XM Radio asking interesting questions

By Laurie A. Duncan

XM Satellite Radio emailed me, one of their "selected XM Subscribers," a little survey today. I thought I'd share some of it with you to give you something to speculate and pontificate about. So here are the juicy parts:

Suppose that XM Radio were to offer you a service that would allow you to "lease" downloaded music onto your XM Radio, and create playlists.

WHAT IT IS

  • Using a new XM Digital Music Player, this service provides effortless creation of your own music library from both your satellite radio service and/or an online music download service containing over 1 million songs.
  • Music can be stored on your XM Digital Music Player, download to your computer or transferred to your MP3 player, and played for an unlimited amount of time—as long as you continue your monthly subscription.
  • You can create playlists (combining XM content + downloaded tracks), organize them and play as often as you like.
  • If you cancel your monthly subscription, the music you stored on XM or in other locations will no longer be accessible unless you resubscribe.

HOW IT WORKS

  • Only works when using the playback mode — When you hear a song that you like, simply press the save button to store the song into your leased memory. No need to worry about when you press the store button... the song will save from the beginning.
  • Or search the online music library for specific songs.
  • Amount of music you can store in your leased memory is dependant upon the specific XM Digital Music Player you purchase (typically 10 – 30 hours).

They continued...

Assume that you could trade in your old XM receiver for free and get the new XM Digital Music Recorder. Now also assume that this new feature would cost an additional $9.95 per month, on top of your regular monthly fee.

Now assume that this new feature would still cost you an additional $9.95 per month, on top of your regular monthly fee. But in order to get the XM Digital Music Recorder, you must purchase it for approximately $199 (you keep your old receiver)

How likely would you be to purchase this new receiver & sign up for this additional feature?

My opinion?

XM + iTunes + iPod = Good Thing.  I'm all for it. Sign me up. Invite TiVo along too. We'll have a party.
Tying it all to a $9.95 subscription which I have to pay in addition to the $12.99 I already pay (I actually pay less on a multi-year pre-paid plan)? Not so good. I'll pay $5.99 tops and I want at least the option to own my music forever, not just while I'm an XM subscriber. Charge me $.50 or $.99 per track for the songs I decide I want to keep after I leave XM behind for whatever reason. Otherwise I'll just be looking for ways to undermine your DRM (and trust me, it won't be difficult). And buying a new receiver versus trading in my current one? I'd have to know more about the receiver to say for sure, but $199 would be reasonable for a receiver done right.

Discuss amongst yourselves...

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