Can't say we're too surprised -- after all, it does somewhat
compete with new management -- but still, we're quite sad to see that as of May 31st, Lala is closing its music-streaming doors to the world, and no new users will be accepted. Existing users, however, can take solace in some pretty nice parting gifts. According to the site, all money spent purchasing web songs -- soon to be rendered null and void by a loss of service -- will convert to iTunes credit. Ditto for wallet balances and unredeemed gift cards, although with those you can get a refund via check, if you choose to. As for the future of its staff, well, we're still waiting to see all the
fruits of Apple's acquisition. In the meantime, crank your speakers, raise them high over your head, and let's make this month count.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted April 30th 2010 3:20AM
this completely sucks... LALA.. I will miss you terribly.
@rynoondew
lala, where music plays...
not.
:'(
@rynoondew
FUCKING APPLE...
Just got into this, found it pretty cool, and now the lords of fascist control march in and take it away. Glad I didn't buy anything there. It just reinforces my idea that buying downloads is very stupid, especially if there's any DRM. You can get a real CD for about the same price and do whatever you like with it, not to mention the better quality.
@sonicyoof The iTunes Store's music is DRM-free, AFAIK. But I also still prefer physical discs!
@sonicyoof
LOL I called Apple a Fascist Regime and some nub from a busted up country got me down ranked...
and thsi guy gets up-ranked|
this comment system is just a popularity contest I tellz ya!
http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/27/horus-coffee-table-ipod-dock-will-make-friends-question-your-san/comments/27462034/
@sonicyoof Get over yourself. There are PLENTY of free streaming services.....PLENTY.....
@sonicyoof Lords of fascist control meet the King of melodrama.
We're (yes, we -- I bought Lala streams) getting reimbursed for streaming stuff, and downloaded stuff I already have in DRM-free MP3 from them.
The service is shutting down. Yes It sucks, but truth is we don't know how having Lala staff and IP will change Apple services. So I'm hoping it's for the better, and then I'm moving on with my life.
@rynoondew Never fear. On June 7th, Apple will unveil the new itunes streaming service. it will be magical and revolutionary, just you wait
@Parkettpolitur Yep CD's win.
You get a physical compy, and you can just rip it to your PC and put it on iTunes :D
@sonicyoof You are totally right. Screw Apple and their corporate BS- let's support those "by and for the people" record companies.
@rynoondew Just wait until google released its own music industry and see how Lala will crumble.. Prev- http://bit.ly/google-music-best-or-worst
@rynoondew Man if I had bought web songs I would be UBER pissed off...I mean basically an entire album would convert to enough credit to buy one song on iTunes...that isn't accessible through the web. How is that a good consolation prize at all.
So Apple buys and then kills Lala. What was the point?
@mukatuna
It means, 'Fuck Competition!'
@plyx
The same thing suing HTC means, BTW!
All this competition will fuck with Apple's core business model. The more direct competition Apple gets on its products, the harder it will be for them to dole out small hardware upgrades to sell as new product every year.
@mukatuna They wanted the tech and the people for other products.
@mukatuna
Well, it will be integrated into iTunes. Obviously.
As for iTunes' competition, there is none, except maybe Walmart, not the fly by night Lala website.
@mukatuna
4 clues:
1. Lala
2. September
3. 1 billion dollar server farm
4. iTunes X (or 10.0)
@mukatuna
employees and probably music deal contracts
@lantinian So should I go with Grooveshark or wait for iTunes X?
@plyx From time to time apple makes small aquisitions for the technology, not to kill competition. Lala did not qualify as competition, it was too small. Look at this technology coming to iTunes.
@Ryan Deen Grooveshark is a bit of a mess. Maybe try Spotify? I think they just are open to the US now?
@Maxwell I'm going to try to get on Spotify, although I'm here in the States. I tried Grooveshark a few weeks ago in comparison to Lala. GS seemed bloated and laggy compared to Lala, which was incredibly easy for me to use..... Oh Lala, I hope you are reincarnated soon.
@Wesscoast Only walmart? :)
Rhapsody has been staying afloat for all these years, also amazon still sells MP3s. (Which were DRM free before apple decided to cut DRM.)
