Apple has announced that it will cut the price it charges for music downloads in the UK from its iTunes music store within the next six months. The cut will bring the UK into line with the charges in the rest of Europe.
Apple currently charges 79 pence per download in the UK, compared with 99 euro cents (74p) in the rest of Europe.
European Union regulators began investigating iTunes last year after the consumer group Which? complained about its pricing policies.
“Apple will reconsider its continuing relationship in the UK with any record label that does not lower its wholesale prices in the UK to the pan-European level within six months,” the company said in a statement.
BBC News article.
So now Apple calls the shots, huh?
Instead of buying albums, the consumer now buys tracks.
Instead of spending £10, the consumer spends 74p.
Profits have disappeared.
New talent is not being properly developed or supported.
Record companies blame it on home taping is killing music’ or ‘illegal filesharing’.
Complete Bollocks.
Blame the record companies for panicking themselves into rubbish deals with iTunes which they didn’t think through / realise the consequences.
So here’s my idea..
Give away the single for free.
That’s right – for FREE.
Consider it an advert for the album.
Then sell the album as ‘an album’ – one whole unit to download – for the price of ‘an album’. NOT as individual files.
Give away another single if you like – it’s just more advertising…
Then when you’re a big popular band like Radiohead, give away the whole album (well done!) and make your money on the tour (much more profitable these days).
Go play a Prince-like Vegas residence at the O2 Dome for a few months.
And don’t forget to ‘play the hits’.
And have the confidence to let your fans freely record the gigs you play with cameras and tape recorders (like The Black Crowes). It’ll go all over YouTube and the internet and act as further advertising for when your ‘official’ live DVD/video download comes out. And you can download all the best versions of the bootlegs off the net and sell them yourselves as a live greatest hits contractual obligation album after your difficult third album that was big in Japan.
Even better – forget record companies – get good management and get sponsored by a big business brand you empathise/identify with.
Mine right now would be a large beer, please.
Rant rant rant rant if i ruled the world etc etc etc
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