Wildcard Wednesday . . .

SUBSCRIPTION VS. ADDRESSABLE LISTENING:  The competitive landscape for streaming audio has basically settled into two camps.  One business model is subscription-based, with listeners going behind a paywall in return for an ad-free experience and other product enhancements.  The other model is advertiser-supported streaming, which is free for listeners and makes them Addressable to marketers.  With those definitions in mind, which type of streaming are most listeners choosing?  There’s not a ton of research on that question, which makes the attached Business Wire link worth the read.  It features research from a third party called MusiComms.  According to their study the biggest chunk of listening is Totally Free at 52% – meaning listeners who don’t buy subscriptions, downloads, CDs, etc..  This includes broadcast radio listening at 29%, internet-based audio streaming (mostly Pandora) at 15%, and internet-based video sites (aka YouTube) at 7%.  In a separate question 40% of all respondents said they would never pay more than they currently do for music.  Interestingly, another 40% said they would be open to paying for a music subscription – which is considerably higher than the current industry estimates of 20-25%.  This research frames out an interesting tug of war between two very different ways to consume streaming music.  So who will win?  My educated guess is that Addressable free listening will always be the preferred way to listen, but Subscriptions will continue to rise.

THE (LITERAL) DOWNSIZING OF PHYSICAL MUSIC SALES:  With the continuing surge in streaming music consumption at the expense of physical album sales (remember CDs?), you have to assume that music industry orgs must also change with the times.  It looks like that’s starting to happen at one of the major Labels according to the attached RAIN link.  Warner Music Group has begun offering buyout packages to 130 employees who work on physical music production and distribution.  WMG’s plan is to use the savings from this workforce reduction to “realign resources” towards the digital side of the house.  While nobody ever wants to see anyone lose their jobs, this one feels like a fair and orderly way to move WMG’s workforce from a legacy physical business to a digital model.  I predict Sony and Universal will do the same thing sooner than later, since all of the Labels are going through the same streaming transformation.

THE NEW RETAIL WORLD ORDER:  Full finders credit on this last article to Pandora’s Retail Head of Industry John Gregory.  It’s about the state of Retail in 2018 as predicted by Steve Dennis, a well-known Retail consultant and category blogger.  Mr. Dennis has highlighted 13 insights to keep an eye on in 2018, as described in the attached Forbes link.  I particularly love the following points; #1 retail isn’t dead, boring retail is, #6 the rise of private labels thanks to digital price shopping, #7 digital first retail, and #8 the death of the middle as the market gravitates towards both luxury and economy.  Right now it’s so easy for worn out retailers and skeptical investors to just blame Amazon and give in to the idea that traditional Retail is dying.  But as this article proves, there are tangible ways to change the game and actually thrive in this new Retail world order.

Have a great Wednesday guys!

88 thoughts on “Wildcard Wednesday . . .

  1. hi!,I like your writing so much! percentage we communicate more approximately your post on AOL? I require an expert on this area to unravel my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you.

  2. There are some attention-grabbing time limits in this article however I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There is some validity but I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want extra! Added to FeedBurner as well

  3. What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found
    It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads.
    I’m hoping to give a contribution & assist different users like its helped me.
    Good job.

  4. Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

  5. Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?

  6. Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any suggestions for inexperienced blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  7. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will often come back down the road. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great writing, have a nice holiday weekend!

  8. Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

  9. Thanks a lot for giving everyone a very superb chance to read articles and blog posts from here. It is always very pleasant and also packed with fun for me and my office acquaintances to visit your blog more than 3 times in one week to read the newest stuff you have. And definitely, I am also at all times happy concerning the fabulous thoughts served by you. Certain 4 facts on this page are clearly the very best we have ever had.

  10. Simply desire to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness to your submit is simply great and that i could assume you are a professional in this subject. Fine along with your permission allow me to clutch your feed to keep updated with drawing close post. Thank you one million and please carry on the enjoyable work.

  11. I’m not sure why but this site is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  12. It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  13. Really excellent information can be found on web blog. “Society produces rogues, and education makes one rogue more clever than another.” by Oscar Fingall O’Flahertie Wills Wilde.

  14. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my agreement. Do you know any solutions to help reduce content from being stolen? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  15. That is really attention-grabbing, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and stay up for in search of extra of your wonderful post. Additionally, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  16. hello there and thanks to your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however experience some technical points the use of this site, as I skilled to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been thinking about if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality ranking if ads and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and could glance out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this once more soon..

  17. Together with everything that appears to be developing within this area, many of your opinions tend to be relatively stimulating. Nonetheless, I beg your pardon, but I do not subscribe to your entire strategy, all be it refreshing none the less. It appears to us that your commentary are actually not entirely validated and in reality you are yourself not really wholly certain of your assertion. In any case I did appreciate looking at it.

  18. I used to be suggested this web site by means of my cousin. I’m now not positive whether or not this post is written through him as no one else recognise such designated approximately my problem. You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  19. Thanks for a marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back very soon. I want to encourage you to continue your great writing, have a nice afternoon!

  20. Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your website in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.

  21. What Is Neotonics? Neotonics is a skin and gut supplement made of 500 million units of probiotics and 9 potent natural ingredients to support optimal gut function and provide healthy skin.

  22. What is CogniCare Pro? CogniCare Pro is 100 natural and safe to take a cognitive support supplement that helps boost your memory power. This supplement works greatly for anyone of any age and without side effects

  23. What Is ZenCortex? ZenCortex is a natural supplement that promotes healthy hearing and mental tranquility. It’s crafted from premium-quality natural ingredients, each selected for its ability to combat oxidative stress and enhance the function of your auditory system and overall well-being.

  24. What Is LeanBiome? LeanBiome is a natural weight loss supplement that reverses bacterial imbalance in your gut microbiome with the help of nine science-backed lean bacteria species with Greenselect Phytosome, a caffeine-free green tea extract crafted with patented phytosome technology.

  25. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

  26. Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.

  27. Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.

  28. I have learn a few excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much attempt you place to make this sort of excellent informative site.

  29. great post, very informative. I ponder why the other specialists of this sector do not understand this. You must proceed your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!

  30. Hi my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I would like to see more posts like this.

  31. hello there and thank you for your info – I have definitely picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this site, since I experienced to reload the website lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this again soon..

  32. I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.

  33. Hello very nice blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m glad to find numerous helpful info here within the put up, we’d like develop more techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  34. What i do not understood is actually how you’re now not really much more neatly-appreciated than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably in the case of this matter, produced me for my part believe it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested except it is something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up!

  35. I would like to voice my passion for your kindness supporting folks that absolutely need assistance with this particular field. Your special commitment to passing the solution all around ended up being particularly important and have truly empowered guys like me to achieve their targets. Your personal invaluable help indicates a great deal a person like me and further more to my peers. Best wishes; from each one of us.

  36. Have you ever thought about publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.

  37. I simply wished to appreciate you once more. I’m not certain the things that I would have gone through without the entire creative ideas contributed by you concerning such problem. It was actually an absolute distressing case in my opinion, however , being able to see a well-written strategy you processed it made me to jump over delight. I’m just grateful for your work as well as hope you are aware of a great job you were undertaking educating the others using your site. Most probably you haven’t got to know any of us.

  38. Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really know what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Please also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!

  39. Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your blog. You have some really great posts and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an email if interested. Many thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *