Apple/Starbucks Deal is Important

It took me a little while to digest yesterday’s iPod announcements, but now I think I know what I think… I think. Anyway, what has me the most jazzed is the new Wi-Fi iPod Touch (not alone there) and the Starbucks “Now Playing” feature. OK, I realize that the Starbucks integration looks, at first blush, kind of limited and useless. But the more I think about it the more I like it… not that I’m going to run out and buy the touch just just for that, but I do think this is glimpse of the future of music retail. Imagine this being rolled out beyond Starbucks… making it a business service targeted at retail, restaurants, bars, hotels, malls, and anywhere else that uses music as background. Hear a song, like a song, buy a song… no matter where, no matter when. The concept could even be extended beyond music retail… information about historical places, museums, art galleries, movie theaters… all available through Wi-Fi, downloaded straight to the device.

I’m not alone in my enthusiasm… check out what TUAW is saying:

Still think it’s silly? Imagine when ten retailers are on board. Or twenty. Or television networks. Grey’s Anatomy ends with a description of the week’s featured pop tune. Why not grab it then and there?

When this catches on, it will be big.

Big indeed… this will fundamentally change the music discovery process.