Spotify -- What Am I Missing? And, What About Li'l Old Rhapsody?

In its September 17th issue, Rolling Stone magazine writes a feature piece about Spotify, an online music subscription service that it calls a "European streaming sensation." In the article, writer Steve Knopper lusciously praises Spotify as virtually being the second coming for the beleaguered music industry -- "it could represent the strongest challenge yet to iTunes' dominance in the digital music market."

What does Rolling Stone cite as the benchmarks for such exalted praise?

First, unlimited access to over 6 million tracks on demand for a mere $14/month -- in "CD quality" no less!

And, second -- and more importantly in the writer's mind -- portability! The ability to have all 6 million tracks available on demand on the iPhone via the Spotify app available at the iPhone app store.

Now, THAT most assuredly is cool.

But, how about little old domestically based Rhapsody? Remember Rhapsody? Rob Glaser's oft-overlooked baby that has been in the game for years and years -- and which is now a joint venture between MTV and Real -- and which also has its own app for the iPhone (as I just recently wrote) and does the same thing for about the same price!

So, what am I missing here? Why is Spotify so cool, when Rhapsody is so NOT cool in the eyes of many (although I am -- and have been -- a believer in Rhapsody and other on demand subscription services for years).

Let me know because -- at this moment in time -- I believe that the writer's myopic focus on Spotify is NOT spot on. Seems to me that he was pitched a PR story and neglected to spend 10 minutes exploring the overall digital music landscape ...