this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2026
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Beyond the obvious problem of paying but not owning, it's impossible to watch/listen without that data being stored on a massive corporation's server and likely sold to hundreds of advertisers. Last I saw Spotify had over 300 venders they share data with. I've seen sites with over 1000.
So you're not only paying for something you don't own, but you're also paying to have a larger profile in the surveillance capitalism machine.
yeah, this is the part that really worries me. Ads are fine IMO, psychological profiling not so much. I used to hear "if you're not paying, you're the product," but now you're the product even if you are paying.
By the way, are any of the other streaming services better than Spotify for not having your data sold to third parties?
RE "If you're not paying, you're the product," also doesn't always apply when it comes to not paying EG: Linux and other FOSS products.
Not that I know of, unless self-hosting. I've gone back to ripping CDs and sometimes buying DRM-free HQ audio. Probably getting my purchases profiled, but at least I can download it and no one else has to know when, what, & how much I'm listening to.
For easier access I have a Jellyfin server on my home network. I plan to switch to navidrome or similar for a better, dedicated music experience as well as setting up secure access over the internet for me and my friends and family.