Sure, that's fine by me. Or even "video content is restricted to 240p unless you have a paid subscription, then you can see videos in 1080p". Right? It's 1000% possible to come up with totally fair business models that aren't so blatantly exploitative. Right now "the user is the product" on ANY free service.
Previously there was App.net, which was effectively "Twitter but you pay for access". It had a free tier which had very reasonable limits. It was actually super awesome, and it actually provided a whole identity platform, enabling 3rd party applications of different kinds (for example an Instagram-like, Favd[0]). Unfortunately it didn't pan out, not sure the whole backstory, but it was a really amazing platform and I would love to see more internet services like that.
That would be awesome. Right now, you usually get an even less favorable choice than that! For example with Spotify, you either use their app and see ads, or you pay and don't see ads, but still are forced to use their app.
That is probably a licensing requirement for the providers of the music. They likely require some form of DRM in their agreement with Spotify.
If anyone could make an App, how would Spotify be able to properly track song plays and whatever else they need in order to pay the rights holders?
Plus, someone would end up creating a 3rd party client that silently plays some song, unbeknownst to the user, in order to rack up plays and earn more money.
Previously there was App.net, which was effectively "Twitter but you pay for access". It had a free tier which had very reasonable limits. It was actually super awesome, and it actually provided a whole identity platform, enabling 3rd party applications of different kinds (for example an Instagram-like, Favd[0]). Unfortunately it didn't pan out, not sure the whole backstory, but it was a really amazing platform and I would love to see more internet services like that.
[0] https://www.eriksoderstrom.com/p/favd-app-nets-gateway-drug