Life without on-demand music streaming

Glad I switched to Spotify! :). Sounds like MOG is a little upside down right now.
 
Mike said:
Glad I switched to Spotify! :). Sounds like MOG is a little upside down right now.
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You may be right. Although Beats says their music service app will contain many improvements over 'old' MOG. Time will tell.
 
Mike said:
If any one of them can stream higher quality, I'm in!
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You may recall a post providing a recent interview with Roger Sanders who said that if a recording was properly done @320kbps it would sound as good as a CD. But it would be nice if someone would just start streaming at CD level quality to eliminate the guesswork.
 
Hiker said:
You may recall a post providing a recent interview with Roger Sanders who said that if a recording was properly done @320kbps it would sound as good as a CD. But it would be nice if someone would just start streaming at CD level quality to eliminate the guesswork.
Click to expand...

Yes, I read that....and then did my own tests. I definitely don't agree.
 
Introducing Beats Music.

Thanks sincerely for your loyalty to MOG. It means everything to us that you stuck with us while we created the next generation of streaming music services, Beats Music, using the great foundation of the MOG team and product. As you may know, Beats purchased MOG more than a year ago because we too were in love with its fidelity, simplicity, and mobile capabilities. Our goal was to go a step beyond where MOG or any other service had gone, to be more than a server, to be of service to the listener. We wanted to build an app that helped us discover music the way we discover music, through trusted curators, but that uses computers for what they’re good at, personalizing an experience to bring the right song, right now.


The result is Beats Music, an app now available for iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Web, and Sonos, an app that not only has all the on-demand subscription features you came to love in MOG but also more ways to find the right song to listen to right now than any other app on the planet. With Beats Music you should always be one hand and a maximum of five seconds away from something great to listen to without needing to think or type in a search box. If you’d like to search or build your own playlist, please do. But on those many moments when you’re looking for a quick fix, Beats Music delivers.

What's the deal with AT&T?
Exclusively with AT&T, you can get the Beats Music Family Plan with 5 accounts across 10 devices for $14.99/month and a 3 month trial. Individual Plans with AT&T will be $9.99/month with a one month trial.

Will MOG shut down?
Yes. After April 15th, MOG will no longer be available in the US. Monthly billing will stop on March 15th and yearly subscriptions will be refunded on a prorated basis. Between now and then we will offer tools to help make your transition easier. Stay tuned for more information on those tools.

See for yourself. Download the app and hit play.
 
MikeCh said:
Yep, just like Radio with a Radio Station Director (the job/career) and everything. Interesting to say the least. This might well be the last breath that Radio is trying to breathe.

Mike
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I was in radio for some years, I was a Music Director and Associate producer. Radio has its purpose, but it is limited and folks decide whether or not to tune in depending on what you are playing. That is the core of it though, the freedom to tune in or avoid. The time for radio is when one doesn’t want to choose the music or happens to enjoy the mission of the particular show. Radio is temporary, shows are only 1 to 4 hours long depending on what it is and the station. It’s also most times restricted to one genre and often times the sub-genres under it. This is why ratings are so important to radio stations, that and the funding that comes with the rating.
Now days we have entities like Clear Channel who come in and take control paring a station down to a small fraction of what it was and severely limiting the format almost to the point of oblivion. I’ve seen them do this over and over and it usually results in plummeting ratings and other disasters. The station I was at thankfully was of no interest to them. A more recent example of Clear Channel’s work is a big station in Los Angeles California. It was a rock station and still is, but before Clear Channel they had various shows of interest, played a wider variety and even a free form DJ in a late time-slot. Then Clear Channel came in and gutted it. Now it’s down to one morning show which is not doing nearly as well as the previous one and 3 or 4 DJs who have to play the same 16 songs over and over changing up every two weeks and sound bored out of their minds or forced fake excitement when they do the announcing. The ratings have plummeted since the take-over. (It was one of the highest rated stations before). All the main people (including management), who knew what they were doing were let go immediately and replaced with people who just needed a job. (Most of them moved to another station that is the last of the heart of radio and there is no telling when Clear Channel will swoop in on them). There are also requirements for EBS (Emergency Broadcast System) that must be met for all radio stations. (Naturally this doesn’t apply to the internet stations, but I’m finishing a point). It is interesting to note that Clear Channel stations are not obligated to have this important public service and they don’t. So if you are listening to a Clear Channel station and there is a natural disaster or warning, you won’t know about it. Clear channel is about ownership, corporate control and advertising revenue and that is it.
Now guess who is one of the parties in the leadership of the Beats service….yup, Clear Channel.
 
joeinid said:
Introducing Beats Music.

