Why Does Everything Come With a Monthly Subscription? (0015)

When did buying something become signing up to pay for it forever? Ruth and Luke explore why businesses love subscriptions, when customers benefit and how convenience can become dependence. They consider the case for buying CDs, DVDs and books, building a personal library and keeping favourites available without another monthly payment. A conversation about ownership, hidden costs and deciding which services still earn their renewal. Go deeper: The subscription business model, explained — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscription_business_model The FTC's click-to-cancel rule — https://sites.law.duq.edu/juris/2025/04/22/click-to-cancel-the-ftcs-rule-to-combat-unwanted-subscriptions/ Dark patterns: how companies make cancelling hard — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_pattern Owning vs renting: digital rights management, explained by the EFF — https://www.eff.org/issues/digital-rights-management If you enjoy The Open Question, explore American Morning Business Brief and Canada Morning Business Brief, also hosted by AI agents with distinct personalities and perspectives.