Apple shuts down Lala.com
04-30-10 | 03:01 PM
#1
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Apple shuts down Lala.com
Lala music service shutting down
11:35 AM
Lala is shutting down, just a few months after Apple purchased the online music service, reads an update on its website.
Members will have access to the service until May 31. A notice at Lala.com outlines a variety of refunds/credits being offered.
Lala is a streaming and download service that offers a sort of "digital locker" for your tunes. It sells tracks as MP3s for download, or for a few pennies, members could by a "Web song" version that granted you the right to listen over and over again online, but not download.
Lala has morphed through several different visions since being founded by entrepreneur Bill Nguyen. Apple bought it in December, resulting in much discussion that it could signal Apple's entry into a subscription music service. Apple has not discussed its plans.
Lala members who have bought Web songs are being offered a credit in the same amount to use at Apple's iTunes store. You can log in to Lala.com for more details.
http://content.usatoday.com/communit...usic-service/1
11:35 AM
Lala is shutting down, just a few months after Apple purchased the online music service, reads an update on its website.
Members will have access to the service until May 31. A notice at Lala.com outlines a variety of refunds/credits being offered.
Lala is a streaming and download service that offers a sort of "digital locker" for your tunes. It sells tracks as MP3s for download, or for a few pennies, members could by a "Web song" version that granted you the right to listen over and over again online, but not download.
Lala has morphed through several different visions since being founded by entrepreneur Bill Nguyen. Apple bought it in December, resulting in much discussion that it could signal Apple's entry into a subscription music service. Apple has not discussed its plans.
Lala members who have bought Web songs are being offered a credit in the same amount to use at Apple's iTunes store. You can log in to Lala.com for more details.
http://content.usatoday.com/communit...usic-service/1
Obligatory "Simpsons" reference:
"Buy 'em out, boys."
04-30-10 | 03:25 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
Meh, good riddance. They were great when they were just a trading sight. And then they lost their way. I ended up losing close to 10 CD credits, for which I was not compensated in any way.
04-30-10 | 03:26 PM
#3
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
[Obligatory spelling gripe]
members could by a "Web song" version
[/Obligatory spelling gripe]
edit: that's directed at USA Today not the OP
members could by a "Web song" version
[/Obligatory spelling gripe]
edit: that's directed at USA Today not the OP
Last edited by Quatermass; 04-30-10 at 03:29 PM.
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04-30-10 | 04:40 PM
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04-30-10 | 05:29 PM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
I still have the original credits they gave me. It was nice to listen to a single or album in its entirely free of charge even if it was only once. Are there other sites that let you do this?
04-30-10 | 06:22 PM
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From: Portland, OR
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
About the only thing they are good for now is hearing new music embedded in Pitchfork's reviews.
Their partnership with Newbury comics to distribute physical CDs was really nice though... cheapest prices on the web.
04-30-10 | 06:58 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
Spotify, and the playcount is unlimted... but it's not officially available in North America yet. Although, with the announcement of Lala shutting down, I'm guessing that the release of Spotify is in the near future, and Apple is planning their own online music service based on Lala's technology.
Last edited by Dan; 05-01-10 at 09:51 AM.
04-30-10 | 09:54 PM
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From: Texas
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
Heh... which ever one shows my disappointment of them shutting down! :-)
I got into the site more in the past few months after I started uploading/matching my previously owned tracks (mp3/m4a files on my pc). This made my library easy to access from work and from friend's computers. And it also scrobbled plays directly to last.fm seamlessly.
Essentially, [some of] my music had been in the cloud for a while...but that cloud is going to go away. Sucks, but I guess I am not out any money...so I can't complain as much as others as far as that goes.
I got into the site more in the past few months after I started uploading/matching my previously owned tracks (mp3/m4a files on my pc). This made my library easy to access from work and from friend's computers. And it also scrobbled plays directly to last.fm seamlessly.
Essentially, [some of] my music had been in the cloud for a while...but that cloud is going to go away. Sucks, but I guess I am not out any money...so I can't complain as much as others as far as that goes.
04-30-10 | 10:49 PM
#12
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
I e-mailed them awhile back about the CDs I was owed when they announced the trading was officially dead and they compensated me with download credits. In my opinion I shouldn't have had to ask though. They should have done that automatically.
05-01-10 | 04:17 AM
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From: Atlanta
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
I don't even know if I have credits. I do know I ended up with more CDs sent than received, but I got so many fantastic deals (OOP discs for my crap CDs) that I don't really care. Bye Lala! I adored you for a short time.
05-01-10 | 12:17 PM
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From: Portland, OR
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
Anyone remember Switch House that was bought & dismantled by Amazon?
Lala was a new entity that promised hope for those of us who wanted an official forum to trade physical music.
05-02-10 | 01:46 AM
#18
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Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
Good riddance. It turned to crap ever since they dumped the trading.
05-02-10 | 05:09 AM
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From: Atlanta
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
What did Apple pay for Lala? Bill, the owner of Lala, was swimming in cash from previous website startups.
edit: Okay, looks like Apple paid $80 million and Lala spent/owed $35 million. Dang. Seems they were worth $200 million a few years ago.
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/2009...e-really-paid/
edit: Okay, looks like Apple paid $80 million and Lala spent/owed $35 million. Dang. Seems they were worth $200 million a few years ago.
http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/2009...e-really-paid/
Last edited by atlantamoi; 05-02-10 at 05:12 AM.
05-02-10 | 06:13 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
Count me in with the group that traded the hell out of that site, but never used the online streaming aspect. Countless good albums were sent my way, and I enjoyed looking for bulk cd buys at garage sales for trade fodder.
Goodbye, lala, I haven't used you in years.
Goodbye, lala, I haven't used you in years.
05-03-10 | 07:55 PM
#21
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Apple shuts down Lala.com
-jason
