Sunday, February 1, 2004

Solution..... ...and suddenly the solution was clear...instead of worrying whether a user shares his login and password with one or many friends, and instead of limiting a user to one IP address or one computer....we should limit the amount of data a member can download per month. We can offer a generous amount of monthly download, but without giving away everything at once. This would become especially important once we have several GB of music online. Don't want somebody to walk out with 2 years of my work for a month's fee.... I think this model makes the most sense to me. Now I have to find out whether this can be done easily enough without getting into custom software.... 10:10:28 PM    comment []; iPod They don't return my email, but they are giving a 10% discount on iPods on my birthday - what a strange company they are....Discount available until 11:59 PST tonight. 3:23:22 PM    comment []; Subscription As I walked through the snow this afternoon I thought that a few more things need to be worked out for our subscription service. I think we will have to limit the amount any person can download per month, because otherwise what would keep a person from waiting a year and then becoming a member for one month and going on a downloading binge...- although that would not be a real fan anyway, because I would want to get the music when it's fresh out of the oven, to borrow a bakery expression... Another issue is people emailing their username and password to all of their friends to use. We could restrict logins to a combination of IP# and login info. The major disadvantage is that the user can't move from computer to computer, or place to place, and log in at will. That would suck for people who travel a lot - and I understand people who travel a lot. Another option is to use a secondary password - besides your login password and then change that password with a certain frequency. It means emailing every member a new secondary password every month or two. Could also be a drag..... It's not that I don't trust people....but I don't want to be a sucker either.... Ideas? 3:09:27 PM    comment []; Santa Fe Candle Information on why beeswax is better. I mentioned this site before, but since I am burning new candles I bought from them, I want to mention it again. 12:51:29 PM    comment []; File Sizes I will put together a little listening test for our Listening Lounge. The same song will be available in AAC (mp4) and mp3 formats, at 128 and 160kbps. You let me know what you hear -except for Dan, I already know what he likes. I want to find out from you whether the difference is worth the longer download times and extra server space. 8:44:57 AM    comment []; Subscription - still working it out.... On one hand I think it would be good to have a multi-level subscription service, because some people might buy the CD anyway and they would not need to download the album tracks. On the other hand I am all for simplicity and would rather have one price for all - which would also keep the cost for the upkeep of the site down. Having two or three different levels also means two or three times the work... 1. Free Downloads: to introduce people to our music 2. Subscription: All album tracks as well as Rough Mixes, Live recordings, QuickTime movies of soundchecks etc. - for members only: about $5-7/month 3.. Regular CD album. Very basic package, simlar to nouveaumatic: $14-16/CD 4. Special Limited Edition CD package: Edition of 1,000 or 2,000, "the coffee table edition", specially designed package contains photos etc.: $20-40. First offered to the members with leftovers sold at concerts and on web site. 5. Donation: donate $5 for every album you copy. 8:36:26 AM    comment []; Studio Candle 6:30:57 AM    comment []; Distribution Model Pt.2 2. Dowload purchase: nothing wrong with the price but how do you do it? VISA or Amex for 90 cents? Not going to happen. As I recall, this has always been the problem with selling downloads. I would say "subscription" is the way to go... 3. Subscription: yes, the only viable route, especially if there are "perks" ie. levels of subscription that get you bronze, silver and gold extras such as limited edts., signed copies, graphics, rough mixes/out-takes etc etc OK, maybe we should drop the individual downloads altogether and leave them to Apple and other services - if I ever hear back from them. You are right, we could have a couple of different levels of subscription, one of which would allow the member to download the actual album tracks as well. I still like the idea of limited editions being sold at concert as a perk for people who come to the shows, but maybe they could be offered to the members as well, i.e. inform the member-mailing list and take what's left on the road. 6:15:03 AM    comment [];

© Copyright 2004 Ottmar Liebert. Last update: 3/4/04; 11:17:21 AM.