Starbucks asks: coffee, tea or MP3?

In the near future, if all goes according to plan, you may be able to load your MP3 player while waiting in line for a double half-caf soy latte. Starbucks, which already sells CDs in most of its stores, and which has experimented with CD-burning kiosks, plans to set up what the company calls "device fill-up" terminals in its stores. The company says it is in discussions with several companies about developing the service. While it's too early to speculate about whose software or DRM the service will use, it's worth noting that the Starbucks CD-burning kiosks are powered by HP hardware and Microsoft software, and the two companies (which happen to be neighbors of a sort) have also collaborated on wireless services in the past.

[Bob @ Jan 24th 2006 2:13PM]

So, is it just me or is starbucks becoming the Microsoft of Coffee shops?

[portorikan @ Jan 24th 2006 2:32PM]

I actually have one of these here in downtown San Antonio, Texas. It's called Hear Music. Really nice looking place. You can buy tracks for $.99 and get them burned on a CD for you or buy full albums if interested. You can search for artists and songs, and listen to the whole song or album. Very nice little place.

I was a little frustrated by the response I got from the music kiosks. Not the most user friendly and very slow loading from one screen to the other. Seemed like it hiccupped.

[rta @ Jan 24th 2006 2:33PM]

Now that is innovative and cool. Gimme a latte' and a 160kb track of 'Wonderful' by the Ant, please. And put it on my Starbucks card.

[Ricardo @ Jan 24th 2006 2:40PM]

Bob, do you prefer Apple Coffee shops..with Apple branded apple flavor

[hoplite @ Jan 24th 2006 2:46PM]

There is one on the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica, CA. I flirted with the dyke cashier for kicks just last week.

[diestarbucksdie @ Jan 24th 2006 3:13PM]

man i hate starbucks. and no-i dont care if my reasons are petty.

[Nathan @ Jan 24th 2006 3:36PM]

Let's just hope that it's none of this 128kbps junk.

This is really where the music sale model should be headed. In "the future" you'll be able to go to a store where you can download everything ever recorded directly to a digital music player or hard drive, in at least CD-quality. Rather than having racks of CD's, these places will have racks of servers and storage networks.

Same for video.

[Finished.Law.School @ Jan 24th 2006 3:44PM]

That shit they serve is not coffee.

[Patrick Dodds @ Jan 24th 2006 4:07PM]

Here's an idea (and I like the Starbucks idea of filling up your machine - let's hope they can keep it DRM free though of course this is about the last thing you'd expect from them but anyway...): You walk into a bar, the jukebox doesn't have what you want so you buy it and listen to it - the bar has it forever thereafter and their jukebox fills up over time; you have the distinction of having your name carved in digital stone for all eternity next to the tracks you've bought and will thereafter be known as the cool guy who brought Kosheen to the masses at Rick's Bar and Grill or wherever. OK, just a thought - back to surfing now and I'll leave you all alone.

[PEZ @ Jan 24th 2006 4:12PM]

THe only starbucks I have ever seen selling music are the ones inside Barnes and Noble bookstores.

BUB!

[Tallon @ Jan 24th 2006 4:41PM]

#1: Becoming? It's already there dude...
Yeah it's actually not a half bad idea, though it might flop if service is as horrible as some of the similar stuff that's been done...

[chuck @ Jan 24th 2006 4:48PM]

It will absolutely fail unless their partnership is with Apple. Call me biased, but face the facts: 80% of mp3 player owners have iPods. And iPod owners are more likely to pay for music than those who own other mp3 players.

[portorikan @ Jan 24th 2006 4:50PM]

Oh yeah, you can use your starbucks gift cards to save playlists and pick them up later or something of the sort.

[hussein rawat @ Jan 24th 2006 5:58PM]

this reminds of me something that i remember seeing and/or hearing back in the late 80's. I think the record stores were offering it on audio tape. anyone remember something like that? if so, could you elaborate?

[harrison fast @ Jan 24th 2006 7:31PM]

Genius. I just hope they are able to realise some of the cool features (and opportunities) something like this would present. ie: Most artists make you pay for playing their music in your store (small fees, but existant). Starbucks could have the kiosks queed up so that the last 3? songs played can be easily accessed on the kiosks, thus allowing the customer to download the song they just heard if they like it. (Then starbucks and the artist make a little profit).

Hopefully they release the opportunity for local artists to upload their music to the computers/kiosks for customers to download, allowing them to up their exposure. ie: Free downloads/featured downloads.

I say it's a great plan, too bad I hate coffee.

[John Molina @ Jan 24th 2006 9:03PM]

I work for SBUX. I hate HP. I also hate T-Mo's $9.99 per day wireless bullshit. It's stupid.

It would be VERY smart if SBUX paired up with Apple. VERY smart. Unfortunately, Starbucks doesn't seem to be smart with technology. Hence, HP partnership.

[DeCompoza @ Jan 24th 2006 9:51PM]

Do you need room for cream in that mix?

[Deedee @ Jan 24th 2006 11:08PM]

I spend a fortune buying the cds they play while I am waiting an ridiculously long time for my latte because I like what I hear at that moment...ADD, maybe? Anyway, I am new to my MP3 player but I like this concept. Fed up with Rhapsody.

[GiFF @ Jan 25th 2006 1:25PM]

Seriously, I thought this story was a rehashed one as a joke. Hear Music cafe has been around for about a couple years. Its alright I guess, they have a lot of music you can't find in a regular music store. But I just go there and buy my Grande, two pump, vanilla Chai latte.

[Kaylen @ Jan 25th 2006 3:28PM]

I LOVE THIS IDEA! I ALREADY SPEND WAY TO MUCH MONEY AT SBUX... THIS JUST ENCOURAGES MORE BAD BEHAVIOR FROM ME, INSTEAD OF SPENDING OVER $5 FOR JUST A CUP OF COFFEE THAT WILL BE GONE IN 15 MINS, LET ME ADD ANOTHER $10-15 FOR SOME MUSIC. MY HUSBAND WILL PROBABLY TAKE AWAY MY CREDIT CARD IF WE GET ONE HERE IN OKLAHOMA. I'LL JUST START CARING CASH!!!

[Alex Morganis @ Jan 25th 2006 5:50PM]

Here's a little fake dialogue of what could happen:

Employee: What can I do for you?
Crazy Coffee Dude: Can I have a Caff?erona, easy on the sugar.
Employee: Anything else?
Crazy Coffee Dude: Yah, throw some Back Street Boys on there, but keep that quite.