So I did some research. Most of my musical tastes is being produced by Global Underground records (independent label), BBC Radio One, or obscure labels owned by the big guns.

While Spotify is the best service around for music, there are still usability issues. I cannot search for Spotify users or have friends. Ad servicing is sneaky- mute the ad, and the ad stops. Plus Spoify is incapable of understanding that ö, o, and ø are essentially the same character. For example, searching for Trentemøller, Trentemoller, and Trentemöller give you entirely different results.
And lastly, Spotify has doubled out some artists. DJ Sasha is not the same guy as Sasha and according to Spotify, it is one guy indeed.

There is a lot of work to do.

This is yet another great example of this

This experience has taught me an important thing about music in the near future. Music is a relation built on trust between the artist and the music lover. I can imagine how betrayed an artist can feel when their music goes down the free downloading pipe to the “fans”. But I personally have experienced the other way around. I feel betrayed by the big music companies’ irrational actions toward music lovers in the digital world. I don’t know how many times I have asked myself: why in hell don’t they want my money!!! I have bought a few albums with DRM, perhaps 10. I have none of them left due to switching computers and loosing certificates.

When I tested Spotify for the first time I thought, finally they got it – this is the future meeting place between artists and music lovers. No files, no downloading. No hassle with stupid DRM solutions. It might take some time for streaming to get to portable devices. The bandwidth is still to low, or unpredictable, but in a few years I hope I will never see a music file again. Monthly subscription rates are her to stay.

The Spotify catalogue is in the process of being updated since we launched our public beta a few weeks ago. Because of that, there may be some variations in our catalogue from day to day as we make these changes. We’re adding around 10,000 tracks a day so hopefully you’ll find everything you want shortly and we do apologize that one of your favorite albums was effected.

Regards,
Andres
Spotify.com

I’ve always been a big fan of digital music, always wanted to pay for it, but never understood the point of DRM. For a long time I had some kind of “faith” in streaming music, being something that might solve problems for both the music industry and music lovers.

I’m very happy to hear it wasn’t you who decided to remove the album – though I actually would have understood it. I’ll wait patiently, pressing the link to my playlist of your album from time to time…

By the way, lovely show on Swedish television tonight! I actually think you said something in the car on your way to your subscriber, leading me to think you understand my point, ie about the old fashion relation between a musician and music lover like me.

Love your music and the best to you Marit Peter