joelonsoftware.com— Joel Spolsky explains why it is not Apple, but the recording industry that wants to raise the prices of songs in iTunes. And its not because they want to make a premium off of hot songs.
Nov 18, 2005View in Crawl 4
Here's a thought...Since iTunes came on-line and the cost has been the same for all tunes across the board, people have been downloading (and paying for) what the record companies have not been pushing (ie they have not been able to control demand the the typical manner to which they have become accustomed). The more conspiracy theoretical among us might also conclude that some of these older record deals were negotiated under more favorable terms, thus the record companies may not see as much profit as they might expect to see under newer deals. The more practical minded might conclude the the record companies are just upset that their marketing dollars are being wasted. The cynical among us (and that should be the vast majority by now) can safely assume that the record companies want more $$s so they can shove insipid crap down the throats of consumers... Yes, I think we can all agree that this is their motivation.
This will be very easy to curb. And I mean VERY easy.iTunes has become a staple of the music industry. The record companies would LOSE money if they weren't allowed to distribute via iTunes.Besides that, all iTunes has to do is threaten to allow artists to cut out the middleman and distribute directly through iTunes instead of via the record labels.
"I hope that Steve Jobs actually just goes to sites like this that comment on this type of thing, and then the next time record labels come to him he can be like:You ever do marketing analysis? well i have been doing some and it looks like people are completely against this and i dont think we should do it. Many of these people make good points, raise the price your going to cause costumers to become pirates again.record labels would respond with WE WANT MORE MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY."rofl"Its times like this I wish Apple could actually get in the record industry and just have the artists come to them, it would be a no brainer. Artist get more money, which most of them should be getting, Apple gets to say screw off to the record labels.I think we need to start a petition to have the Beatles remove their lawsuit against Apple. They could be partners."I've thought of that before, and honestly I'm somewhat impressed that Apple is not a label by now. ie: BLack Eye Peas, U2, Gorillaz, this bands are OK and seem as 'too Apple-friendly' :D
If you think about the U2 iPod and the rumored Madonna iPod, Apple is slowly moving to make deals directly with artists regarding distribution. As more people use iTunes and less buy CD's they will become a digital label in some sense without the headaches of being a real label.
if this issue about rasing the music from the 0.99 cent into 1.29it's tottaly unfair. I am new member of itunes, i always purchase song from their store because i'm happy of the price but now, the itunes raise the amount of the songs, their business strategy will be destroyed, i think, the 70% of the members of the itunes store are thinking of going back again into a pirate, me also, i am a pirate user before but, of think APPLE! of the 99 cents, please return that price, it is the sake of your store!
nick_circostaNov 19, 2005
I like the way this guy thinks :)
Closed AccountNov 19, 2005
Here's a thought...Since iTunes came on-line and the cost has been the same for all tunes across the board, people have been downloading (and paying for) what the record companies have not been pushing (ie they have not been able to control demand the the typical manner to which they have become accustomed). The more conspiracy theoretical among us might also conclude that some of these older record deals were negotiated under more favorable terms, thus the record companies may not see as much profit as they might expect to see under newer deals. The more practical minded might conclude the the record companies are just upset that their marketing dollars are being wasted. The cynical among us (and that should be the vast majority by now) can safely assume that the record companies want more $$s so they can shove insipid crap down the throats of consumers... Yes, I think we can all agree that this is their motivation.
specialk2hzNov 19, 2005
that was a damn good article..
reinmasamuriNov 19, 2005
This will be very easy to curb. And I mean VERY easy.iTunes has become a staple of the music industry. The record companies would LOSE money if they weren't allowed to distribute via iTunes.Besides that, all iTunes has to do is threaten to allow artists to cut out the middleman and distribute directly through iTunes instead of via the record labels.
incognitoNov 19, 2005
You record company spokeshole.NO DIGG YOU FRAUD
anagamiNov 20, 2005
"I hope that Steve Jobs actually just goes to sites like this that comment on this type of thing, and then the next time record labels come to him he can be like:You ever do marketing analysis? well i have been doing some and it looks like people are completely against this and i dont think we should do it. Many of these people make good points, raise the price your going to cause costumers to become pirates again.record labels would respond with WE WANT MORE MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY."rofl"Its times like this I wish Apple could actually get in the record industry and just have the artists come to them, it would be a no brainer. Artist get more money, which most of them should be getting, Apple gets to say screw off to the record labels.I think we need to start a petition to have the Beatles remove their lawsuit against Apple. They could be partners."I've thought of that before, and honestly I'm somewhat impressed that Apple is not a label by now. ie: BLack Eye Peas, U2, Gorillaz, this bands are OK and seem as 'too Apple-friendly' :D
nanoguyNov 20, 2005
If you think about the U2 iPod and the rumored Madonna iPod, Apple is slowly moving to make deals directly with artists regarding distribution. As more people use iTunes and less buy CD's they will become a digital label in some sense without the headaches of being a real label.
diggnationdevonNov 21, 2005
They can forget it. Raise the prices people are going to go back to file-sharing. 99 cents is a fair price.
jwalk81980Nov 21, 2005
It makes a lot of sense. RIAA needs to die.
addictedgirlApr 10, 2009
if this issue about rasing the music from the 0.99 cent into 1.29it's tottaly unfair. I am new member of itunes, i always purchase song from their store because i'm happy of the price but now, the itunes raise the amount of the songs, their business strategy will be destroyed, i think, the 70% of the members of the itunes store are thinking of going back again into a pirate, me also, i am a pirate user before but, of think APPLE! of the 99 cents, please return that price, it is the sake of your store!