Comments on: eMusic prices for the US, UK, and rest of Europe http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/ Mozilla, open source, and other random topics Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:07:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Swindleeeee!!!!! » eMusic pricing, part 2: Powers of nine http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1076 Swindleeeee!!!!! » eMusic pricing, part 2: Powers of nine Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:03:22 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1076 [...] The pricing picture for eMusic UK and eMusic Europe is less straightforward, but preserves key features of the US plans. In particular, it appears that the Basic price was set first, presumably to reflect the different cost structures for eMusic UK and eMusic Europe. (As I previously noted, the Basic plan prices for the UK and Europe are over 40% higher than the US price, even before adding VAT.) The prices for the other plans were then set in relation to the Basic price: [...] [...] The pricing picture for eMusic UK and eMusic Europe is less straightforward, but preserves key features of the US plans. In particular, it appears that the Basic price was set first, presumably to reflect the different cost structures for eMusic UK and eMusic Europe. (As I previously noted, the Basic plan prices for the UK and Europe are over 40% higher than the US price, even before adding VAT.) The prices for the other plans were then set in relation to the Basic price: [...]

]]> By: Swindleeeee!!!!! » eMusic responds to UK and Europe long-term subscribers http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1075 Swindleeeee!!!!! » eMusic responds to UK and Europe long-term subscribers Thu, 24 Aug 2006 21:31:52 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1075 [...] Thanks to the persistence of dhaith we now have more definitive information on how eMusic will be handling existing UK and Europe subscribers on the annual and 2-year price plans. According to dhaith, Keeping your annual subscription at the orginal US rates is not an option for European customers according to eMusic Customer Support. Instead existing UK and European subscribers on annual and 2-year plans will be converted into monthly subscribers to eMusic UK and eMusic Europe respectively at a plan level of their choice (i.e., Basic, Plus, or Premium) with a discounted monthly price for the plan equal to the current US monthly price plus VAT. [...] [...] Thanks to the persistence of dhaith we now have more definitive information on how eMusic will be handling existing UK and Europe subscribers on the annual and 2-year price plans. According to dhaith, Keeping your annual subscription at the orginal US rates is not an option for European customers according to eMusic Customer Support. Instead existing UK and European subscribers on annual and 2-year plans will be converted into monthly subscribers to eMusic UK and eMusic Europe respectively at a plan level of their choice (i.e., Basic, Plus, or Premium) with a discounted monthly price for the plan equal to the current US monthly price plus VAT. [...]

]]> By: patchwork http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1074 patchwork Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:08:54 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1074 I suspect that the lack of a continuing (bi)annual sub at the old rate means that the whole 'monthly subs at old rates' deal may end in a very few months... I suspect that the lack of a continuing (bi)annual sub at the old rate means that the whole ‘monthly subs at old rates’ deal may end in a very few months…

]]> By: Helen Price http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1073 Helen Price Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:16:57 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1073 yes the prices may differ and that's fair policy. yes the prices may differ and that’s fair policy.

]]> By: grinsend http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1072 grinsend Sat, 19 Aug 2006 17:38:13 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1072 Just a thought: Some of the price, from eMusic's perspective, may be justified. One thing we're seeing now is that with the splitting of eMusic into regional parts, the different parts may have different cost structures. Contracts with the music distributors/labels for electronic distribution rights seem to have been renegotiated in many cases (as we are seeing evidence of in the new arrivals lists). It wouldn't be surprising if the labels/distributors in Europe charged more for their distribution rights, given that they may have, for whatever reasons, higher cost structures than American labels/distributors. Just a thought: Some of the price, from eMusic’s perspective, may be justified. One thing we’re seeing now is that with the splitting of eMusic into regional parts, the different parts may have different cost structures. Contracts with the music distributors/labels for electronic distribution rights seem to have been renegotiated in many cases (as we are seeing evidence of in the new arrivals lists). It wouldn’t be surprising if the labels/distributors in Europe charged more for their distribution rights, given that they may have, for whatever reasons, higher cost structures than American labels/distributors.

