The Real Reason Behind iTMS Tiered Pricing

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."

Comments

Apple's Tune

[Nom du Keyboard]

it's about allowing the labels to manipulate public perception of value through pricing

Is this why iPods cost so much. Public perception that paying more has somehow gotten you more? If so, the music industry is only playing Apple's tune.

Joel is an Ass

[MBraynard]

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.

Whatever. It's just a crackpot theory. Just because someone has a website and posts something - it gets to have it's own thread here on /.. But if someone had posted something as assinine as this in a comment on /., it would either be moded to off-topic or flame bait.

As a side-note, Yahoo is superior to ITMS in every way other than not working with IPods. $5 a month gets you everything. If you buy more than 5 songs a month from ITMS and you don't have a 'burning' desire, Y! Unlimited comes out WAY ahead. I just love exploring music and building unlimited playlists on my DJ.

ringtones are the reelz $

[Rodney.Quills.Dinkin]

Artists make more money off selling ringtones than $0.99 songs. We freely distributed PUNJABI EXTREME without asking for any royalties. GNAA is the current leader in online music distribution because of our core business model of providing free music. Spending $0.99 to download garbage quality mp3s is unethical. Listen up RIAA, this is how it's done.

Re:Lesbian Gangster Yoga?!?

[sstidman]

You saw the movie, didn't you? Is that why you posted AC?