Sometimes I need loud power pop to drive my writing. While working on a story about Windows 10 for BetaNews, I selected R5 to stream from Apple Music—and not for the first time. I started with track No. 6, “Smile”, which is among the two highest-rated tracks from album “Sometime Last Night“. But today, rather than the full song, I get a 90-second preview.
What the frak?
Depending on how I navigate to the song, the play time lists as 1:30 or 3:21. But what streams is the same 90-second excerpt you would get from iTunes Store. Licensing terms do change, and I wouldn’t be shocked for a popular song to be pulled from streaming, particularly during the three months when Apple Music is free to everyone and compensation to artists or labels rather puny.
But if terms changed, I worry about bait-and-switch tactics for future store behavior. Hook listeners on a song, then pull it such that to continue listening they have to buy. Because I am not (as of yet) writing a news story, I didn’t contact Apple about this thing, which could be a quirk. I start with this quickie post, since my priority is finishing the Microsoft post, to see if anyone else experiences the same truncation.
BTW, I love every song on the new R5 album. “Do It Again” is my current fav.
Update, the next day: “Smile” is back. Musta been a glitch.