Every week, we bring you the top stories and analyses from the global Subscription Economy.
Spotify expands Premium Duo subscription tier aimed at couples to U.S., India, dozens of other markets
Excerpt from an article by Manish Singh on TechCrunch
Spotify today announced it is expanding Premium Duo, a feature that allows two people who live at the same place — say couples or flatmates — to share one subscription plan while maintaining their own individual accounts, to dozens of new markets.
At a glance, it appears that Premium Duo is designed to help people save money and gain access to a shared playlist that represents music they both cherish.
Alex Norström, Spotify’s Chief Freemium Business Officer said, “With two individual Premium accounts, you can both listen independently, uninterrupted and get all of your personalized playlists and features tailored just for you. We are thrilled to bring this unique Spotify Premium plan to even more markets around the world.”
For more, read the full piece on TechCrunch
YouTube TV sharply increases monthly subscription to $64.99
Excerpt from an article by Chaim Gartenberg on The Verge
YouTube TV has announced that it’ll be raising its monthly price from $50 per month to $64.99 as the company starts to offer eight of ViacomCBS’s channels, which are available today: BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TV Land, and VH1.
The new price takes effect today for any new subscribers, while existing customers should see it on their next billing cycle (either on or after July 30th).
In a blog post announcing the new price and channels, YouTube’s VP of product management Christian Oestlien sympathizes that the increased cost is difficult for some of its members, but that the “new price reflects the rising cost of content and we also believe it reflects the complete value of YouTube TV, from our breadth of content to the features that are changing how we watch live TV.”
For more, read the full article on The Verge
Subscription-based Models In the Rental Car Industry Becoming a Trend
Excerpt from an article by Greg Moran on Entrepreneur
With the COVID-19 scare continuing to hover over the world, one thing is certain—social distancing has become a part of our lives and will remain so for months to come.
Our choice of mobility and transportation is no exception and should be such that they involve minimal physical contact.
In fact, rental cars might even be safer in today’s world with brands ensuring stringent hygiene and safety measures with the help of innovative technology.
They have also come up with subscription-based models that are affordable, convenient, and safe. Especially considering the current recession, car subscriptions can prove to be a better option than ride-hailing and as a more affordable and quicker way of acquiring a car, delivering a safe personal mobility replacement.
For more, read the full article on Entrepreneur
Sony’s move to sell its AI-embedded cameras under a SaaS model will help it capture more value
Excerpt from an article by Hirsh Chitkara on Business Insider
In a bid to capture more value within its Imaging & Sensing Solutions division, Sony intends to sell its proprietary AI-embedded cameras under a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model.
Sony can capture more value under the SaaS model than it would if it were to just sell the AI-embedded cameras as hardware.
In its May 2020 corporate strategy meeting, Sony noted that “image sensors will be key devices in the AI era.” The onset of the AI era presents Sony with an opportunity to move into a higher-margin business segment.
For more, read the full article on Business Insider
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