Sony-BMG on iTMS Australia?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

SMH.com.au reports (http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/sonybmg-pushes-for-itunes-deal/2005/10/25/1130006106837.html) that Sony-BMG and Apple may be coming to an agreement to supply Sony-BMG's music on the new Australian iTunes Music Store.

The iTunes Music Store for Australia was launched (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/10/20051025113700.shtml) on Tuesday, October 25th. But notably absent was the music from Sony-BMG. According to previous reports, pricing disputes had led to the long delays in the launch of the Austrlian music store.

According to this new article, negotiations are coming to a close:

"There's a couple of points left to finalise, the negotiations are going really well and we hope that they will be all settled soon and we'll be on track too"

Pricing remains a contentious issue between Apple and the Music Industry. Previous reports (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/09/20050930092813.shtml) have noted the ongoing difference of opinion. The music industry has been pushing for a tiered pricing system while Apple has insisted on a single price point for all songs. This will be an ongoing issue as Apple's current agreements with the US music labels ends in early 2006.

[Lacero]

Maybe the artists represented by Sony-BMG got into an uproar? I checked Sony Australia music site and there are literally thousands of famous artists represented by Sony. I then cross checked against iTMS AUS and found several artists listed, but perhaps they were listed before signing up.

[killmoms]

Maybe this means good news for Sony-BMG in Japan for the iTMS as well. One can only hope.

[andiwm2003]

would it be that bad to have varying prices on music? what's the consensus here?

i wouldn't care about different prices for different songs.

i'm just afraid it would open the door for the music industry to quietly raise the average prices of music and to rip the customers off.

[ipacmm]

Good to see that they have come to a form of an agreement.

[Dr. Dastardly]

would it be that bad to have varying prices on music? what's the consensus here?
Very very Bad
i'm just afraid it would open the door for the music industry to quietly raise the average prices of music and to rip the customers off.
And thats exactly what would happen. Charge you 89¢ for The Mocarena and $3 for the song you actually want.
Do you really think they would be pushing this hard for it if they weren't making a tidy profit.

[kinnyboy]

Being in the UK i use the british iTMS but is it possible for me to buy songs from the Australian iTMS because there are songs by Aussie artists that I obviously can't get from the UK one.

Any help much appreciated

[camomac]

Charge you 89¢ for The Mocarena and $3 for the song you actually want.
Do you really think they would be pushing this hard for it if they weren't making a tidy profit.

i think that $3.00 for ANY song is completely a ripoff. i mean who is really going to pay that much when they can get the CD for 14.99 or less with all the songs, and all the artwork.

lets just say that there are 10 songs on the CD and it is new and over priced at 14.99, that is only $1.50 a song.

nobody will pay more that .99 for a song, but i could see paying less for some of the content.

[andiwm2003]

Being in the UK i use the british iTMS but is it possible for me to buy songs from the Australian iTMS because there are songs by Aussie artists that I obviously can't get from the UK one.

Any help much appreciated


you need a credit card registered in aussie land. i use my american credit card for the american store and the german credit card for the german store. it works.

i don't know yet if a friend in aussie land can buy a song for you as gift that you can play then in uk. if it works you don't need an aussie credit card, just an aussie friend.:D

[iMeowbot]

Maybe this means good news for Sony-BMG in Japan for the iTMS as well. One can only hope.
Sony are so big they don't know what they are doing. Notice in this article that negotiations aren't even being held with Sony Australia now, the parent company had to step in.

The situation in Japan is much the same, it's a whole different company under the same corporate umbrella. Sony upper manglement must have their fingernails chewed to the nub by now, seeing all the contradictory things their various entertainment and manufacturing subsidiaries do.

[kenaustus]

It appears that Sony has lost it recently. They have other problems, like more wimpy iPod "killers" that will flounder like the last round and, at the corporate level, they have had to go to a CEO that isn't Japanese.

As for the iTunes problem, they are sitting around while sales have broken 600,000,000 songs knowing they are loosing money. Their artists know that also, which is nice when it's time to renew contracts.

And to think that Sony used to be one of the smartest companies around.

[nagromme]

i'm just afraid it would open the door for the music industry to quietly raise the average prices of music and to rip the customers off.

And it also removes a lot of the simplicity that makes iTunes so appealing and user-friendly. Competing services often have terms (including price sometimes) that vary from song to song, and it's NOT well-received.

I hope Apple's not forced into doing that--like they were in Japan! (But Japan's music market sounds different--and more expensive!--than what other countries are used to.)

