you paying the money to Microsoft instead. Would you? It's the same service.
Microsoft has dozens of business it runs under the Microsoft name. I suppose the could have created a spin-off company that didn't have the Microsoft name it it and you'd probably be ok paying them for the music app.
The Zune name is going away, I believe the Music service mentioned above is going to be the new, expanded, Zune.
I would care if this would be international or even include wp7......maybe I'll just stick to Nokia Music
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