Thanks sincerely for your loyalty to MOG. It means everything to us that you stuck with us while we created the next generation of streaming music services, Beats Music, using the great foundation of the MOG team and product. As you may know, Beats purchased MOG more than a year ago because we too were in love with its fidelity, simplicity, and mobile capabilities. Our goal was to go a step beyond where MOG or any other service had gone, to be more than a server, to be of service to the listener. We wanted to build an app that helped us discover music the way we discover music, through trusted curators, but that uses computers for what they’re good at, personalizing an experience to bring the right song, right now.


The result is Beats Music, an app now available for iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Web, and Sonos, an app that not only has all the on-demand subscription features you came to love in MOG but also more ways to find the right song to listen to right now than any other app on the planet. With Beats Music you should always be one hand and a maximum of five seconds away from something great to listen to without needing to think or type in a search box. If you’d like to search or build your own playlist, please do. But on those many moments when you’re looking for a quick fix, Beats Music delivers.

What's the deal with AT&T?
Exclusively with AT&T, you can get the Beats Music Family Plan with 5 accounts across 10 devices for $14.99/month and a 3 month trial. Individual Plans with AT&T will be $9.99/month with a one month trial.

Will MOG shut down?
Yes. After April 15th, MOG will no longer be available in the US. Monthly billing will stop on March 15th and yearly subscriptions will be refunded on a prorated basis. Between now and then we will offer tools to help make your transition easier. Stay tuned for more information on those tools.

See for yourself. Download the app and hit play.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this Joe. While its just more advertising from them mostly and an attempt to cover up the dark side at least it does provide updated info on the demise of MOG. I see the dates have changed from what MOG staff told me when I cancelled. (Doesn't ease the pain, but never expected to).
 
MusicDirector said:
I was in radio for some years, I was a Music Director and Associate producer. Radio has its purpose, but it is limited and folks decide whether or not to tune in depending on what you are playing. That is the core of it though, the freedom to tune in or avoid. The time for radio is when one doesn’t want to choose the music or happens to enjoy the mission of the particular show. Radio is temporary, shows are only 1 to 4 hours long depending on what it is and the station. It’s also most times restricted to one genre and often times the sub-genres under it. This is why ratings are so important to radio stations, that and the funding that comes with the rating.
Now days we have entities like Clear Channel who come in and take control paring a station down to a small fraction of what it was and severely limiting the format almost to the point of oblivion. I’ve seen them do this over and over and it usually results in plummeting ratings and other disasters. The station I was at thankfully was of no interest to them. A more recent example of Clear Channel’s work is a big station in Los Angeles California. It was a rock station and still is, but before Clear Channel they had various shows of interest, played a wider variety and even a free form DJ in a late time-slot. Then Clear Channel came in and gutted it. Now it’s down to one morning show which is not doing nearly as well as the previous one and 3 or 4 DJs who have to play the same 16 songs over and over changing up every two weeks and sound bored out of their minds or forced fake excitement when they do the announcing. The ratings have plummeted since the take-over. (It was one of the highest rated stations before). All the main people (including management), who knew what they were doing were let go immediately and replaced with people who just needed a job. (Most of them moved to another station that is the last of the heart of radio and there is no telling when Clear Channel will swoop in on them). There are also requirements for EBS (Emergency Broadcast System) that must be met for all radio stations. (Naturally this doesn’t apply to the internet stations, but I’m finishing a point). It is interesting to note that Clear Channel stations are not obligated to have this important public service and they don’t. So if you are listening to a Clear Channel station and there is a natural disaster or warning, you won’t know about it. Clear channel is about ownership, corporate control and advertising revenue and that is it.
Now guess who is one of the parties in the leadership of the Beats service….yup, Clear Channel.
Click to expand...


To the best of my knowledge, no public broadcaster or broadcast organization is exempt from complying with the EAS (emergency alert system). I believe there have been a few technical screw ups with disaster notifications from the Clear Channel side over the years, yes and that would appear to be due to their automated-everything approach rather than having physical bodies running the show.

Please post more information that solidifies your statement that Clear Channel is not obligated to participate in EAS. I find it very interesting and strange if that is indeed fact. I'm not defending Clear Channel Communications, just trying to understand how they could be exempt.

Thanks,
Mike

p.s. and I meant "program director", not "radio station director" in my earlier post. Woops.
 
MikeCh said:
To the best of my knowledge, no public broadcaster or broadcast organization is exempt from complying with the EAS (emergency alert system). I believe there have been a few technical screw ups with disaster notifications from the Clear Channel side over the years, yes and that would appear to be due to their automated-everything approach rather than having physical bodies running the show.

Please post more information that solidifies your statement that Clear Channel is not obligated to participate in EAS. I find it very interesting and strange if that is indeed fact. I'm not defending Clear Channel Communications, just trying to understand how they could be exempt.

Thanks,
Mike

p.s. and I meant "program director", not "radio station director" in my earlier post. Woops.
Click to expand...

