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ILLBAY SEZ: "Listen.Com's 'Rhapsody' Listen-On-Demand Music Player Kicks Serious ****!"
Listen.Com ^ | August 23, 2002 | Self

Posted on 08/23/2002 11:44:15 AM PDT by Illbay

I registered with Listen.Com a couple of months ago, agreeing to pay the $9.95 per month fee for "unlimited listening" via their "Rhapsody" streaming media player.

At that time, I saw there were a handful of Internet Radio stations available, many of which appealed to me, and that was the reason for my joining. However, I tend to prefer to listen to recorded music tracks that I feel like hearing, rather than having a radio programmer decide what I'm going to hear, and I didn't use the player all that much.

Yesterday, I got a notice that the player was upgraded, and an invitation to check out the changes on Listen.Com's service.

Lo and behold, they now have a HUGE library of listen-on-demand CD albums, singles, compilations, etc., to choose from.

I was able to quickly make up several playlists of albums of all sorts of genre: Rock, Pop, Synthpop, Electronica, Jazz, Classical, you name it (I have extremely eclectic tastes; I go through moody periods where I want to hear 70s-style prog-rock, or 80s British Synthpop, or John Coltrane & Miles Davis, or 90s Dance/Trance, etc.

Well, I found it all there. In fact, I was astonished at just how large their library seems to be.

For example, to satisfy my ProgRock appetite, I found all the early-70s releases by Genesis, and all but one or two albums--usually the less successful--by Yes.

Oh, I want some Glam Rock: A large selection of David Bowie and all but one or two of Roxy Music are there.

Jazz? A HUGE selection of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Return to Forever, Weather Report.

How about Punk? All of The Clash's albums are there!

80s Synthpop? Okay, got several by Echo and the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, New Order, Kate Bush, OMD (on the player as I type this).

I haven't checked out the Country/Folk/Bluegrass categories yet; when I get in the mood I'll certainly check it out.

And their Classical library is incredible, as well.

The REAL kicker: They are in negotiations yet with artists' management and record labels to license CD BURNING RIGHTS! At present, they do have one small catalogue of classical music that DOES allow CD Burning. The way that will work is, each subscriber is allowed to burn up to 10 tracks per month.

In the meantime, you are allowed UNLIMITED listening privileges. If you want to hear Roxy Music's "Avalon" release 200 times in the next month, you may do so if you wish.

I believe that we're seeing the future of digital music distribution. At present of course it is limited--you have to be there at your computer to listen at present; MP3 downloads are not yet available, though I haven't really looked into that very much because I don't use MP3s much except as a prolog to burning CDs. I don't own an MP3 player. So until and unless CD Burning becomes more general, the music portability is very limited.

But in my case I spend HOURS at my computer, as I office out of my home, and it has been a FABULOUS thing for me.

BTW, I purchased a small speaker set at Office Max the other day. For twenty dollars you get two tweeter/midrange boxes and a small subwoofer. Rhapsody played over that little system has AMAZING clarity and range! In fact, it rivals--perhaps surpasses--the Sony Bookshelf Stereo system in my home office.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: listencom; rhapsody
Let me know if you found this information useful, and assuming at least some people are also using Rhapsody, give any "tips and tricks" that you've learned!
1 posted on 08/23/2002 11:44:15 AM PDT by Illbay
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To: Illbay
I just hooked up on Directv DSL today, and they have an offer for free Rhapsody until the end of the month...

I think I'll sign up!
2 posted on 08/23/2002 12:27:48 PM PDT by motzman
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To: motzman
Actually, I'm glad you mentioned this. I should say that I have grave doubts that Rhapsody would be so...so "rhapsodic"...if you were trying to use it over a modem connection.

I have Starband Satellite broadband, and so far there have been just a couple of hiccups that were quickly resolved.

3 posted on 08/23/2002 12:37:53 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Illbay
I go through moody periods ...

No kidding!

Nice review, Illbay. I hadn't heard of this service before and I'm going to look into it tonight. I have a pair of AR amplified speakers on this computer so I'm sure the music will sound great from the way you describe things here. For what you get, it's less money than buying a new CD every month.