[winmacguy]

would it be that bad to have varying prices on music? what's the consensus here?

i wouldn't care about different prices for different songs.

i'm just afraid it would open the door for the music industry to quietly raise the average prices of music and to rip the customers off.
There is a poll going on MacBytes regarding tierd pricing. The only problem would be that the music execs would probably rather have new "hot" songs priced above .99c rather than at 99c and older songs should be priced below 99c but I doubt that will happen:rolleyes:

[hyperpasta]

There is a poll going on MacBytes regarding tierd pricing. The only problem would be that the music execs would probably rather have new "hot" songs priced above .99c rather than at 99c and older songs should be priced below 99c but I doubt that will happen:rolleyes:

I don't trust their judgment on song pricing.

[iEric]

Pricing remains a contentious issue between Apple and the Music Industry. Previous reports (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/09/20050930092813.shtml) have noted the ongoing difference of opinion. The music industry has been pushing for a tiered pricing system while Apple has insisted on a single price point for all songs. This will be an ongoing issue as Apple's current agreements with the US music labels ends in early 2006.

Gosh, record companies are all about profits!
I mean, iTunes is a big reason why a lot people don't steal music now. It's at a very good price (per song or album), it's easy to locate and purchase. There's no need to worry about different prices per song cause then people will have to bring out their calculators and be like...well this is a bit much...and then shortly, people will go back to limewire.
Record companies should be begging to sign on for the next 10 years and stop bitching about not getting any money. They would get less money if it weren't for Apple - people would still be downloading music illegally. :mad:

[Lertie32]

Tiered pricing is a BAD idea and will send everybody running right out to the nearest P2P source.

Bear in mind though that the record companies are not getting the full profit of the 99 purchase price - it's minus whatever Apple's cut is. That's probably part of why they want a price hike (along with outright greed).
:(

I have ZERO interest in the music execs' opinions - especially after that huge news story a few months ago about music companies admiting to buying radio play time for certain artists and songs - COMPLETELY manipulating the public music supply, sales, and overall influence of opinion/popularity.
:mad:

So... the Billboard charts are simply record company propaganda, and J-Lo really DOES suck. :p

The music industry needs a major overhaul and hopefully iTMS will help foster a new evolution.
:cool:

[aswitcher]

I don't trust their judgment on song pricing.

Yep, no brainer on that!

[kinnyboy]

you need a credit card registered in aussie land. i use my american credit card for the american store and the german credit card for the german store. it works.

i don't know yet if a friend in aussie land can buy a song for you as gift that you can play then in uk. if it works you don't need an aussie credit card, just an aussie friend.:D


Thanks for that. How do I actually access the Aussie iTunes store? When I click on store it takes me to the UK one!!

[oskar]

Don't they understand that if prices go any higher, people will go back to p2p sharing to get the song they want? These discussions would be a lot easier if people looked back at the reasons the iTMS exists. I think the $1 price tag for songs in the US is reasonable and Apple probaby knows what the best prices are for each other country.

[winmacguy]

Being in the UK i use the british iTMS but is it possible for me to buy songs from the Australian iTMS because there are songs by Aussie artists that I obviously can't get from the UK one.

Any help much appreciated
As long as you have an Aussie billing address and Credit card you shouldnt have any problems.

[winmacguy]

Thanks for that. How do I actually access the Aussie iTunes store? When I click on store it takes me to the UK one!!
Go to the bottom of the page where it gives you the country list and click on the Australian store. As shown at the bottom of my screen shot:)

[sjl]

Thanks for that. How do I actually access the Aussie iTunes store? When I click on store it takes me to the UK one!!
Access the store as usual. Go to the home page, and scroll down to the bottom. You'll see a drop list with the text "Choose Country:" beside it, and I'm willing to bet that it'll say "UK" with a stylised British flag on the right.

Change the country in the drop list to Australia, and you're set.

Edit: Pipped at the post by winmacguy ... sigh ...

[maxterpiece]

I have ZERO interest in the music execs' opinions - especially after that huge news story a few months ago about music companies admiting to buying radio play time for certain artists and songs - COMPLETELY manipulating the public music supply, sales, and overall influence of opinion/popularity.
:mad:

Damn, gotta check that out. not surprising in the least. Their sense of entitlement to our ears is offensive. Let people buy what they like. good god.

[iMeowbot]

I have ZERO interest in the music execs' opinions - especially after that huge news story a few months ago about music companies admiting to buying radio play time for certain artists and songs - COMPLETELY manipulating the public music supply, sales, and overall influence of opinion/popularity.
:mad:
Hello, this is 1959 calling, we want our scandal back! The weirdest thing that came out in the 1960 hearings is that it turned out to have no real correlation with what sold well; the percentage of payola and non-payola hits turned out to be about the same. Why money continues to be poured down that hole is something of a mystery.

