Subscription Services Will Replace Downloads as the Dominant Online Music Model -- While online music stores like Apple's iTunes have attracted millions of customers by selling downloads of songs or albums, changing market conditions will make subscription-based music services the dominant model for selling online music in the future. That is the conclusion of "Online Music: Will Napster Be the Next iTunes as Subscriptions Replace Downloads?" a new report from Strategy Analytics. According to this report, the shift toward subscription music services will be driven by a combination of changing consumer expectations as well as pressure from broadband service providers and record companies. In addition to changing consumer needs, the report notes that many broadband service providers prefer to offer a subscription service, such as Real Networks' Rhapsody, which generates steady monthly revenues and helps deter broadband churn. Finally, major record companies are dissatisfied with the revenue they receive from low-cost download sales, and will increasingly focus on alternative business models for selling music online.
As we approach 2025, the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is poised for significant growth. Traditional AI spending is rising, while Generative AI (GenAI) struggles to meet lofty expectations. This apparent dichotomy presents challenges and opportunities for vendors and business leaders navigating the complex world of AI implementation. Let's explore the overall situation. Traditional AI: A Pragmatic Approach In the coming year, we expect to see a surge in traditional AI spending as enterprises seek pragmatic, ROI-driven solutions. This trend is driven by a growing recognition of the limitations and risks associated with GenAI projects, which have shown alarmingly high failure rates of 80 to 90 percent in proof-of-concept stages. The trend towards traditional AI is further supported by data from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which revealed that over 85 percent of AI projects in 2024 were not based on GenAI. This insightful statistic underscores the continued relevance and ...