💳 The $16.99 Dilemma: When Listeners Choose Convenience Over Community

Let’s talk about it.

People pay for Apple Music and Spotify every single month — no hesitation.

Here’s what they spend:

🎵 Apple Music:

• Student: $5.99/month

• Individual: $10.99/month

• Family: $16.99/month

• Apple One Premier bundle (includes Apple Music): $37.95/month

🎧 Spotify Premium:

• Student: $5.99/month

• Individual: $11.99/month

• Duo: $16.99/month

• Family: $19.99/month

That’s up to $480 a year on playlists they didn’t create, delivered by algorithms that don’t know their taste — or their name.

And yet, platforms like Boss Global Radio— built from scratch, powered by real people, and created to uplift overlooked music — are expected to operate on nothing but vibes.

We’ve seen it time and again: You can champion the energy… But when it comes to support? Crickets. Merch drop? Scrolled past. Blog feature? Barely a like. Request form? Flooded. App link? Ignored.

And still, we show up.

We mix. We program. We host indie artists, throwbacks, and everything the mainstream skips. We pay license fees. We maintain infrastructure. We answer DMs and drop liners. We don’t chase hype — we build real moments.

But here's the truth: support has to be mutual. Because you can’t stream us for free every day and call it love if you never share, shout us out, or give back.

This isn't a guilt trip — it’s a reality check.

BGR is a legitimate global platform. And while big-name apps have the budget and bots to stay running forever, indie media outlets survive on reciprocity— not reach.

So next time you renew Spotify for $19.99 or Apple for $37.95, remember: you’ve got a platform right here that’s live, licensed, and leading. One that actually listens when you speak. One that doesn't just play music — it moves culture.

And beyond the platforms, licenses, and tech — this station runs on something deeper: time, energy, focus, and the emotional weight of showing up when others just take. That cost doesn’t show on paper, but I feel it every day.

And all we ask is for that same energy in return.