Rdio adds CD Baby and TuneCore catalogs, now we’re playin’

This changes everything.  Now we have some real competition in the subscription music field.  Many people prefer Rdio's interface to that of Spotify.  The main thing that set Spotify apart, for me at least, was their larger catalog of independent and historical releases.  Most of the indie stuff I listen to is digitally distributed by CD Baby so that made Spotify the logical choice.  Heck, I couldn't even hear my *own* band, The Border Blasters, on Rdio.  Now that Rdio has licensed the CD Baby and TuneCore catalogs they may have the larger library.  Some article I read stated Rdio now has 18 Million tracks and the last number I heard from Spotify was 16 Million.  And, sure 'nuff, The Border Blasters are there on Rdio today.

From an artist's perspective I hope a more competitive market will translate to better revenues for artists, and in turn, more artists and labels embracing subscription services.  According to 2011 data from DittoMusic (a UK company I believe) Rdio pays $0.012 per stream to the artist.  Spotify is anything but transparent as to their payouts but according to the same reports pays from $0.001 per mobile stream to $0.015 for their premium users' streams.  Premium users account for about 25% of Spotify's total subscriber base so an artist is far more likely to get paid towards the lower end of the spectrum than the upper tier.  If nothing else the additional potential channels to consumers via Rdio is a good thing for artists.

Rdio also offers discounts for multiple subscriptions, and I gotta say, their iPhone app is well designed: intuitive, responsive and easy to use.

But... Rdio doesn't offer offline access.  All your streams are either going through the 'net or cellular data.  Makes Rdio a non-starter for me personally ... and for Xerify.  I suppose if you live in a city with ubiquitous wi-fi and have truly a unlimited cellular data plan it would be okay, but you'd never be able to use it on a road trip or visiting your country cousins.

That said, though, with Rdio and Spotify now actually competing (and with mSpot allegedly coming to the USA sometime soon) we might see good things for consumers who are ready to embrace the music access over music ownership.