Title: Converting music streaming free users to paid subscribers: social influence or hedonic performance

Authors: Charlie C. Chen; Steven Leon; Makoto Nakayama

Addresses: Department of CIS and SCM, Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, ASU Box 32049, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA ' Department of CIS and SCM, Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, ASU Box 32049, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA ' College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM), DePaul University, 243 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604, USA

Abstract: In order to increase revenues and sustain business, the music industry is directing efforts into increasing paid subscription by converting free listeners into paid subscribers. However, most companies are struggling with these attempts because they lack a clear understanding of the psychological and social purchase motivations of consumers. This study compares and contrasts the two different purchase motivations of consumers: social influence and hedonic performance expectancy. A survey was conducted with 243 users of on-demand music streaming services. Our data analysis shows that social influence impacts consumer attitudes towards music streaming, which in turn drive purchase intention. On the other hand, continuance intention of paid music streaming is driven by hedonic performance expectancy of consumers, not consumer attitude. These results imply that the music industry needs to differentiate its approach to prospective and current customers of music streaming services.

Keywords: music streaming service; critical mass; social influence; hedonic expectation; purchase intention; continuance intention.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2018.094870

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2018 Vol.14 No.2, pp.128 - 145

Received: 25 Jan 2018
Accepted: 25 Apr 2018
Published online: 25 Sep 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article