Subscription-based companies are constantly changing and evolving. Here are updates on some of the stories we’ve covered over the last few months:
Ashley Madison: Hackers follow through on threats to expose personal data, reports Digital Trends. Earlier this week the Impact Team released private data on the dark web, exposing the personal information of millions of customers. The data includes names, contact information, credit card data, and sexual preferences. While the information is currently only available on the dark web, Digital Trends anticipates the data will be made publicly available.This is terrible news for Ashley Madison clients who use the site to cheat on their spouses, as well as Avid Life Media (ALM), the company that owns Ashley Madison and Established Men. We don’t see how ALM can rebound from this travesty, but this cautionary tale shows how critical it is to keep our customers’ data private. Read more about the original hack on our news site.Apple Music: A study by MusicWatch released earlier this week shows that user retention for Apple Music is low, says the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Of the 5,000 people surveyed, 48% of the users who have tried the service are no longer using it, and only 11% of iOS users have even tried the service. The study also revealed 64% of current Apple Music users said they are likely to subscribe when the 90-day free trial ends. Apple immediately countered the claim, telling The Verge that retention is at a respectable 79%. Who do you think is right? Read more about Apple Music’s launch and its early results on our news site.Microsoft: Last year Microsoft offered a smoking deal on new devices that featured Windows 8.1, allowing manufacturers to bundle a free one-year Microsoft Office 365 subscription with its products. Now that Microsoft is focused on Windows 10, it is phasing out that deal, though it is still available on computers, tablets and devices that come preloaded with Windows 8.1, reports Inferse. BTW, are we the only ones wondering why there isn’t a Windows 9? Check out our news site to learn how Microsoft is betting on the long play with its move toward subscription services.Netflix: Numerous news outlets, including Bidness, etc., reported this week that Netflix is increasing its prices for new subscribers in Europe, including the Netherlands, France and Germany. Pricing will increase about 10%, in an effort to boost revenue. With 23 million international Netflix subscribers, experts do not expect the price change to slow growth in the Eurozone. Visit our Subscription Insider news site for an update on Netflix and its second quarter earnings for 2015.The Economist: Following its recent sale of the Financial Times to the Nikkei Group, Pearson is leaving the publishing business with the sale of its 50% share in The Economist, says The Atlantic. Pearson is selling its 50% stake to The Economist’s other shareholders for $730 million. Exor, an Italian company that previously owned 4.7% of The Economist Group’s shares, will pay $446 million of the acquisition costs, boosting its ownership to 43.4%. According to The Atlantic, Pearson wants to focus on its core business – education – which includes a 47% stake in Penguin Random House.
