Most Pro Tools users hated the fact that Avid introduced a subscription tier for the latest version, but this looks like a growing trend in audio software of all kinds.

Here a quick look into the future and how this may effect your software decisions. 

4. Tablets have leveled off. A few years ago the great hope was that audio production would migrate to the tablet, which would bring a new round of audio software sales. That hasn't happened as most producer/engineer/musicians learned that a tablet is a better output device than input device.

5. It's an economic lifeline. For most developers, once they make a sale they never see another dollar from the customer again. A subscription-based business model would mean that they'd see a steadier monthly income, and if the monthly fee was reasonable, even some growth as more people would sample the goods.

6. It will be gradual though. You'll start to see "buy or subscribe" tiers (like Exponential Audio has) that will ease the developer and the customer into the subscription model, rather than making it a take-it-or-leave-it decision.

7. It's a trend that will eventually reverse. It's going to take a while before subscription audio software becomes ubiquitous, but then you'll see a some renegade developer with a "buy it and own it" deal that will turn the industry back the other way again.

Audio software subscription is a trend that will you'll see more and more, starting at Winter NAMM in January. Avid, Slate Digital, McDSP and Exponential Audio (among others) are already there with more to follow.

As with everything, there will be winners and losers, both on the developer and the consumer side.