Apple announced some interesting changes to iTunes at the Macworld conference earlier this week - by May all iTunes music will be available in iTunes Plus.(insert snoring from everyone but me).
What makes this interesting?
Songs in iTunes Plus are DRM-free (digital rights management-free), which essentially is a geeky way of saying that Apple will have less control over the things you purchase.
In the current iTunes version, you buy 'fairplay' songs, which in 'patriot-act' style branding, are encrypted products with a bunch of restrictions attached to them. In short, its what makes it a big pain in the ass to transfer your iTunes library to a new computer, or to put songs you have purchased on iTunes onto another device. Personally, I think DRM-free should just be renamed, drama-free... More consumers would understand that, yes?
Also interesting is the break away from iTunes' iconic 99 cent pricing - and no, its not in response to a bad economy. Some tracks will be available for less (69 cents), and others for more (up to $1.29). While iTunes emphasizes that most of the music will be at a cheaper rate, most people think that the raised prices will be reserved for new music, likely in response to pressure from record companies to milk new releases for all they are worth.
Currently, nearly all of iTunes' songs (8 mil of 10 mil) are already in iTunes plus. Any feedback???
1 comment:
Finally, Apple is starting to "get it" when it comes to download-based music sales. And by "get it" I mean understanding that preemptively treating your customers like criminals isn't a great business model.
If only the RIAA and music industry at large had realized this and capitalized on the downloading revolution. Instead of shutting down websites and suing single mothers, they could have bought sites like Napster, Piratebay and Oink and offered them for a reasonable fee. When people know that their dollars are lining the pockets of their favorite artists rather than those of the CEO jet set, they are much more inclined to shell out the money. See "Radiohead" for more on this. :)
However, I still can't bring myself to pay for songs that are less than CD quality. If Apple started offering music on iTunes in the Apple Lossless format, they might get even more customers.
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