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Why Won't Apple Sell Your iTunes LPs?

Posted by timothy on from the can-anyone-think-of-a-reason? dept.

jfruhlinger writes "Over the weekend there's been a bit of controversy over the fact that Apple has effectively shut indie artists out of the iTunes LP market by charging $10,000 in design fees. But the real question is why Apple is in charge of designing the new iTunes LP at all, since the format is based on open Web design technologies. There's at least one iTunes LP already available outside the iTunes store. Why won't Apple sell it?"

4 of 306 comments (clear)

  1. Re:LP? by commodore64_love · · Score: 5, Informative

    RCA invented a video-record back in the 1970s. It used a needle and concentric grooves, but instead of touching the platter the needle hovered above the grooves. Using this method they could store 60 minutes of broadcast quality (440x480) analog video on one side of a 12 inch record.

    I still own one of these things. Unfortunately it failed for the same reason LaserDisc failed - it couldn't record live television or home movies as VHS could do. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance_Electronic_Disc

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  2. Re:LP? by jitterman · · Score: 5, Informative

    Another example: the new Alice In Chains release includes a few tracks that are (according to iTunes) not on the CD release. For all those who are completists and want to stay "legal" will probably think this is a good thing. Also, the cost of the album is (for now) $9.99, whereas the cost of the various tracks (and you can't get the bonus tracks without buying the album, so they don't even count towards this cost) add up to more than that.

    --
    For conscience is the wound, and there's naught to staunch it
  3. Re:LP? by gnick · · Score: 5, Informative

    On a scale from "engine" to "giant Hello Kitty decal for the rear window", it scores about a "windshield wipers on the headlights".

    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  4. Re:Oh that's the $10,000 question. by Whalou · · Score: 5, Informative
    From Music Week (http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1038901&c=1

    However, an iTunes spokesman says the fee is fiction. There is no production fee charged by Apple, he says. "We're releasing the open specs for iTunes LP soon, allowing both major and indie labels to create their own.

    Not sure who is right, this guy or the guy who quoted the 10k$ figure.

    I guess we'll have to wait and see. Or not if you're not interested in LPs.

    --
    English is not this .sig mother tongue...