Spotify Signs On EMI for U.S. Launch. At Least One More to Go…

It’s getting closer: Spotify has finalized a U.S. distribution deal with EMI Music, multiple sources tell me.

Both EMI and Spotify declined to comment.

Coupled with last month’s Sony deal, Spotify now has the approval from two of the four major music labels for an American launch. But that still doesn’t guarantee you’ll see the streaming music subscription service in America anytime soon.

In order to make a credible offer to U.S. users, Spotify will need to at least get Universal Music Group, the world’s biggest label, on board, and it’s not there yet.

It would also be nice if Spotify could land Warner Music Group, which now seems more doable than in the past, given Warner CEO Edgar Bronfman’s increasingly positive comments about the company.

If and/or when Spotify does come to the U.S., it will also have to contend with new rules from Apple, which will require a 30 percent cut of any subscriptions the service sells through Apple’s iTunes platform. That tariff is going to be a significant problem for many of Spotify’s peers, who are working on slim margins to begin with; I don’t know how Spotify plans to address this one.

http://www.cyber-punk.cz.cc/ ShadowRunner

They are about 10 ears too late to this market. I have a whole TORRENT of other choices.
http://www.stef.be Steffest

You have never tried spotify, i guess ?
They sell ease of use and instant streaming access to all music on all your devices.
I’ve completely stopped downloading music since my spotify premium.
http://twitter.com/4lex 4lex

Someone please explain why people love Spotify so much.
We have Napster, Rdio, MOG, who all have over 8 million songs. All have mobile platforms which let you stream and download to your mobile devices. I think people just want it because they can’t have it. Once it comes here, it’ll be ignored the three aforementioned services.
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/ PKafka

Crucial question. In Europe, competing services don’t really exist, so easy to understand the appeal. In the U.S., as you note, there are many services that offer more or less the same thing at the same price.
Spotify’s advocates will argue that the service works much better than the existing ones, but you can argue that back and forth if you’re inclined.
The real distinction is that Spotify allows a significant amount of free streaming, which US services don’t. That free offering has been a major sticking point for the U.S. label discussions, and it will be interesting to see how much free music Spotify offers if and/or when it opens up here.
http://www.cyber-punk.cz.cc/ ShadowRunner

Again that’s what I get from torrents, I have access to all my music on any device because my download folder is my dropbox folder. its great no DRM, and nobody asks me for my credit card number. I use Linux so I don’t worry about viruses, so all my music is on my phones AND computers.
http://www.cyber-punk.cz.cc/ ShadowRunner

As the brits would say “you’re spot on”
Translation = I agree with you.
http://www.cyber-punk.cz.cc/ ShadowRunner

Most likely none, the nazi’s over at the RIAA will not allow it, so content will go on being traded for free until the record industry gets their collective heads out of their waste disposal orifices.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Kjersti454 KJ

There’s a whole other level of social integration and choice. Hopefully, this platform will be expanded as they go into the US market.

Spotify Signs On EMI for U.S. Launch. At Least One More to Go…

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