Apple to drop iTunes Plus songs to 99 cents, add new indie labels

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:59 PM EDT

Article Source: Ars Technica

technology, music, apple, software, itunes, drm, os-x, macs, emi, itunes-plus

Apple plans to expand iTunes Plus to include certain indie music labels starting Wednesday, October 17 (or sometime this week, at least). This tiny step is encouraging for those of us who like freedom with our music, but it sucks that more of the larger labels are still holding off from hopping on board. This expansion won't include all independent music labels just yet, although we're optimistic that more will be included in the future.

The bigger news on the iTunes Plus horizon, however, is that Apple plans to drop the price of all iTunes Plus tracks. Currently, each track is $1.29 while "normal" DRMed tracks are 99¢ apiece. That discrepancy will be no longer, as Apple will begin pricing all of its iTunes Plus songs at 99¢ apiece (DRMed tracks will also remain at 99¢).

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{"commentId":1102052,"authorDomain":"adamkemp"}

Adam Kemp

If DRM and non-DRM music costs the same then there is absolutely no reason to buy the DRM music anymore. Consumers don't want DRM. They only accept it because it is forced onto them.

{"commentId":1102052,"threadId":"162529","contentId":"1027547","authorDomain":"adamkemp"}

6 votes

#1 - Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":1102088,"authorDomain":"kyleb"}

Kyle Baxter

Yup, which makes it seem to me that Apple is trying to force the issue and get all of the labels to remove the DRM from their tracks. It will be a great day when it comes.

{"commentId":1102088,"threadId":"162529","contentId":"1027547","authorDomain":"kyleb"}

4 votes

#1.1 - Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":1102092,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

With the iTunes Plus at 256 kbps AAC encoding vs 128 kbps encoding on a good system or good earphone (i.e. not the cheap iPod ear buds) it clearly makes a much appreciated sound difference.

But the DRM is something I do not like in any way shape or form. The higher quality I love.

{"commentId":1102092,"threadId":"162529","contentId":"1027547","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

4 votes

#1.2 - Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":1102479,"authorDomain":"organist"}

organist

Yup, which makes it seem to me that Apple is trying to force the issue and get all of the labels to remove the DRM from their tracks. It will be a great day when it comes.

I wonder if it's the reverse. Because they'll still only be offering non-DRM music from those labels which allow it. I don't know how much of the price difference (if any) flowed back to the music labels, and whether that means that the labels will receive less money now due to the lowered price or not. But I don't see how this forces the issue with other labels, except over time, with the cumulative effect of customers trying it and finding Hey! I like this DRM-free stuff better! and then pressuring the labels.

{"commentId":1102479,"threadId":"162529","contentId":"1027547","authorDomain":"organist"}

#1.3 - Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:21 AM EDT

{"commentId":1102079,"authorDomain":"elvo86"}

Elliot Vos

Amazing! I can't wait to see which labels are hopping on. I wonder if they'll still charge for upgrades--I hope not.

I'm a little sad about paying the extra $0.30 for the tracks before, but at least it let the music labels know that we wanted the tracks. And now iTunes will be able to compete with Amazon, because an additional $0.10 is worth it for the iTunes experience, the higher quality (bitrate and format).

Wow, this is pretty much just darn awesome.

{"commentId":1102079,"threadId":"162529","contentId":"1027547","authorDomain":"elvo86"}

3 votes

#2 - Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:29 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"162529","isPrivate":false}

iTunes Plus Now Offers Over Two Million Tracks at Just 99 Cents	Apple	Wed Oct 17	4
AppleInsider \| Apple's iTunes Plus now world's largest DRM-free music catalog	Apple Insider	Wed Oct 17	0
Wine Review: iTunes 7.3 on Linux with Wine	wine-review.blogspot.com	Sat Oct 13	1

KYLE BAXTER

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Apple to drop iTunes Plus songs to 99 cents, add new indie labels

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