Get album does not give whole album

[Dmitri]

The 'get album' purchase button is a bit misleading. For an album where one or more tracks are not available for individual purchase, those tracks are also not included in an album purchase. 'Get album' implies that all album tracks will be purchased. Contrast amazon where an album purchase includes all 'album only' tracks. Customers should be made aware of this and not allowed to believe they will get all album tracks.

[Jude]

Hi Dmitri,

I didn't know there were any of these. Could you give a link to the album ?

(Right-click album title; Choose "Copy HTTP link")

[Dmitri]

Hi Jude

There are loads, usually where the sale of the longer tracks is blocked by the copyright holder - here's on: Charlie Rouse – Yeah! + We Paid Our Dues! + Takin' care of Business + Gettin' Into Somethin'

Here's another: Bohuslav Martinů – Martinů: The 6 Symphonies

I think it's kind of clear how this has come about, but it is a pity and could be misleading.

[Stupify]

You actually linked to playlists there. However, the entire albums seem to be available for me in Finland.

Here's another example for Jude: Deadmau5 – 4x4=12

The first track (which, I believe, is just a gapless mix of all the songs) is unavailable and clicking "Get Album" will show me that it's going to buy all tracks except the unavailable one. Even though you can see that it's missing on the purchase window, calling the button "Get Album" is quite misleading when everything isn't available.

[Dmitri]

In fact I carefully liked to the album, but my playlist address evidently came through. First point, though, is that the get album button showed in the view I had. Second, here is the link to the first album I named - I have deleted my playlist.

Charlie Rouse – Yeah! + We Paid Our Dues! + Takin' care of Business + Gettin' Into Somethin'

The thing to notice here is that the 'get' button shows for the longest track, but if you try to get it individually, it says you can't and the button disappears. If you do 'get album' you get only 18 not 19 tracks. If you hadn't as I did tested every track you would not know until after the download.

[Stupify]

Alright, I can see that now. For me the track "Blues for JP" is streamable but not buyable.

[Peter__]

Same for me! That is very strange. 

I'm guessing this is an issue being caused by Spotify because it works on a unit price per track. You never buy an "album" as such, but just pay a flat rate for each song on the album. 

If you look on 7digital (Spotify's partner) or even Amazon MP3 Store the track in question is only available to download as part of the album, not as an individual track like Spotify purchases tracks.

Peter

[Dmitri]

hammeh - yes you are right - it is a function of the pricing system

why have a 'get album' button, though, if they aren't actually selling albums and you don't necessarily get all album tracks?

maybe it would be better to have a proper album function - so you get all the tracks for a set price and you don't overpay for albums with lots of short tracks.

After all, everything is already displayed as albums and I think a lot of people still like to buy albums and not just tracks - why channel customers to rivals?

[Peter__]

I think the get album button is just to make a fast way to download all the tracks so you don't have to do them one at a time. 

I guess thats just the way Spotify have designed their system to work, I guess it makes sense in some respects. Also, for most albums the get album button will select all the tracks, just certain songs by a few select artists have "album" only tracks. 

Peter

[Dmitri]

Ah but if you like jazz and classical there are many albums with longer tracks that are not for sale. Maybe those areas are less important for Spotify - in any case it is the decision of the owners to operate in this way. Still, 'get album' should mean just that.