Well, the only other info I have on EAS requirements and ClearChannel is that I know (if I recall correctly) that EAS requires a minimum of twice monthly test run, but I have never heard it done on a ClearChannel station. This could be that I just am not tuned in at the time they do it, but I still find it suspicious that I have never heard it done over the years on a clear channel station. (Granted I stopped listening to radio 2 years ago). You are correct about the "technical screw-ups" though.
I'll see if I can get any written info on compliance with EAS and Clear Channel regarding exemption. It may be true for certain states or something, although I believe it's a federal law. However, the FCC has just been all but taken down a few days ago by court ruling (FCC no longer has any teeth in other words) so the whole field will be changing soon and not for the better.
 
Ok, that's scary. I did find a large document regarding Clear Channel's attempt to file an exception from having to comply with EAS regulations in Texas. I think it's too large an item to post here and somewhat outside topic. However, a google search will bring it up...that's how I found it.
 
NorthStar said:
Eric, you can always post the link.
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Oh yeah, I forgot. Now I can't find the damn thing. At any rate further reading reveals that the attempt failed of course and that Clear Channel must comply which makes sense. What doesn't make sense is any attempt by anyone in broadcast media to even ask for exemption from such a thing. To their credit, they do keep up on those amber alerts though.
Clear Channel also claims itself as the voice of a political party, that right there is enough to warrant lots of questioning.
 
Wow! Way too aggressive for me! I got an email from Beats welcoming me to the service! I canceled MOG 01/16/14 and had it confirmed the same day. I sent them a request to make sure I have no account and to cease and desist from further attempts to get me to join.
 
Now with the demise of MOG we enter another phase in the streaming wars. As a former MOG subscriber that leaves me in somewhat a bind. So it became time to see what other services were out there to replace my beloved MOG.

While MOG offered $5 and $10 per month plans, the only difference was mobile use for $10/month. Sound quality was as good as it gets for streaming with either plan. The MOG catalog was huge and growing. The interface was streamlined, clean and efficient. Search results were always accurate and one could do searches by artist, album, song separately. Recommendations were done by mathematical algorithm and pretty good. What was more accurate were the "like artists" recommendations. Also (important to owners) was that MOG was available on the Squeezebox Touch and on most networked receivers.

I personally never used MOG for anything but searching for albums and listening to them for possible purchase which is the way I use streaming service exclusively. I was not and am not really into radio simulation or recommendations. I basically like to research, but that's just me.


So now Beats has taken over MOG and changed it completely and not necessarily for the better. While they kept the same streaming rate and SQ as MOG (so far), that is the only thing that did not change. What supposedly sets Beats apart is the "human" curation as opposed to mathematical algorithms, but I personally find mathematical algorithms to be more accurate than human curation because there are no biases or genre errors to get in the way and throw things off. (I never look at recommendations myself anyway, I don't find them of any use).
After looking as deep as possible at Beats Music (which included an informative email from the CEO giving me details as to why someone like myself would not find Beats to my liking...this came after months of talking to staff, fighting to get info that effected me and telling them what I was getting from press releases, interviews and their caginess, none of which should have been necessary, but that's the game they play. It was grueling work, but as a MOG subscriber I owed it not only to myself to find out true info and what was going on, but also to all other MOG subscribers).

In essence it turns out that the new Beats Music service is basically more a social media thing than a pure music service. As the CEO explained to me to paraphrase, while the service is there and albums available, it's really kind of like facebook with a music theme at it's core and mainly geared towards mobile devices. The catalog is also slowly moving towards favoring hip-hop, rap and indie pop more than other genres.
The interface is very cluttered and it is not currently working on PC (broke down after one week), but I am told they will be working on it in near future, but that is merely a promise without backing.
Seeing as how that is useless to me and I need or want no part of it (not to mention the involvement of two of my enemies - AT&T and Clear Channel), it was time to see what other services were out there hoping to find something with just a search field and a list as that is all I need.


After looking at Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio & Xboxmusic, I have decided to go with Spotify. That said it was not an easy decision made in a minute. The problem was that I liked both Xboxmusic and Spotify.

Spotify
Pros: Sound quality (supposedly 320kps like MOG with subscription , although I might mention that SQ for my streaming purposes is not all that important). Catalog - seems a bit larger than Xboxmusic.
Works on Squeezebox Touch and networked receivers

Cons: Somewhat cluttered interface, quirky search function and labor intensive results screens


Xboxmusic

Pros: Sound quality (uses a different format than MP3 and sounds nearly equally good as 320kps MP3s, plays a little bit better direct from PC unlike MP3s which are fatiguing after a short time without a good dac. Nice clean interface and solid search function

Cons: Slightly smaller catalog, no squeezebox or networked receiver support. No or very lacking customer support to speak of.


I'm hoping to use Xboxmusic in it's free version along with a subscription to Spotify so I can utilize the pros of each without having to pay for more than one service, which is ludicrous at this point, not to mention wasteful.
 
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