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Napster Launches UK Music Service

Posted by michael on from the all-jethro-tull-all-the-time dept.

amichalo writes "Napster just went multi-continent with the surprise announcement of a Napster UK on-line music service. From the website, singles at 1.09 British pounds, albums start at 9.95 pounds. Availability for other European nations not available. Apple has previously announced they would be entering the European market by the end of the year with rumors of singles priced at 1.49 Euro."

6 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. not competitive by davids-world.com · · Score: 5, Insightful

    both prices seem inacceptable - given the current exchange rate, a song should not be more than about 0.85 euros, or 1 euro max (to round it up).

    The price difference is very evident in times when the American prices at iTMS are just one click away. Ripping off customers is the wrong signal for both stores, and for the music industry. Will they ever learn?

    1. Re:not competitive by swright · · Score: 4, Insightful

      According to MacRumors.com the iTMS Europe will have songs for 1.29 Euros - but that includes a 19.5% sales tax. The [fixed] amount to be given to artists is 0.80 euro.

      Yes, more expensive than iTMS USA, but the USA price doesnt include a sales tax - apparently in states where there is a sales tax that is added on top.

      More info here

  2. text for the hearing impaired? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    one thing i'm disappointed about those offerings is the fact that the formats they use can't store the text for the songs, so that hearing impaired people could follow a song while it's being played (alongside the vibration, the bass).

  3. 10 quid? Fuck off by Enlarge+Your+Penis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can get it on a CD with no DRM for that. Hell, if I take advantage of the current exchange rate I can probably get it for half

  4. Rip off Britain......again by DFJA · · Score: 3, Insightful


    GBP1.09 is expensive compared with US prices - iTunes at 99c (about GBP0.55, or half this price). This is yet another example of where us British have to pay substantially more for the same product than our American (and often European) counterparts. PCs and components have often been the same number of pounds here as dollars there. It's just not fair.

    Come on, we're fed up of being ripped off by international big businesses. DVDs are another example - and of course region encoding is designed to stop us from importing more cheaply from the US.

    All you British reading this, I urge you to boycott products at these prices - and write to the company concerned explaining your actions and why.

    At least car prices have started to become a bit more reasonable recently, but only compared to the rest of Europe. I believe they are still a lot cheaper in the US.

    DFJA

    --
    43 - For those who require slightly more than the answer to life, the universe and everything.
  5. Re:1.49 Euro by MoonBuggy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    1.09GBP = 1.95USD

    I think I speak for the majority of my country when I say "Napster, go cram your overpriced, lossy, DRMed WMAs that don't play on my iPod and cost more than a CD up your ass."

    I've yet to find an online store that has half of the bands I listen to available anyway. They have their CDs in Virgin Megastore, so it's not like I'm listening to anything that's totally obscure.