DISQUS

Max · 1 year ago

I think Apple knows what they're doing. It probably has a lot to do with consumer perspective on the price, where $0.99 is "less than a dollar". Even though right now a $15 card buys you 14 songs, after $0.15 raise it will buy only 13 songs. Plus if they raise the price - there might be a shake up in consumer confidence, expectation for future price increase + opens room for competition with iTunes. I don't know what kind of loss there would be for Apple to shut down the iTunes, but it seems like the music industry would feel it pretty hard since iTunes is expected to hover 85% of the market share. Turn it off for a week and see what music makers will say - that would be an interesting exercise :)

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Utah SEO Pro · 1 year ago

two words: empty threat.

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SoLinkable · 1 year ago

You mention "musicians and their labels" at the beginning of the article... I think you really meant to just say "Labels".

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kouji · 1 year ago

would be good to have more options out there aside from itunes, so that both users and producers will have more choice.

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Ryan @ Recording Studio Los An · 1 year ago

Now that to me just seems like greed on someone, why would they shut down itunes. I dont believe it what are they going to do stop selling ipods too?
Crazy people it's unbelievable.

Ryan

SEO next · 1 year ago

I dont think apple will actually do it ....
I tunes is one of their most famous softwares which has a major share in the music industry..
I think they can try the google way of generating revenues by having some kinda adverts for the itunes...
Its not always required to take the money from the users for a product which is so damn popular...

Jaan Kanellis · 1 year ago

"Empty threat" EXACTLY. love to see the music people go back to living off of just CD sales, LOLOL

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Paid Survey Guy · 1 year ago

I sincerely doubt that Apple will actually do this, they make far to much money to just close for good - Someone should call their bluff!

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SoLinkable · 1 year ago

In case anyone hasn't heard yet, the copyright royalty board did... absolutely nothing. The rates stay the same, and iTunes is here to stay.

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PS3 · 1 year ago

Moving over the 99p barrier may be a milestone for some but will it really stop the kids buying. I can't imagine that it would.

More to the point, would there be a knock on for hardware sales (iPods themselves) without iTunes?

Hattie Ann · 1 year ago

I listen to iTunes on my computer at work and at home. I'm so glad to hear that they are here to stay. You had me worried that I would have a heck of a time finding something else to listen to. I hate the radio because of the commercials so when I found iTunes, I was in love.

Hattie

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Janet Meiners · 1 year ago

@SoLinkable - thanks for the update. No surprise there.
- Janet

Goran Web Design · 1 year ago

Well it's basic psychology, the $0.99 is actually a dollar but expressed in cents. So any increase made to it will bring the price up to the dollar expression which will sound like a significant increase and consumer purchase will drop due to that. So the $0.99 is just making it sound cheap but with greater monetory value. Smart ;-)

kouji · 1 year ago

I am with Apple on this one, any increases will make itune look expensive.

Seologia · 1 year ago

Poor multi billion dollar companies. Hope things pick up for them. :(

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Nicole Price · 1 year ago

Someone is trying to hold the price line. I think that what Apple is trying to do here is the right strategy. The Norway story is not likely to result in anything significant.

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Pete · 1 year ago

It will be interesting to see what happens with this, will the .99c threshold be broken one day? We will just have to wait and see. I do not see iTunes shutting down anytime soon. With music the way it is today, I think increasing it will just equal less sales.


Pete

www.geekypete.com

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Christmas Guy · 1 year ago

No it will do that. No way. I really don’t believe that Apple will fulfill it. They cannot stop operating with itunes as this service is profitable for it.

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Sherif K · 1 year ago

I am by Apple's side on this issue. I think that increase absolutely would decrease the Apple's profit they gain from Itunes.
By the way, I agree with that consumer group in Norway on that we can't download the songs on other music players :(

San Nayak · 1 year ago

Acting in advance by predicting their coming threats.

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Dennis Edell · 1 year ago

Apple being difficult with their products...now there's shocking news.

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Jacques Snyman · 1 year ago

Yes! Turn it off for a week and see! I betcha the artists would rather have their current remuneration than zilch!

QuickPWN · 1 year ago

There's no way Apple will shutdown the iTunes store, otherwise they would lose a lot of money. Especially with the launch of the App Store.

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Check Page Rank · 1 year ago

Impossible. Not making profit means that they aren't making billions range. They wouldn't shut this feature down in the near future at least.Just need a competitor and they will said that $.50 is good enough.

Saz · 1 year ago

I personally think iTunes is a blessing for musicians and record companies in case if they are not aware there are tons of free music download sites out there

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magdotcom · 11 months ago

The current pricing for music download on iTune is perfect. I can’t remember the last time I brought a CD. I actually want the pricing of TV episodes and movies to go lower. I think iTune also supports a lot of independent musicians. Apps Store is great.. iTune is easy to use.. I can only see iTune going forward. Don’t listen to those record labels.. they have no idea what consumers want!

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Paid Surveys Dude · 10 months ago

Apple is big enough to not have to give in to the greed of the music industry. Those people are crazy. They see something making money, bringing them sales that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise and they still are not happy.