4 posted on 08/23/2002 1:39:41 PM PDT by Cagey
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To: Cagey
For what you get, it's less money than buying a new CD every month.

My thoughts exactly.

I am a HUGE lover of music; always have been since I was a kid. I was really into "alternative" music in my teens, in the early 70s, and I have tried to keep up with the "good stuff" in a wide variety of genre ever since.

I like virtually everything as long as it's "good," which I define (very subjectively, I admit) as ANYTHING that someone put great thought and effort into.

The dreck that passes for mainstream pop has always been foul to me, whether we're talking about "The Partridge Family" in the early 70s or Britney Spears/N'Sync/Backstreet Boys ad nauseum today.

And I think most "hip-hop" is actually dragging our impressionable youth into the swamp out of which they cannot escape. Yet I think a lot of what passes for "hip-hop" these days is very good (Carl Craig is one name that comes to mind).

So I don't care what the "style" is, as long as someone tries to put wit and intelligence into it.

Unfortunately, the cost of CDs is such that you simply can't purchase enough of them to enable you to explore what you haven't had time to listen to--and it's surprising how much "stuff" that is universally accepted as "great stuff" I haven't had time to hear yet, even after years.

For example: I bought SIX CDs the other day, including one two-disc retrospective of the B-52s. And it cost nearly $100! My budget won't allow me to get everything I want. As it is, my CD collection is about 250 discs, but it's barely passable, IMO.

With my tastes, you'd have to get up around the 1,500 mark before you'd have something approaching "representative".

But the Rhapsody service may quite possibly make it all a moot point. If I can listen to a wide range of things--especially the stuff I've never had time to explore--then I can decide on purchasing the discs later on, when portability becomes important.

IMO, the music industry needs to get in line. They need to understand they'd better come up with a way to make money off digital music distribution, because that train is leaving the station with them or without them!

THIS ARTICLE from a couple of months ago, which includes some details of where Listen.Com/Rhapsody has been and where it may be heading, is a case in point. Just look at the numbers of people sharing music files online; it has GROWN since the effective death of Napster, which supposedly was going to nip it all in the bud.

Anyway, finally getting a chance to listen to all of The Clash's "Combat Rock" as I type. Great!

5 posted on 08/23/2002 2:17:21 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Cagey
For what you get, it's less money than buying a new CD every month.

My thoughts exactly.

I am a HUGE lover of music; always have been since I was a kid. I was really into "alternative" music in my teens, in the early 70s, and I have tried to keep up with the "good stuff" in a wide variety of genre ever since.

I like virtually everything as long as it's "good," which I define (very subjectively, I admit) as ANYTHING that someone put great thought and effort into.

The dreck that passes for mainstream pop has always been foul to me, whether we're talking about "The Partridge Family" in the early 70s or Britney Spears/N'Sync/Backstreet Boys ad nauseum today.

And I think most "hip-hop" is actually dragging our impressionable youth into the swamp out of which they cannot escape. Yet I think a lot of what passes for "hip-hop" these days is very good (Carl Craig is one name that comes to mind).

So I don't care what the "style" is, as long as someone tries to put wit and intelligence into it.

Unfortunately, the cost of CDs is such that you simply can't purchase enough of them to enable you to explore what you haven't had time to listen to--and it's surprising how much "stuff" that is universally accepted as "great stuff" I haven't had time to hear yet, even after years.

For example: I bought SIX CDs the other day, including one two-disc retrospective of the B-52s. And it cost nearly $100! My budget won't allow me to get everything I want. As it is, my CD collection is about 250 discs, but it's barely passable, IMO.

With my tastes, you'd have to get up around the 1,500 mark before you'd have something approaching "representative".

But the Rhapsody service may quite possibly make it all a moot point. If I can listen to a wide range of things--especially the stuff I've never had time to explore--then I can decide on purchasing the discs later on, when portability becomes important.

IMO, the music industry needs to get in line. They need to understand they'd better come up with a way to make money off digital music distribution, because that train is leaving the station with them or without them!

