Apple Sets Tune for Pricing of Song Downloads

PygmySurfer writes "Apple Computer on Monday revealed it had renewed contracts with the four largest record companies to sell songs through its iTunes digital store at 99 cents each. The agreements came after months of bargaining, and were a defeat for music companies that had been pushing for a variable pricing model."

It makes me feel all good inside...

[crazyjeremy]

The music industry's big four - Universal, Warner Music, EMI and Sony BMG - were not immediately available to comment ... The issue has occasionally become acrimonious, with Mr Jobs last year publicly labelling the industry "greedy". However, several music executives privately acknowledge that they have little leverage over Mr Jobs.

Heheheh... I dunno, but ANYTIME a big guy saves the little guy money, and greedy corporate america gets told to "stuff it" and HAS to listen... It just makes me feel all good inside.

good job!

[clackerd]

the shortsighted me says horray for only having to pay $.99 a song still. i don't listen to the farsighted me.

Good to see leverage moving from the labels,

[benow]

but big label artists are still being boned.

Its still too high, but....

[nurb432]

Anything that pisses off the RIAA im all for :)

I'm reminded of a song

[mboverload]

I call you when I need you, my hearts on fire
You come to me, come to me wild and wild
When you come to me
Give me every song I need
Give me a lifetime of DRM and a world of corporate music
You speak of giving the artist his fair share like you know what it means
And it can't be wrong
Take my iMac and make it strong baby

You're simply the best, better than all the rest
Better than Napster, Any of pieces of crap I've ever used
I'm stuck on your heart, and hang on every song you sing
Tear us apart, fuck RealPlayer, I would rather be dead

In your threads I see the encrypted bits of every song and every book I play
In your interface I get lost, I get washed away
Just as long as I'm here in your crappy GUI
I could be in no better place

You're simply the best, better than all the rest
Better than Napster, Any of pieces of crap I've ever used
I'm stuck on your heart, and hang on every song you sing
Tear us apart, fuck RealPlayer, I would rather be dead

Each time my Mac bombs I start losing control
You're walking away with my music and I can't get it back because I can't download the song again
I can feel your restrictions even when I'm asleep
Oh baby, don't give me any rights

Re:It makes me feel all good inside...

[0racle]

several music executives privately acknowledge that they have little leverage over Mr Jobs

Perhaps someone should download the Imperial March from iTunes in honour of this.

Re:Too expensive

[MooUK]

"Reality check - nobody sells a BILLION of anything that's outrageously overpriced..."

Oh, I dunno... everyone's favourite large software company seems to manage it regularly.

Re:Its still too high, but....

[TubeSteak]

I bet killing Ponies in the name of music piracy would piss off the RIAA.

How can you support killing Ponies!?!?

All hail, Steve Jobs

[Enrique1218]

I am not the type to place anyone on a pedestal, but damn, good job Jobs. Man, that reality distortion field was must have been set so high, those negotiators didn't have a chance. They must have believe in free love, down with big brother, and Macs are the faster PC's on Earth. Later, when the effects wore off, they were dumbfounded when they realized that the terms of the contract were the same as before.

Re:Inside truth behind variable prices

[ErikInterlude]

Similarly, when stinkers like Lesbian Gangster Yoga with Ben Affleck come out, the movie theatre is going to be pretty much empty anyway ...

I don't know about that. I think I'd be first in line to see Lesbian Gangsters killing Ben Affleck with Yoga...

Re:good job!

[Guppy06]

"i don't listen to the farsighted me."

I see a position in Congress in your future.

Re:It makes me feel all good inside...

[masdog]

Perhaps someone should download the Imperial March from iTunes in honour of this.

You mean you don't have the Entire Soundtrack from the Original Trilogy?!?!?!

I'll need to take your geek card now.

Re:It makes me feel all good inside...

[Duds]

Because it's copyright theft?

And that "top100mp3s" site looks about as legit as an Iraqui WMD report.

Re:It makes me feel all good inside...

[everett]

I have it, and am listening to it on my iPod, can I get a renewal on my geek card. It is set to run out in may (I got a girlfriend, so now I have to reapply every 6 months. Stupid geek bureaucracy!)

Re:It makes me feel all good inside...

[Gilmoure]

I've never gotten around to hooking up my turntable to my computer. And after 29 years, my copy's pretty scratched up.