Microsoft revamps Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever

There's just nothing like the holiday season, folks. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get when spending your last dollar on a gift for someone you aren't even that fond of -- really, what else can compare? On second thought, maybe this can. Microsoft has just announced that, beginning today, Zune Pass users will be able to select ten tracks per month to keep forever (and ever, and ever), and the $14.99 monthly subscription rate isn't headed up. Agreements have been miraculously nailed down between Microsoft and EMI Music, Sony BMG Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, not to mention a number of independent distributors. We must say, we certainly appreciate the gesture here, but is it enough to make fencesitters buy in? What say you?

[Jason Wright @ Nov 20th 2008 12:19AM]

This is great news. I've had the Zune Pass for the past 4 months and I didn't think it could get any better. Now if only they'd let me keep the 7,000 songs that I've already gotten forever for free.

[JerkfacedFed @ Nov 20th 2008 9:56AM]

Wowowow!! Was waiting for unification of the XBLM and Zune Marketplace, but this is unbeatable! My Zune 80 is gonna go from 50 gig left to 0 in about an hour...

[The Joker @ Nov 20th 2008 12:21PM]

That's 120 tracks a year!

(someone check my math please. I'm a victem of the edumaction system)

[VerbCat @ Nov 20th 2008 1:16PM]

This sounds really great, but I've got to play the devil's advocate here:
For people like me who only download 6~7 songs a month, this is actually more expensive than buying the DRM-ridden stuff in iTunes.

Still, this probably would have made me switch to Zune if I hadn't gotten a new iPod for my birthday. :(

[Jason Wright @ Nov 20th 2008 1:20PM]

If you only get 6 or 7 songs a month then you still have the option of buying songs/albums individually. The Zune Pass is a second way to get music for those who really like to get a lot. It's nice for me as I give a lot of albums a listen to now and find a lot of music that I typically wouldn't have purchased before and I don't ever get buyer's remorse.

[Hung @ Nov 20th 2008 11:39PM]

Is Zune Pass any different from a regular subscription service? I use Rhapsody and rip songs in audacity. It's not a huge pain, but it'd definitely be convenient and the audio quality would be (marginally) better, even if I can only transfer my collection 0.2% every month.

41 years, 9 months isn't that long a wait. :)

[Andre @ Nov 20th 2008 12:21AM]

Seems like a good deal to me, basically $1 a song and $5 a month for all-you-can-eat music for existing customers. Gonna stick with my iPod and iTunes though, at least they're Mac compatible...

[nu uh @ Nov 20th 2008 12:21AM]

Give us flac, divx, xvid, mkv with multi audio track support and subtitles, and podcast titles through wi-fi and I'm all in...

[AVG @ Nov 20th 2008 9:15AM]

And drop the price and build them from titanium and add a 2.4ghz Core 2 Duo too! Yeah!

[JerkfacedFed @ Nov 20th 2008 9:58AM]

and rocket boosters and let it run windows 95 in emulation mode

[AVG @ Nov 20th 2008 9:59AM]

Well now you're just being silly.

[noyp @ Nov 20th 2008 8:01PM]

Nah, silly would be having the power to convert clak.

[AJR @ Nov 20th 2008 12:21AM]

The unlimited downloads with the Zune is a major selling point for me, and even though it may not be as attractive as an iPod of any sort it has a good solid feel and the look and feel has grown on me.

[computer.dude.28 @ Nov 20th 2008 1:45AM]

I agree. The Zune pass is amazing, and would be amazing to have, and it just got better. However, I am a little disappointed that Microsoft updated the Zune Pass while still keeping it all to themselves down in the states, leaving us Canadians up here to *ahem*, less proper methods of obtaining music.
Anyone got an American credit card I could borrow? ;)

[ubn2 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:24AM]

I borderline sune 80,ipod touch and this certainly isn't helping the touch.
I only have about 200 songs. but could i buy songs with a regular zune card at the same time?
(I only want the 80 for the screen)

[ubn2 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:25AM]

finally they fixed my avatar status!!! engadget listened!!

[CJ @ Nov 20th 2008 2:06AM]

Too bad they can't fix that '1' key that obviously keeps sticking.

