Comments
11 Comments"EMI said every song in its catalogue will be available in the "premium" format. It said the tracks without locks will cost more and be of higher quality than those it offers now.
Popular EMI artists include Lily Allen, Joss Stone, Robbie Williams, Coldplay and Corinne Bailey Rae.
The higher price will apply only to single tracks that customers download. On iTunes EMI tracks free of digital rights management (DRM) software will cost $1.29 (99p).
Itunes users will be able to upgrade previously purchased EMI songs and albums for 30 cents (15p) a track. Fans will be able to buy "premium" tracks that are twice the sound quality of currently available EMI tracks.
"Consumers tell us they would be prepared to pay a higher price for a piece of music they can play on any player," said EMI boss Eric Nicoli.
By contrast albums free of DRM and those with it will be the same price."
Looks like they are trying to push albums more than single tracks, sneaky!
Rich
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
I've never bought off iTunes, and I doubt I ever will make a habit of it, but this announcement certainly makes it more likely that I might do it on occasion.
I don't think they should be charing more for DRM-free single tracks. That's not a feature you're paying for, as they seem to be implying. But I don't really care either - I'm an albums man. I very rarely seek out single tracks.
Ozone42
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
Well they're not only DRM free, but at a higher bitrate. Still, I agree, you shouldn't be aying more for DRM free.
Anyone else think the RIAA are crapping their pants?
jensized
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
My boyfriend called me this morning "apple and emi are making an announcement! omg beatles!"
This is pretty cool news though.
Scrivs
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
I agree that they shouldn't charge more for DRM-free tracks, but this is a great first step.
Oli
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
I'm happy paying more if they're providing more.
No DRM + higher quality = more, IMO.
As long as it works out cheaper and higher q than a CD, I'm happy.
GlennWolsey
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
This sounds great, I'm looking forward to upgrading my tracks to be DRM free for 30 cents each when May comes round.
publicenergy
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
Two of my reasons for not using iTunes have disappeared - namely, DRM and poor sound quality.
If you've ever bought something from a shop like Bleep where 320kbps MP3 files are standard, the old iTunes files sounded flat in comparison. The new ones will hopefully sound much better though. I'm just not happy to be paying extra, but like Rich says, if you stick to album purchases that's not a problem.
There is only one remaining problem stopping me from buying anything from there now - and that's having to use that iTunes program which has evolved in to a nasty bloated piece of crap. Why can't anyone write a good media player that isn't weighed down with useless bloat?
Article19
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
iTunes, bloated? surely some mistake? I'll admit that the coverflow thing is a tad gratuitous but it's just as slick as the first version I used, which 4 or something!
Oli
Written Apr. 2, 2007 / Report /
Slick? Surely some mistake? iTunes is terrible as a media player...
I find Winamp taking up 15x600px at the top of one of my screens is a little more lightweight. And Explorer to navigate my music... Yes, I'm somebody who has that rare ability to keep things in folders and keep the tags up to date at the same time. Aren't I special?
Perhaps it''s just their Windows implementation of iTunes that sucks the punani but it's really quite poor... ESPECIALLY when you play a QT movie through iTunes... it just grinds to a halt.
Article19
Written Apr. 3, 2007 / Report /
Winamp, Explorer! good grief man! Next thing you'll be saying your on Vista!
;o
Oli
Written Apr. 3, 2007 / Report /
Yes but my point is "library" apps are inherently bloated.
You only use them for about 1/100th of the time you spend listening to your media. Having it loaded all the time is therefore bloat.
Before somebody says "oh but iTunes can do ratings and whatnot" so can Vista's metadata. I still just go to albums I like directly though.
I have similar feelings about WMP... But at least that runs at a decent speed. The only reason I every use iTunes is for podcasts and once I've got an alternative, that's it. I'll even find something slimmer to move music to my iPod.