iTunes store pricing

[jake.f]

I was just wondering how do apple set prices on the iTunes store for songs?
I ask this because I was thinking the other day that seeing as the Australian dollar is now basically 1 for 1, and sometimes better then 1 for 1, with the US dollar (At the moment 1 Australian dollar buys 1.02 US dollars) why do we still pay more for songs on iTunes?
The prices here are $1.29, $1.69 and $2.19. So our cheapest price is the most expensive US price. I can't see a reason for this at all, seeing as it is a digitally downloaded product that we are buying there would hardly be any import/export taxes?
Anyway, thought this would make interesting discussion.

 

[roadbloc]

This is something that has been debated over many times. I would love to tell Steve Jobs someday that 99 cents =\= 99 Pence.

 

[iMeanIt]

How about USA pricing?

What irks me about iTunes Music Store pricing is that they are often charging $1.29 (or more) for the same cuts I can get on Amazon for only 99 cents. What's up with that?! Maybe their motto is like Nordstrom's - "Why Pay Less!" I always go with the cheaper option - even though I'm an Apple stockholder!

 

[QuarterSwede]

It all has to do with what prices get negotiated with the labels. Apple has been able to push the price down fairly far. Now that they sell the most songs labels are giving Amazon and others better pricing at times to try to maintain some of that power. International deals are pretty complicated and archaic which is why prices are higher.

 

[Apple...]

This is something that has been debated over many times. I would love to tell Steve Jobs someday that 99 cents =\= 99 Pence.

I don't think Steve decides this...