iTunes to drop prices, DRM protection
This just in from Macworld, yesterday's San Francisco-based celebration of all things Apple...
This coming April, iTunes, which currently charges 99 cents per song, will lower a "vast majority" of its single-song prices to 69 cents, although some popular tracks could remain at 99 cents or go up as high as $1.29. Most albums will be sold at $9.99.
Hmmm, I'm thinking now you'll be able to get, say, Journey or John Waite for lower prices (rejoice, '80s fans!), but Rihanna or John Mayer could cost you more. We'll have to wait and see...
Also, Apple will drop DRM -- digital rights management -- copy protection from a "vast majority" of its 8-million song catalog; among other bummers, DRM often limited whether you could copy a song onto a CD or another computer (and, for that matter, how many times you could copy said song). Previously, music from EMI and several independent labels weren't subject to DRM. Now material from three major music honchos --
I'm thinking this is extremely good news, because now I can send out even more copies of SD's party CDs! Yep, just like THIS ONE, which one critic raved "I feel all cold, like I'll never be happy again."
For more on Apple-mania, go HERE.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Nothing wrong with AAC, Ray. And, increase market share??? Isn't iTunes already #1?? I think its ease of use and market dominance speaks for itself. Go back to Vista, dude.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | January 08, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Hey, check it out:
Okkervil River plays tonight on Letterman.
Posted by: V93KI | January 07, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Good and bad news. Some stuff will be cheaper to get, but they will make up the difference with the higher priced new releases. Doesn't sound like they're doing favors for anyone.
Posted by: Bassnote | January 07, 2009 at 03:52 PM
Looks like I'm f@@ked either way.
Posted by: Joe | January 07, 2009 at 02:44 PM
Joe, I don't think that TicketBastard is dropping prices. I think they are rolling their added charges into the ticket price, so you don't end up paying 69.55 for a 50 dollar ticket. Now you will pay 69.55 for a 69.55 ticket.
Posted by: sparky | January 07, 2009 at 02:20 PM
This is indeed good news. I have bought music at Walmart and Amazon (as opposed to iTunes) solely based on the lack of DRM.
Now, if Apple would drop the AAC format and create a media player that doesn't stink (i.e. iTunes), they could really increase their market share.
Posted by: Ray | January 07, 2009 at 02:12 PM
Yes, and other great news is that TICKETMASTER Concert prices will fall in 2009.
Posted by: Joe | January 07, 2009 at 01:23 PM