It may not just be a simple coincidence that Rick Rubin, famed Columbia Records head and music producer (Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, Slayer, Jay-Z, Danzig, Weezer, etc.) has been growing that long beard and wearing flowing, white robes: the man is prophesizin'. According to a recent interview with the eccentric music-maven, Rubin believes that iTunes and similar music-download services are going the way of the Rolling Stones... er, we mean dinosaurs. The Rubinator thinks that the future of music distribution will be some type of subscription service that is accessible at any time, from just about any point of entry. As the Rick-man puts it, "You'd pay, say, $19.95 a month, and the music will come anywhere you'd like. In this new world, there will be a virtual library that will be accessible from your car, from your cellphone, from your computer, from your television. Anywhere. The iPod will be obsolete, but there would be a Walkman-like device you could plug into speakers at home." Additionally, the majestic light of the future that is Rick Rubin feels that, "Either all the record companies will get together or the industry will fall apart and someone like Microsoft will come in and buy one of the companies at wholesale and do what needs to be done." Whatever you say, Rick, just as long as you don't make another Mars Volta record. [Warning: read link requires subscription]
[Via
Wired, thanks, Laura]
posted September 4th 2007 11:12PM
"You'd pay, say, $19.95 a month, and the music will come anywhere you'd like"
And then watch it go away as soon as you quit paying that $19.95.
:( i like mars volta...
didn't this genius just explain satellite radio?
We have this already, it's called Rhapsody.
I agree with most of you here. You'd have to be as dumb as a post to think that anyone would want an endless library of music and media available on demand from anywhere. Why would I want that when I have my $250.00 Ipod that will never be obsolete?
I OWN all my Stained albums outright, plus I am so g** d*** hip!
It's all about pwning your music/media. I never even watched Seinfeld until it came out on DVD, just so's I could pwn it.
Yes, lets ask the major movie executives what they think about video formats. Or TV executives about how people like commercials and reality tv. I mean they are at the top of their game aren't they?
Lets be serious, he is in the same boat as every other music producer (complaining about pirates, all the while filling things with DRM and other unspeakable horrors). If he was really in this genious that everyone claims he is, then Capitol Records would some how be different from all the other companies, which they aren't. Thus his business genius is only as large as every other music executive.
I'm sorry, I've been reading the Engadget site now for 2 years and if they ever post another TMV comment like that again, I am GONE!
TMV > Engadget
He's right.
actually, i think i agree with him. ipods are fine, but having the entirety of human musical achievement at your fingertips anywhere you are is pretty damn appealing.
Wimax + every song ever + RIAA actually successfully stomping out P2P = Rick Rubin's vision.
I'm on board. I pay 100 a month for cable I barely use. I would definitely pay half that for access to every song ever that works with every device i own wirelessly. You betcha.
Has anyone made it work yet? Not close.
Was MySpace the first attempt at social networking? Not close.
Can you create your own mix on satellite radio?
Can you play a full album on satellite radio?
Can you share satellite radio?
Not nearly as good as Rhapsody and Rhapsody isn't nearly as good as it needs to be to dominate the market as Rick Rubin envisions the market can be dominated.
The iPod limitation: Music not included.
Think of the next dominant technology like you'd think of a cell phone today. The model is there and Americans definitely dig it. If the RIAA would get out of their own way we'd be there already.
I thought those mars volta albums were awesome...
this is @AJ
so I guess you've never heard of lilly allen? And they were Nikes.
Actualy, his statement is fine.
I see it being like mobile phones;
Subscription, or pay as you go.
Its not about the medium anymore..cd's, tapes, records...whatever.
They are all method to store content.
We arnt buying the medium, we are buying the right to listen to the content.
Radio to WiFi, WiFiMax, BlueToorth, Augmented Reality, GPS, GPRS, Gallio...our world is increaseingly becomeing more and more wireless.
Less tied down to physical mediums.
I can easily see a day where we access our music anywhere, and dont own anything that physicaly represents the music.
Digital Distribution lets us pay for the songs we like, and have the artists get a bigger cut. No retail. No packaging, No distribution. Heck, no need for record labels either. Better for the enviroment too, as its more enrgy efficiant.
Straight from Artist to consumer.
Its how the media of the future should be.
Rubin - what a f***ing loser!!! He claims subscription is the future and he compares it to cable - when cable is going in the exact oppposite direction. Going from subscription to buy a-la-carte episodes. The iTunes model imo is genious. It IS the future today. Cable and other services are migrating to the iTunes style model. Him saying subscription is the answer is only a knee jerk comment by him and the suits at record companies because they know it's the only way to ensure to keep their fat wallets full. Subscription doesn't work. People want to own their music. I know I do. The modern generation doesn't like to be tied down to subscriptions. We want choice.
They are so envious of Apple and it's business model it's not even funny. And with the wireless iTunes store coming on-line soon, and partnerships with Starbucks and the like... Apple is marching ahead leaving the old-school record companies wondering wtf.
I mean - Rubin still uses the term "Walkman" LOL!!!! What a flaming dinosaur.... I for one have zero appreciation or recognition of whatever he did for rap. Which sucks imo - but hey , we all have our tastes.
I think Rubin is wrong in his prediction. I hope him and the other record company big wigs rot in hell with all their greed and gestapo tactics.
peace
Subscriptions maybe good if you are trying to discover new music and want to listen to a whole bunch of new tracks, but why rent the music you love? This is just another one of those "the iPod is doomed" stories. Something will eventually knock the iPod off its pedestal but I doubt renting music is it. Besides, who says Steve Jobs will never change his mind? If subscriptions become popular enough, I am sure iTunes would offer that as well.
Missed, try again. Next!
Deloused in the Comatorium was one of the single most important albums of this decade. If you actually knew what you were listening to you'd eat those words.
Swallow your food before you open your mouth.