THIS ARTICLE from a couple of months ago, which includes some details of where Listen.Com/Rhapsody has been and where it may be heading, is a case in point. Just look at the numbers of people sharing music files online; it has GROWN since the effective death of Napster, which supposedly was going to nip it all in the bud.

Anyway, finally getting a chance to listen to all of The Clash's "Combat Rock" as I type. Great!

6 posted on 08/23/2002 2:39:01 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Illbay
I've been involved with XM radio and I think it's great for someone who spends much of their time in a car, truck, RV, or boat. There are a hundred channels with many different venues available. Thirty or so of the channels are commercial free and you can tune into a station that plays classical or choose a station that plays jazz or another station that plays only hits from the 60's. And it is all digital reception. There is a weather channel, all news channels, comedy channels, religious channels, etc. and you can receive the same channel coast to coast without losing the signal. Another nice feature is that the artist and song title are displayed. And this service is also 9.95 per month.
However, as you pointed out earlier, the programmer chooses the titles you listen to. I imagine down the road XM and it's competitor will figure out a way for the listener to choose a playlist.

Thanks for the link. I may just sign up tonight
7 posted on 08/23/2002 2:51:19 PM PDT by Cagey
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To: Illbay
Well, I've had Rhapsody giving my Altec-lansing's an hour workout, and I'm really impressed. Great Sound!!!

..while typing along to the beat of "Two Tribes" by Frankie, a song I haven't heard in years, and one I'd never go out of my way to hear, but IT'S THERE! All you do is click!

This product should take off if marketed correctly.

Only one (3-second) small glitch so far...
8 posted on 08/23/2002 2:54:08 PM PDT by motzman
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To: motzman
I agree with your assessment of the sound--and I'm sure my speaker rig is not nearly so nice as yours. However, the little subwoofer makes a HUGE difference, and the sound is REALLY kick-*ss through Rhapsody.

Agree about stuff like Frankie Goes To Hollywood. It's not something I'd buy if I had to spend my money on it, but I'd DEFINITELY be in the mood to spin the disc from time to time. That's where Rhapsody seems to have a great, big hook.

OTOH--and this is where I suspect their business model may work--I have already heard three albums over the last couple of days that I fully believe I will go ahead and pick up next time I'm shopping for CDs: OMD's "Sugar Tax" (I have it somewhere in the bottom of my closet in a shoebox, on cassette), Roxy Music's "Avalon" (I only remembered the title track from when it played on Top 40 back about twenty years ago, but it's the very best album, I believe), and The Clash's "Combat Rock."

No telling what other nuggets I'll pick up on, but if word spreads, and their catalog grows, AND (and I think this is the clincher) if they allow you to burn a certain number of tracks every month, this will be the gateway to digital music distribution that everyone's been waiting for.

On top of that, having gotten the traditional music biz (in the person of the major labels) to buy in, the stage is set for artists to cut out the middle man, and go direct to this mode of distribution for their works.

So far, the "unknowns" and the indies have been using free distribution of their work to get an audience. If they can actually be paid a few pennies for each access through this pay service, I think it'd be so much the better for them.

Listen.Com could have an "undiscovered band" catalog that allowed unlimited burning. This would be the way. Once the volume of downloads/burns got to a certain point--and especially if the bands get to tour on the strength of their building audience--they can graduate to the "big boys" catalog.

Just my thoughts on this.

9 posted on 08/23/2002 8:41:16 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Illbay
What is the Kilo Bits Per Second, kbps, sampling rate on the music that you can burn CDs, i.e. 128, 160, 192, 224, 256 etc. ?
10 posted on 08/23/2002 8:49:11 PM PDT by Eagle9
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To: Eagle9
I haven't tried to burn anything yet--though I do have some Bach guitar transcriptions queued up.

I'll let you know how it works.

(BTW: The Rhapsody player seems to have its own "burning software" so you don't do the MP3 --> WAV --> CD-R thing. This makes sense, of course, because I don't think they want to fool with MP3 downloading, etc.

11 posted on 08/24/2002 5:21:30 AM PDT by Illbay
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To: Illbay
Thanks ~~~ Bump for later ~~~
12 posted on 09/02/2002 12:07:12 AM PDT by occam's chainsaw
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