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Tue, 13 Oct 2009 Apple iTunes LP to be open to Indies

Rumoured $10,000 production fee not true claims Apple

Nick Spence

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iTunes LP, first introduced with the recently released Apple iTunes 9 update, is to be opened up to indie labels as well as the majors.

iTunes LP offers additional content, including interactive sleeve notes, lyrics, discographies, photos, videos and unique artwork.

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CEO Steve Jobs had claimed at last month's Apple music themed event in San Francisco that iTunes LP would replicate digitally a time when people still poured over album and single sleeves, read lyrics, studied sleeves notes and even record labels.

Boss of US indie label Chocolate Lab, Brian McKinney had claimed Apple wanted a $10,000 production fee for the additional content, ruling out smaller labels.

After reporting the story UK tech site Electricpig was contacted by Apple to clarify the position. The Cupertino company said it is "releasing the open specs for iTunes LP soon, allowing both major and indie labels to create their own. There is no production fee charged by Apple," without confirming a date for the release.

Currently only a few acts, all on major labels, offer iTunes LP content including The Doors, Bob Dylan, and Grateful Dead among some classic artists, with the Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Norah Jones representing more contemporary acts.

The classic debut album from The Doors, including "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" is now available on iTunes LP.

[Via Electricpig]

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Comments received


Constable Odo said on Tue, 13 Oct 2009

That's the whole problem with the blogosphere. Mostly a lot of rampant lies and distortions to get hits and rile haters up. Again, all Apple is doing is using iTunes to drive hardware sales. I'm glad this is an open format and now maybe it will shut up some of the people who are anti-Apple. Sure makes that Brian McKinney look like an ass.

James Katt said on Tue, 13 Oct 2009

Brian McKinney not only looks like an ass for his falsehood, but he probably is one. His statements about Apple were OUTRAGEOUS.

Yacko said on Tue, 13 Oct 2009

The iTunes LP spec is html 4 based, eventually html 5. It isn't some arcane dev environment for which you need to hire a guru. However, good design does cost money and since Apple sees this as a value added proposition to tunes, most artists would be well advised to spend some time and money instead of just slapping some visuals together.

Greendave said on Wed, 14 Oct 2009

Next we will be hearing that the morons who create these stories (Brian McKinney) have "won a battle" and "forced Apple to stop charging and release the specs". They are such sad, small minded, lying b*****ds.

My sympathy to Apple on this one (but not for my buggy 10.6)

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