Skip to main content

News

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 Apple raises iTunes prices in 2006 -EMI

Jonny Evans

  • Email to a friend
  • Print this article
  • Bookmark this page
  • RSS feed

Apple may soon be forced to bow to the pressure to raise iTunes prices.

Record labels have been grumbling at Apple's refusal to change its current price structure. They have wanted more flexibility on price, claiming that digital music sales aren't sufficiently compensating for loss of sales at retail.

Question of the day!

Mark Hattersley
Editor in Chief

Do you use Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom tablet?

Question of the day!

Do you use Adobe Photoshop with a Wacom tablet?

% of Macworld readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

How does a Wacom tablet improve the Photoshop experience?

124 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @TabletChat

paintings & illustrations, mostly, which i upload to flickr.RT @fragmentedm

I draw manga/anime characters. I also do graphic design and photography.RT @spialelo

Yes. I usually put them up on my #deviantart account for feedback on how to improve.RT @spialelo

Labels are also annoyed at what they perceive as Apple's position to dictate on price.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has castigated these companies, accusing some of "greed" and voicing concerns that the still fledgling online music market won't be able to support purported price increases.

However, EMI Music CEO Alain Levy last night said: "We are having discussions which make us believe it will happen in the next 12 months," according to the Wall Street Journal.

Levy expects Apple will succumb to the pressure, and that prices will increase next year.

The major labels and Apple are scheduled to renegotiate the iTunes pricing deal in spring 2006.

"There is a common understanding that we will have to come to a variable pricing structure. The issue is when. There is a case for superstars to have a higher price," Levy said.

As merger rumours intensify, Levy's desires seem closely aligned to those of Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfam. Speaking in September, Bronfam said: "There's no content in the world that has doesn't have some price flexibility. Not all songs are created equal. Not all albums are created equal."

He stressed that he wants to be able to charge more for some songs (presumably the ones music lovers want) and less for others. He warned: "iTunes needs our music as much as we need iTunes."

Email A Friend

Email this article to a friend or colleague:



PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.

<<prev article | back to news index | next article>>

Latest News


More news...