iTunes violating 99-cent rule (sort of)

[wordmunger]

Just noticed this in itunes: some of the new classical selections violate the 99-cent/song rule. For example, you can buy the entire Brendal Mozart Piano Concertos 22 and 27 CD for $9.99, or you can buy each concerto separately--not for 99 cents, but $5.97 and $5.47 respectively.

This doesn't really violate the rule, because each concerto is actually three tracks, purchasable by album only. But this system does make a lot of sense for classical music, because if I already have Concerto 22, I don't have to buy it twice in order to get Concerto 27.

 

[ebow]

Futhermore, if one could sum up the number of albums that cost more than $9.99, I think it would come to around 25-33% of all offerings. Oftentimes the prices I see easily approach those I could find in some of the non-premium stores.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Unfortunately, some artists/albums were not able to be negotiated for the 99¢ fee, and long tracks are usually more, as well.

Yes, it's inconsistent, but I don't believe the fault lies with Apple.

 

[wordmunger]

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Unfortunately, some artists/albums were not able to be negotiated for the 99¢ fee, and long tracks are usually more, as well.

This seems to imply that some tracks sell for more than 99 cents. Other than the example I mention above (which isn't technically a "track"), I've never seen this. Do you have any examples?

Ebow, do you have examples of album prices approaching "non-premium stores?" It seems to me that the albums that are $12.99 on ITMS are the ones that are $16 or $17 in stores.

To me, the big advantage of "violating" the 99-cent rule, for classical music at least, is that very often a Tchaikovsky CD, for example, will "throw in" the 1812 overture. After a while you have four or five CDs with the 1812 overture. By charging more than 99 cents for a longer work (like $5.47 for a 30-minute concerto), you're able to get good deals on tracks that would normally be "album onl." You're not forced to buy music you already own, so I don't think of this as a negative at all.

 

[Westside guy]

All in all, I like iTunes - but some of my experiences have been annoying. Like the other day: my daughter asked me "do you know this song, bye bye miss american pie?" That in itself made me smile, given that 'American Pie' was probably the first pop song I ever listened to! But when I went over to itms to see if I could buy it... I found you can buy every OTHER song on the album, but not that one. If you want it, you have to buy the album.

The song is a long one, but this practice bugs me in principle. It's not like they give you a discount for short tracks; Blur's "Song 2" for example. It's also not as if there are only two or three songs on the album.

 

[Rower_CPU]

wordmunger-

A notable, non-classical example is Pink Floyd. On certain albums, longer tracks are only available if you buy the whole album...and an album with less than 10 tracks may cost more than $9.99.

 

[wordmunger]

Oh, I see what you mean, Rower_CPU. Yeah, that sucks--$.99/song but if you want "Money" you have to buy the whole album for $16.99. But have you seen individual tracks for sale for over $.99?

 

[Rower_CPU]

I thought I had, but a couple of quick searches aren't turning anything up for me, other than some classical "tracks", like you've found.

 

[ebow]

Originally posted by wordmunger
This seems to imply that some tracks sell for more than 99 cents. Other than the example I mention above (which isn't technically a "track"), I've never seen this. Do you have any examples?

Ebow, do you have examples of album prices approaching "non-premium stores?" It seems to me that the albums that are $12.99 on ITMS are the ones that are $16 or $17 in stores.

A number of Queen albums (even the non-double-discs) are around or more than $13. At least 3 David Bowie albums are $13.99. Yeah, most of Pink Floyd's albums are up there too. Perhaps I exaggerated when I said they were approaching store prices--it's been a while since I've done a lot of CD shopping (and even in the pre-Napster era I was a BMG club junkie who also went to used CD stores).

I guess in contrast to the examples I mentioned above, there appear to be numerous albums that are actually less than $9.99. See the selection for Talking Heads (if interested). Too bad I own them all anyway (and nearly all of them on vinyl to boot! ).

 

[andyduncan]

A lot of artists <flame>usually the older ones who don't "get it"</flame> like Don McLean and the Eagles (no hotel california as a single), refuse to sell their most popular songs as single tracks. It's a terribly myopic viewpoint. I understand Pink Floyd's argument more than Don's or the Eagles', as money really benefits from the album. But let the customer make that decision. I say: if people want to buy your music, you're retarded for not making it available to them in every way possible.

 

[andyduncan]

oh, and albums that contain less than 10 tracks are always (almost always?) priced less than $9.99, as otherwise there really wouldn't be much point in clicking "purchase album" on a five track disk. anyone know of any albums with 10 tracks or more that are priced lower than $9.99?

 

[Westside guy]

Originally posted by andyduncan
A lot of artists <flame>usually the older ones who don't "get it"</flame> like Don McLean and the Eagles (no hotel california as a single), ... <snip>

Well I know I was the one complaining about "American Pie" not being available as a single - but you really can't blame it on Don McLean. Why, you ask? Well, I answer... because he died a few years back.

 

[csubear]

Anyone the notice that OutKast's new album is 19.98? I know that it sells for $18 at bestbuy. I like Outkast, but i would never pay that much for a cd, never. It seems a little crazy that a) a cd is that high priced to begin with, and that b) its even more in the iTMS.

 

[wordmunger]

Originally posted by csubear
Anyone the notice that OutKast's new album is 19.98? I know that it sells for $18 at bestbuy. I like Outkast, but i would never pay that much for a cd, never. It seems a little crazy that a) a cd is that high priced to begin with, and that b) its even more in the iTMS.

Well, it *is* a double CD, with 39 tracks (though admittedly a few of them are 1-minute intros). it still seems a little steep to me, but compared to $16.99 for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the moon with only 9 songs, it's a bargain.