The more features and improvements that European streaming music service Spotify makes, the more we here in North America cannot wait until it finally jumps across the pond. Today the company announced that its users will be able to integrate and download playlists onto assorted iPod, iPhone and Android devices from any of Spotify’s subscription services.
In addition, Spotify has introduced a new music downloading service with song bundles that make it competitively priced with the iTunes model. Spotify’s mobile application, previously only available to paying members, will also be available to Spotify Free users, which account for 90% of the service’s 10 million users. Why do you care? Because Spotify is coming to the United States and soon you will have very strong music alternative to bypass the walled garden of iTunes.
Spotify’s 10 million users have created 200 million playlists. With this new rollout, users will be able to download those playlists and sync them to their mobile devices through Spotify’s desktop application via USB or wirelessly on iPhones and Android devices.
Spotify has been rumored to be coming to the U.S. for what seems like ages. They have run into trouble concerning licensing arrangements with the big U.S. music labels delaying its reaching U.S. audience.
In January it was reported that Spotify had reached and agreement with Sony for distribution rights but little has been heard of its progress with the other big music companies since. In April this year it was reported that Google was in talks with Spotify but nothing on that end has yet panned out either. Last year there were rumors that Spotify would finally be reaching the U.S. in the third quarter, but here we a year after that rumor and six months past Q3 2010 later and no service to show for it.
Two big questions follow a Spotify U.S. release: will the service remain unchanged (giving free users an all-you-can-eat buffet) and will U.S. consumers actually care? Music rights and distribution is one of the most contentious issues in American technology and copyright. Services like Rdio, MOG and Pandora have found a balance to survive in the ecosystem while Apple still dominates with iTunes. Amazon could be the X-factor in the entire equation with its new Amazon Cloud Drive and storage locker. In the end, no matter what cool features Spotify gives to its European users, there is no guarantee that it can thrive in the U.S. ecosystem.
