The Dilemma of Releasing a Music Streaming App

I've been working on a new app—a Progressive Web App (PWA) that's a music streaming service. Despite its success and my personal enjoyment of using it daily, I hesitate to release it. Why? It's due to a counterintuitive principle about how users perceive utility apps.

User Perception of Utility Apps

This principle was ingrained in me during my time at HBO. Certain apps are expected to function flawlessly, yet users don't necessarily care about the app itself. These apps serve as conduits to other content, and as such, they tend to fade into the background. Unlike video games or entertainment media, users don't love the app; they love what it delivers. Consequently, they don't leave reviews or provide feedback. Essentially, you receive no accolades for a perfect experience—it's a negative-sum game.

The Review Conundrum

When I worked at HBO, I used a tool to aggregate reviews for our app and those of competitors. A common pattern emerged: music streaming apps rarely receive five-star reviews for normal, uneventful experiences. Instead, one-star reviews dominate, often from users who have had a minor negative experience. These are people who have paid for the app for years, use it regularly, and enjoy it 99% of the time. Yet, a small issue, like a subtitle color being slightly off, can lead to scathing reviews.

As a developer, reading these reviews can be perplexing. Given the challenges involved in creating a functional app, it's hard to understand why such minor issues warrant negative feedback. However, this is the reality for utility apps: users give zero points for success because they expect perfection.

The Harsh Reality of App Reviews

In the app world, users expect a flawless experience in exchange for their payment. They don't reward you for consistently excellent performance; instead, they focus on the one negative experience. This can render an app seemingly worthless and irredeemable in their eyes. The phrase "I'd give this app zero stars if I could" is a common refrain in reviews, often over trivial issues that are significant to a small audience.

The Decision to Release

This is why, despite building a streaming app that I love, I might never release it beyond a small group of users. I may continue to use it for years without making it public. It's a decision influenced by the understanding that in the world of utility apps, the review scale feels like it ranges from zero to negative five.

Thought I'd share this insight.

Streaming Apps get zero credit for success

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