[Nation @ Nov 20th 2008 12:25AM]

I wonder what format the download is in, and if it has DRM and all. (maybe I should have put that in the form of a question)

I am still looking for a good deal on a Zune this holiday season and expect to have a flash-based on by the end of the year, this does make me more interested in their monthly deal.

[Jason Wright @ Nov 20th 2008 12:31AM]

The Zune Pass songs are all WMV and they are DRM protected. I'm not sure if the 10 that you get to keep are the same or not. You can purchase drm-free MP3's from the store.

[ubn2 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:33AM]

the music is wma video wmv:)

[ubn2 @ Nov 20th 2008 12:35AM]

oh and if you buy by track its still wma.not mp3

[The Dude @ Nov 20th 2008 12:44AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fairuse4wm-strips-windows-media-drm/

Search for the latest version.

[Steve @ Nov 20th 2008 12:48AM]

Actually, along with the new announcement, they also announced that (all?) the other majors have signed on for MP3. 90% (their number) of the tracks can be owned in MP3

[Jander @ Nov 20th 2008 12:51AM]

You can select from over 4 million of their DRM-less MP3 selection for your ten tracks.

[Alex1350 @ Nov 20th 2008 2:18AM]

If you get songs from the Zune Pass, it's going to be WMA. If you buy videos from the marketplace, the format will be .WMV .
Also if you buy the songs they will be 100 Percent Free of DRM and majority of the songs are MP3 Format.

[The Joker @ Nov 20th 2008 12:01PM]

"Zune Pass subscribers will have the added benefit of retaining digital rights management (DRM)-free MP3 tracks from Sony BMG and UMG, in addition to MP3 tracks from EMI Music, Warner Music Group and a large portion of the independent music labels. With the addition of tracks from UMG and Sony BMG, Zune will soon offer over 90 percent of its music in the MP3 format."

WTF. Just read the short article.

[John Miller @ Nov 20th 2008 12:38AM]

Wow, what a great way to get the people who were hung up on "owning" music into the service. Personally I could care less if I own or rent-- being able to download whatever I want whenever I want makes owning music irrelevant-- but I know several people who have balked at subscription services for that reason. There's simply no excuse anymore!

[michaelportent @ Nov 20th 2008 2:20AM]

I tend to agree with you. If the Zune were more useful outside of the music realm (i.e. could do everything my iTouch does), I'd sign up for something like this in a second.

Taking notes, Apple?

[shanoboy @ Nov 20th 2008 8:32AM]

My problem isn't owning (over subscribing) so much as, what if I get tired of Zune and go on to another service, or what if cash gets tight and I decide I don't want to pay the $15 a month anymore. Then I have to start all over at zero, collecting music.

Being able to keep the 10 songs a month is a great selling point because now I'll be able to keep my favorites no matter what.

[Bionic Radd @ Nov 20th 2008 8:32AM]

This is attractive to me for one major reason; I can't burn Zune Pass tracks to a cd for my car. I don't have a way to listen to my mp3 player in my car, so when I do buy digital albums, I burn a CDr for the road. The Zune is just looking better and better.

[John Miller @ Nov 20th 2008 9:10AM]

shanoboy,
There's about a dozen monthly expenses I'd do without before I canceled my Zune Pass subscription. Like hot water.

[The Joker @ Nov 20th 2008 12:08PM]

I agree. Since subscription came along, I listen to much more music.

Changing services, however, can be a PITA along with finding good compatible devices (Rhapsody).

Zune may have roped me in with this. I just hope MS doesn't bail on this like they did with the URGE service and the PlaysForSure format.

[WixosTrix @ Nov 21st 2008 2:57AM]

THIS MAKES FOR A NICE LOOPHOLE!

Track that are not availible to download with the Zune Pass can be purchased with the free credits.

I haven't been able to have Just Fine by Mary J. Blige because it was the one song on the album that you couldn't download with the Zune Pass but I was now able to get if for free with my credits.

This is too GRAND!

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Nov 20th 2008 12:39AM]

Forever until the DRM servers go down or forever forever?

[Invisiblemoose @ Nov 20th 2008 1:01AM]

DRM free, right?

[bull3964 @ Nov 20th 2008 1:02AM]

If you bothered to read the press release, you would see that 90% of the music in the marketplace is available as DRM-free MP3 and these MP3 tracks can be your 10.

