Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Real Reason Behind iTMS Tiered Pricing

Posted by Zonk on from the for-leverage dept.

Raindance writes "Joel on Software has an interesting piece on why Big Content is making loud noises about moving from 'flat fee' to 'tiered' pricing models on the iTMS. According to Joel, it's not about pricing songs commensurate with their economic value; rather, it's about allowing the labels to manipulate public perception of value through pricing." From the article: "And now when a musician gets uppity, all the recording industry has to do is threaten to release their next single straight into the $0.99 category, which will kill it dead no matter how good it is. And suddenly the music industry has a lot more leverage over their artists in negotiations: the kind of leverage they are used to having. Their favorite kind of leverage. The "we won't promote your music if you don't let us put rootkits on your CDs" kind of leverage."

8 of 372 comments (clear)

  1. big content by TheClam · · Score: 3, Funny

    Damn those Big Content bastards and their lust for power and money.

    Good call on the phrase 'Big Content.' Who coined that one?

  2. Re:Or consider the economics by ZackSchil · · Score: 4, Funny

    I much prefer the current setup, by which the 99 price point is kept and every person who downloads Achy Breaky Heart has their IP logged so they can be tracked down and murdered for the betterment of humanity.

  3. Lesbian Gangster Yoga?!? by sstidman · · Score: 1, Funny

    Similarly, when stinkers like Lesbian Gangster Yoga with Ben Affleck come out...

    Huh...I think I missed that one when it was in the theaters. Must have been on Skinemax. Has Ben's career finally sunk so low that he is making cheap porn flicks?

    --
    Send/track messages to 100K people: www.xPressAlert.com
  4. Re:Or consider the economics by 42Penguins · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who are these idiots who actually PAY for achey breaky heart?

    I have a bridge to the future to sell them...

  5. Oh-a-oh by Swamii · · Score: 4, Funny

    Video killed the radio star. Internet killed the video star. RIAA killed the internet star. Boat's in the water. Cage's in the water. Shark's in the water. You're in the cage? Shark's in the cage. Farewell and adieu to you fair spanish ladies...

    --
    Tech, life, family, faith: Give me a visit
  6. Re:Joel is an Ass by jcr · · Score: 4, Funny

    As a side-note, Yahoo is superior to ITMS in every way other than not working with IPods.

    Hydrogen is superior to gasoline in every way other than working in cars that people already have.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  7. Re:Apple's Tune by porcupine8 · · Score: 5, Funny
    I mean, he would have us believe that the cool kids would immediately go down the 2.50 new releases, buying each one and scorning the cheap songs. I don't see it working like that.

    You're posting on slashdot, and you think you have any insight into what the cool kids would do?

    Better yet, you assume that they would do whatever it is you do?

    *giggle*

    --
    Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
  8. Re:Beyond Econ 101 by skarth · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why do people think themselves well-qualified to pontificate on economic matters with a freshman course in the subject?

    Are you new here? ;^)