]]> By: dhaith http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1071 dhaith Sat, 19 Aug 2006 12:09:34 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1071 Keeping your annual subscription at the orginal US rates is *not an option* for European customers according to eMusic Customer Support. My Question: "I understand from the [above] that I can change into /any/ monthly plan (40, 65 or 90 downloads) at the discounted price. Renewing my annual subscription (or going to the 2-year plan, as I was even considering) seems not to be an option at the discounted rate. Is this correct?" eMusic Answer: "Yes, that is correct. At this time, we do not have any special discounted rates for any of the annual or 2 year plans. We apologize for the inconvenience." Keeping your annual subscription at the orginal US rates is *not an option* for European customers according to eMusic Customer Support.

My Question:

“I understand from the [above] that I can change into /any/ monthly plan (40, 65 or 90 downloads) at the discounted price. Renewing my annual subscription (or going to the 2-year plan, as I was even considering) seems not to be an option at the discounted rate. Is this correct?”

eMusic Answer:

“Yes, that is correct. At this time, we do not have any special discounted rates for any of the annual or 2 year plans. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

]]> By: dhaith http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1070 dhaith Wed, 16 Aug 2006 18:38:20 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1070 I got the following answer from eMusic Customer Service on the matter of annual subscribers being charged the original (US) rates after their plan expires: "[...] You are correct that the email you received should have been more clear. We are making the appropriate changes. Annual subscribers in the UK and Europe will be able to take advantage of the discounted monthly plans at the end of their annual subscription period. Unfortunately, we are unable to update your subscription to automatically convert into a discounted monthly plan so we will need you to email us at the end of your annual subscription with the request and we will convert your plan at that time." Now, this says annual subscribers will be able to change into *any monthly* plan at the original rate + VAT. If I read between the lines correctly one *cannot* continue the (bi-)annual plans at the original rate. Will ask for futher clarification... I got the following answer from eMusic Customer Service on the matter of annual subscribers being charged the original (US) rates after their plan expires:

“[...] You are correct that the email you received should have been more clear. We are making the appropriate changes.

Annual subscribers in the UK and Europe will be able to take advantage of the discounted monthly plans at the end of their annual subscription period. Unfortunately, we are unable to update your subscription to automatically convert into a discounted monthly plan so we will need you to email us at the end of your annual subscription with the request and we will convert your plan at that time.”

Now, this says annual subscribers will be able to change into *any monthly* plan at the original rate + VAT. If I read between the lines correctly one *cannot* continue the (bi-)annual plans at the original rate.

Will ask for futher clarification…

]]> By: Sean http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1069 Sean Sun, 13 Aug 2006 08:29:13 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1069 eMusic have a subscription policy for a good reason, it allows them to quote a good per track rate compared with itunes, and gives them better predictability of revenues. It may also mean they can get away with paying less for their music, since we're more likely to download random stuff at the end of a month! eMusic have a subscription policy for a good reason, it allows them to quote a good per track rate compared with itunes, and gives them better predictability of revenues. It may also mean they can get away with paying less for their music, since we’re more likely to download random stuff at the end of a month!

]]> By: Frank Hecker http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1068 Frank Hecker Sun, 13 Aug 2006 04:57:38 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1068 Harald: Regarding deactivating your subscription, when someone cancels their eMusic subscription they are in essence saying they no longer want to be an eMusic customer (for whatever reason). If they later rejoin eMusic then it's nice if eMusic offers them an opportunity to rejoin at the price they were formerly paying, but I don't think eMusic is (or even should be) under any obligation to do so. Harald: Regarding deactivating your subscription, when someone cancels their eMusic subscription they are in essence saying they no longer want to be an eMusic customer (for whatever reason). If they later rejoin eMusic then it’s nice if eMusic offers them an opportunity to rejoin at the price they were formerly paying, but I don’t think eMusic is (or even should be) under any obligation to do so.

]]> By: Swindleeeee!!!!! » eMusic per-track pricing for the US, UK, and Europe http://blog.hecker.org/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1067 Swindleeeee!!!!! » eMusic per-track pricing for the US, UK, and Europe Sun, 13 Aug 2006 04:51:38 +0000 http://swindleeeee.wordpress.com/2006/08/12/emusic-prices-for-the-us-uk-and-rest-of-europe/#comment-1067 [...] Looking at eMusic and the digital music industry « eMusic prices for the US, UK, and rest of Europe [...] [...] Looking at eMusic and the digital music industry « eMusic prices for the US, UK, and rest of Europe [...]

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