In today's USA Today (aka McNews), Rhapsody, even after losing about 50,000 subscribers this year (about a 3.5% drop), are plowing ever deeper into the subscription model.
The most shockingly obtuse observation came from Rhapsody VP Tim Quirk, who baldly stated, "I liken it to paying your electric bill. You don't rent electricity."
Whether he's just tossing BS, or he's that incredibly oblivious as to the inadequacy of that particular analogy, doesn't matter. Any executive, seemingly tech- and industry-savvy should be muzzled at least, and ideally taken to the woodshed for such an inane comparison.
Since when did music become a utility? Or conversely, at what point did electric service become something to be placed in the expendable income category? Either way, unless they're counting on the 1.85 million (and steadily dwindling) subscribers to rent rabidly and make up the rest of the revenue streams from ringtones with Verizon, the only sound from Rhapsody will soon be a sour, flat note.
The most shockingly obtuse observation came from Rhapsody VP Tim Quirk, who baldly stated, "I liken it to paying your electric bill. You don't rent electricity."
Whether he's just tossing BS, or he's that incredibly oblivious as to the inadequacy of that particular analogy, doesn't matter. Any executive, seemingly tech- and industry-savvy should be muzzled at least, and ideally taken to the woodshed for such an inane comparison.
Since when did music become a utility? Or conversely, at what point did electric service become something to be placed in the expendable income category? Either way, unless they're counting on the 1.85 million (and steadily dwindling) subscribers to rent rabidly and make up the rest of the revenue streams from ringtones with Verizon, the only sound from Rhapsody will soon be a sour, flat note.