@plyx It had nothing to do with "fucking the competition." Such practices are anticompetitive and would not have been allowed by the FTC.
@mukatuna
Lala was going to release an iPhone app. So, instead of buying music from Apple, you could use your iPhone to buy music in the cloud for a tenth of the price. So lala gets bought. So lala gets shut down.
@Maxwell
Spotify is supposedly the bees-knees.
@MacArtStyle
You seem to have some additional information... Will Apple be integrating Lala's affordable pricing structure, DRM-free files, and wide-independent variety?
@marsmissions
Fact corrections:
Apple went DRM free for ALL of the music on iTunes on Jan 6 2009. All EMI music was ALREADY free of rights management prior to this date, having started on April 2nd 2007.
Amazon went DRM free (also with EMI only) more than a month later, making the announcement on May 17 2007 and did not actually happen until September 25th of that year, 5 months later than Apple's implementation of the same. Amazon did not add Sony/BMG to that until Mid Q2 2008. Apple went completely DRM free in Jan just following, but also added tiered music pricing at the same time.
Apple was the first US music store to offer licensed content DRM free, not amazon.
@Ryan Deen Why not go with Grooveshark? It's totally free right? You can always switch when it eventually gets shut down.
I know the founder's brother, grooveshark isn't going anywhere anytime soon
thank you apple. cant wait to get rid of my iphone. what the hell was i thinking. ill be taking the check please
So are they gonna create an Apple branded online version of iTunes? If not... like the poster above said... what's the point of buying Lala?
@silkyjohnson
Why would you assume that Lala is NOT going to be integrated into iTunes.
Step1. Pick up rock
Step2. Smash self in face.
Step3. Contemplate the nature of the universe.
@Wesscoast I'm not assuming anything. Why would you assume they ARE? For all we know, they could pull a myspace/imeem type move to move lala's customers to all-mighty iTunes
So Apple bought and killed Lala just so they get more iTunes downloads?
This doesn't even sound profitable for them.
@Outsider They bought LaLa to get the TECHNOLOGY. It was cheaper to acquire a platform that worked and was already deployed than to develop and deploy the platform by themselves.
Simple.
They will probably debut the service soon, also, everyone knows apple only makes money from app sales these days.
You brainless early adopter geeks are just fuck*d by your god while the virus is now in our streets. Thank you so much !
how about their streaming service for billboard.com??? are they gonna direct the site visitors on iTunes or force them to install it???
I was one of the original beta testers on LALA back in the day and despite how much the staff and Bill Nguyen tried to play it off like they were interested in the community, it was clear their only intention was to build up the company to entice investors and sell. They repeatedly screwed over customers by constantly changing the focus of the site and policies.
Lala was originally a CD trading site and when they decided to essentially eliminate that and focus on digital downloads they basically told every customer who was still owed cds to f*ck off.
@jonjbayarea Well said - why should Lala users have to work out what to do about their music stored on Lala’s servers? Apple should continue to offer the Lala service as designed to the people who signed up for it.
At Psonar we will never do anything that denies people perpetual access to the music they uploaded to Psonar: http://bit.ly/aVyO7p
Apple did it, just to get back at Google's music search.
Remember what I said about this buy by Apple? They did not even know what they needed LaLa for. But they knew Google is talking about it so they decided to be "FIRST". They got it and now they are killing it because they could not find a reason to operate it. Now - is there another LALA on the horizon? I guess, as people liked it...
@suland
OMG! are you Nostradamus?
@High No, I am still alive!
They did it to piss Google off (for buying admob). Google uses Lala heavily for music search results.
I'm TOTALLY done with Apple!! I don't want an iphone, ipad, itouch, iSHIT!
@ilovelala who cares!
What a waste. So glad I avoided buying a $4 album off lala because they were then owned by apple. Lala used to be a good site with some cool ideas, but they suck for letting Apple buy them.
@The Kite Eating Tree
God forbid some entrepreneurs start up a business to make some money. PS I'm sure Apple is dying for your $4. Quick, everyone sell their stock now, Apple didn't get Kite Tree's $4. They're doomed!!