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Today's a big day for music listeners. Or, is it? Spotify, the Sweden-based cloud music service, is making its American debut. Given its vast popularity across the pond -- over 10 million Europeans have registered for the service -- and its partnership with that other well-trafficked Internet site, Facebook, its U.S. success seems imminent.
But, this wouldn't be the first time a European trend didn't exactly translate in the U.S. Monarchy; the metric system; Kate Price; Travis; they all made it big over there, but fell flat in America. The English are used to this sort of thing, they almost expect Spotify to fail, as The Telegraph's Emma Barnett, notes "It’s like watching one of our favourite bands trying to crack the US music market – we will them to succeed but are not surprised when they regularly don’t."
And, Spotify may have a harder time than a British pop band: It has lots of competition in an already saturated market. U.S. techies are excited for a new music toy, but the average American already has a cloud service of choice. "Spotify’s launch has been eagerly awaited by early technology adopters in the US." Contines Barnett, "However, it is entering a crowded and well-established marketplace with services like Rhapsody, Mog and Pandora, already occupying lots of mindshare and music lovers’ time."