1. A universal app, or iPad-specific version.
2. The ability to use Spotify on 10 or more devices. An unlimited subscription needs to be more unlimited, especially for families to buy in.
3. Search and music discovery features in the apps that are on par with what Rdio and MOG already offer.
4. A mobile bitrate that is at least equal to Rdio.
5. A more stable iOS app experience.

Also, if Spotify ever went the ZunePass route, and offered users a number of owned downloads per month, I would probablyy overlook some of the shortcomings on the list above. However, there is probably as much chance of that happening as there is of ZunePass comming to iOS.

Again, after looking around the landscape, I would jump on a $5 per month plan from Spotify or anyone else today. To me, streaming service is worth a few issues and shortcomings at that price. A significant discount for paying for an entire year in advance would also turn my head and make me think, but I believe that only Rhapsody does that, at this point.

Anders- I’m glad your experience has been bettr than mine. Maybe they had to greatly modify or rebuild the app for the US market. However, even if that is the case, they should have already updated it by now to work on these issues. If your read the comments in the US App Store, I am not the only one having issues with the app.

I’m sure Spotify will get the bugs worked out over time. They wouldn’t be a succesful in Europe without a compelling product. However, they risk losing a lot of their early momentum if they don’t.

Steve- But going to the movies is a bit of different model, in my opinion. That is an escape into an immersive experience. Also, that is a market model that has existed for almost a century, now. However, if you look at movies and Hollywood in general in terms of numbers recently, I think newer alternatives are starting to wear on this very established structure. There are fewer people going to the movies today than in any recent time. Why? Probably because they have so many other media outlets at their disposal now.

The music industry has also operated on a purchasing model since its inception. For Spotify and others to break down that hold, they will have to offer something that is very compelling. The service they offer currently, at $120 a month, isn’t compellling enough to make me move away from ownership of the music. I understand the point you made in your comment. I can be made to change my mind, but I need more. As far a breaking down that ownership mindset whrrn it comes to music, some have even blended the models, and dangled some ownership as a carrot. Napster used to have plans that offered a certain number of musicc downloads per month, and ZunePass still does. However, neither of them have gotten their service price to the point of mass market acceptance, so it still didn’t work.

I’m not saying that they all streraming music sucks. I’m also not saying that Spotify is terrible. I just don’t think it’s worth the money, or the current hype in the face of plenty of equal existing competition in the US. Considering their rep and success in Europe, I frankly expected more. What I am saying is that, I either need a whole lot more features for $10 a month to end up not owning the music I am listening to, or that I will need to pay around $5 a month for a similar offering to feel like I am geting my money’s worth.

To even consider $120 per year, I would want a real web client, and access with many more mobile devices than Spotify currently allows. That number is capped right now, which doesn’t make any sense for an unlimited offering. I have a family of 5, all with or about to have iOS devices. There is no way I will pay for more than one subscription for my family, but under Spotify’s current plan, that’s what I would havee to do.

I would pay $60-70 per year for Spotify’s current offering, or something a little more limited. I feel lile that is more of a sweet spot. There is a reason that streaming music hasn’t taken over the industry yet. Nobody has hit that price point yet. No one has changed the game. Once someone does, and proves that there is a lot more money to be made by getting users to sign up in volume at cheaper subscription prices, everyone will, and streaming subscriptions will become mainstream. Until then, it’s still not ready for prime time.

with that reasoning i could argue that going to the movies is bad, because at the end of the day i don’t own anyhing?!