Universal boss Doug Morris is reportedly planning to launch a new, label-owned subscription service called Total Music: give people free, unlimited music subscriptions with the purchase of portable devices. The plan is to have companies subsidize the cost of the subscriptions, estimated at five bucks a month. Wireless carriers could offer unlimited music on their cell phones, for instance, and simply build the cost into the monthly fee. Hardware makers who sell "Total Music"-branded devices could build the cost into the price. Hopefully, DRM will be excluded since labels should be getting their revenue through hardware sales. Universal is already experimenting with DRM-free MP3 downloads at stores like Amazon, so it's certainly possible. Currently, it's unclear if Total Music will allow consumers who don't buy the devices to subscribe to the service.

If the idea does take off though, maybe just maybe, iTunes and the iPod will finally have some competition.

News source: Ars Technica


There are 10 additional comments
Poll: My opinion on Total Music is:
Count me in!
 4
I'd consider it.
 17
Never!
 10
Total votes: 31
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(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by Glassed Silver on 13 Oct 2007 - 17:17

tbh, i don't see this as an option for me...

Glassed Silver:mac
Quote this comment #1.1 Posted by Smigit on 14 Oct 2007 - 02:03
Me neither. My mobiles on pre paid so I'd need to take out an additional contract in which case this may as well just be like any other music subscription service.
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by WICKO on 13 Oct 2007 - 17:46
iTunes already has competition. They call themselves Radiohead.

okay but realistically, i think Radiohead has the better idea. Screw the middle man.
Quote this comment #2.1 Posted by Mike Frett on 13 Oct 2007 - 18:10
No. It already came out that Radiohead did that as a pr stunt for you to buy the cd. Their normal mp3 releases are at 320, this release was at 160.
Quote this comment #2.2 Posted by WICKO on 16 Oct 2007 - 15:15
Quote - (Mike Frett said @ #2.1)
No. It already came out that Radiohead did that as a pr stunt for you to buy the cd. Their normal mp3 releases are at 320, this release was at 160.

That doesn't mean they don't have the right idea. This is something other bands haven't really thought of, and some may opt to try it out. Besides, you won't be able to tell the difference between 320 and 160. 128 is considered "CD Quality". And even if you could tell the difference, you'd have to have some damn good speakers, and I'm not talking about the **** you get at your local bestbuy.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by Hell-In-A-Handbasket on 13 Oct 2007 - 20:37
$5 a month does not equal Free

ill still use iTunes
Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by myrhymeandreason on 14 Oct 2007 - 12:31
Yeah.. I hate when companies and websites claim that.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by Powerless on 13 Oct 2007 - 22:50
Buy the cheapest "portable devices"; $60 / Year; stick 'em all on yer iPod.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by Izlude on 14 Oct 2007 - 00:25
got myself a 3 dollar mp3 player (512mb) at some dollar tree store. works for me, but i think i'll stick to the dangerous life.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by ThePitt on 14 Oct 2007 - 16:59
I wonder for how long this will last. They are using the freeware principles "Just make the critical mass and then start charging".
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