Free and clear. No DRM, no servers, can use them anywhere.

[Jander @ Nov 20th 2008 1:03AM]

"DRM free, right?"

Right. There's absolutely no worries about loosing your ten tracks if you choose from their MP3 selection, all of them are DRM free.

[JerkfacedFed @ Nov 20th 2008 10:00AM]

DRM free, clown

[Jander @ Nov 20th 2008 12:50AM]

From Cesar at zuneinsider.com:

" The week just keep getting better for Zune owners: today we’re announcing some amazing enhancements for Zune Pass (link to zunepass description on .net).

Starting today at about 11:00PM pacific time, everyone with a Zune Pass gets to keep 10 tracks from Zune Marketplace each month. These 10 tracks will be yours to keep, forever. Each month that you keep your Zune Pass current, you’ll get another 10 tracks credited to your account. All this for the same price as your Zune Pass today: 14.99/month, or about the price of one CD per month. So each month as you discover and download new music in Zune Marketplace, you’ll be able to keep 10 of your favorite tracks. One quick note: there is no roll-over, so make sure you collect your 10 tracks each month.

Which brings up the second bit of good news: now approximately (90%) of the 4+ million tracks in Zune Marketplace are available as DRM-free MP3s. We’ve got MP3s from , Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, as well as indie distributors IODA and The Orchard.

And to help you decide which of the millions of tracks to keep, the Zune Marketplace team now offers a collection called “perfect 10s” – 10 must-have tracks in each of the most popular genres. And each week, you’ll see “fresh picks” – ten tracks from the best new releases each week."

So basically you can download unlimited music and based on what you discover you love, you get to keep 10 of those tracks a month, which you can select from over 4 million DRM free MP3 tracks free and clear. Pretty cool.

[Tubes @ Nov 20th 2008 1:25AM]

OK, I don't have a Zune (as it's not Mac-compatible) but that just made this whole subscription thing pretty badass!!!

[kal326 @ Nov 20th 2008 9:09AM]

@Tubes
If you have an Intel Mac there is always boot camp. If there are around 10 tracks to a cd at around $13-15 a piece. It would take a little as 6 months to recoup the cost of an oem Vista Basic license. On top of that you get all you can listen music for those 6 months. Our you can wait around and see if iTunes offers a similar service.

[JerkfacedFed @ Nov 20th 2008 10:03AM]

@ Tubes

Bootcamp that, baby and get on Windows. Dont listen to the naysayers

[J-Man @ Nov 20th 2008 1:13AM]

I may be the only person with an iMac and a Zune. It's a pain, but a good choice I must say. Me and iPods didn't fit.

[ethan @ Nov 20th 2008 1:12AM]

Dangit.........

Now I need a ZunePhone.

[ubn2 @ Nov 20th 2008 2:14AM]

in winmo 6.5/7 zue support will be added

[BobsledX @ Nov 20th 2008 1:11AM]

I love the Zune pass! I bought into it prior to this 10 song download thing. I try to budget everything I can;I have netflix so I know exactly what I am spending $10 on movie rentals each month (score xbox 360 netflix streaming), the zune pass so I know I am spending $15 on music each month, Xbox live, Cable, Internet, Phone, Cell, man these thing keep adding up, newspaper, gas, car, mortgage. But atleast I know exactly what I am spending each month on these thing and I can adjust the rest of my life accordingly. Now if we could only convince the electric company, grocery store, and big oil to do an all you can eat plan we'd be good to go. LOL

[Amerist @ Nov 20th 2008 1:34AM]

My electric company offers "budget billing" where they divide your yearly electric billing into 12 equal monthly payments. Mine's always $70 a month (for the last 2 years).

One down, 10 to go.

[Alex Padilla @ Nov 20th 2008 1:18AM]

This is actually really awesome. I might just do that. Oh wait, I can't. Microsoft, please bring the Zune to Macs. kthx

[Jander @ Nov 20th 2008 1:23AM]

Apple's already done that for you. Boot camp ftw if you want to take advantage of the Zune side of things.

[Alex Padilla @ Nov 20th 2008 1:48AM]

Not everyone can afford a copy of Windows and a Zune. I'm a poor college dude, man.