Ning's New Price Plans

So Ning, the company that provides the platform for the RTYD Musicians  and Bands Fans & Industry networks is phasing out its free service, and introducing three new pricing plans. Basically, they'll want $199 annually from me to run each site, as part of their mid-priced package. On the plus side, they will be introducing the ability to sign-in with Facebook, Twitter or other authentication services, more text boxes, that I could be used to run fee-paying ads/links, as well as a couple of other functional additions.

Ning does have a $19.95 (annually) price plan, but it lacks some of the functionality that we have got used to including Facebook integration, Events and so on. On top of this, it only allows a maximum of 150 members, which is no good. I would also lose the right to use my own domain name. So that's out.

The Musicians' network has 500 members, many of whom, as you know are mostly absent. Maybe they check in from time to time but they do it without leaving a trace. They have little to offer in the way of news, blogs, discussions, information, reviews, musicians wanted ads, or whatever. They are members in name and profile only.

The Bands, Fans & Industry site has 254 members, 133 of which claim to be a band, though some of these appear to be individuals, and again many seem to have gone fishing.

All this starts in July, so there's time to think it over.

Do I suck it up myself? Or charge members a small fee to help cover costs?