[EricNau]

I really don't think that Apple would ever go to tierd pricing...Apple knows better. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they raised prices soon, they've had $.99 for a while, and now record labels want more money.

[The Truth]

Hello, this is 1959 calling, we want our scandal back! The weirdest thing that came out in the 1960 hearings is that it turned out to have no real correlation with what sold well; the percentage of payola and non-payola hits turned out to be about the same. Why money continues to be poured down that hole is something of a mystery.

What are you talking about? The entire pop music industry would be non-existant if it wasn't for money being "poured down that hole". The kids will always buy exactly what popular media tells them to.

[winmacguy]

Are there any Kiwis here who cant access the Australian iTMS, according to this article our access has been cut off:eek: http://xtramsn.co.nz/technology/0,,7939-4945024,00.html
and there are NO plans for a Kiwi iTMS:mad: :eek:

[Lertie32]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8700936/

This is just a brief summary of the recent scandal. Sony is the worst culprit apparently, but probably all the companies do it to some extent. And this was a crock of a settlement. The CEO probably just had to look under his couch cushions to cough up the $10M - chump change for them.
:mad:

[iMeowbot]

What are you talking about? The entire pop music industry would be non-existant if it wasn't for money being "poured down that hole". The kids will always buy exactly what popular media tells them to.
It honestly doesn't work unless the product (either the music or just as often the performer's image) resonates with an audience. Labels don't know that ahead of time, and throwing money at something people simply don't like really doesn't change things (well, it can help if that money goes into making the product more appealing, but more exposure to the unappealing version -- which is all payola might accomplish there -- won't fix that).

How many copies of each major label album do you think gets sold on average? A million? Half a milliion? Nope. Three thousand is on the better side of average, half don't even sell that many. The overwhelming majority of major releases flop, and all those flops are coming from the companies who supposedly have complete control of consumer spending habits.

If bribes were really effective, all those failures wouldn't have been issued in the first place and a lot of expense could be saved, and most contracts allow for that. But they do get released, because it's all a crap-shoot. Think of the countless one hit wonders out there, whose heavily promoted second albums failed to make a dent. That's money down the drain, all because the product didn't click with people.

[Yvan256]

Here's a variable pricing for you: 99 cents for new songs, then they lose 1 cent of value every year.

Want that 1985 pop hit? It's only 79 cents when purchased in 2005.

[fearless]

Rather unexpectedly, Sony or not, we in New Zealand are still waiting for access to an iTunes store... despite what some may think, we're not part of Australia and although Apple Australia are happy to bill us here for .Mac fees and QuickTime Pro, this is a party we're not invited to...

Perhaps it's a payoff for being one of the last remaining members of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq – Free Trade Agreement and all.

As our music channels are largely Australian controlled there seems to be no copyright reason to prevent it, so P2P and lame duck channels like CokeTunes and Vodafone have this market all to themselves for now...

[iMeowbot]

This is just a brief summary of the recent scandal.
Yep, that's the news from 1959. It never stopped. I'm amazed that this isn't common knowledge.

[pmoeser]

Are there any Kiwis here who cant access the Australian iTMS, according to this article our access has been cut off:eek: http://xtramsn.co.nz/technology/0,,7939-4945024,00.html
and there are NO plans for a Kiwi iTMS:mad: :eek:
I too would be interested to see if New Zealanders can still access the store through the loop hole.
This article saying it has been closed is on... wait a minute...
isn't that a Msft website?
Surely they wouldn't put out mis-information....

[winmacguy]

Rather unexpectedly, Sony or not, we in New Zealand are still waiting for access to an iTunes store... despite what some may think, we're not part of Australia and although Apple Australia are happy to bill us here for .Mac fees and QuickTime Pro, this is a party we're not invited to...

Perhaps it's a payoff for being one of the last remaining members of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq – Free Trade Agreement and all.

As our music channels are largely Australian controlled there seems to be no copyright reason to prevent it, so P2P and lame duck channels like CokeTunes and Vodafone have this market all to themselves for now...
Greetings fearless, that sounds like a very well informed view of the Australiasian music industry. It will be interesting to see how Telstra music goes in Oz now that they have some competition!

[winmacguy]

I would be interested to see if New Zealanders can still access the store through the loop hole.
This article saying it has been closed is on... wait a minute...
isn't that a Msft website?
Surely they wouldn't put out mis information....
Xtramsn, it is a coalition between Microsoft NZ and Telecom NZ ( our monopolistic Telecoms company.) It is a reputable source of information.

[pmoeser]

Xtramsn, it is a coalition between Microsoft NZ and Telecom NZ ( our monopolistic Telecoms company.) It is a reputable source of information.
Well that makes it better.
Two monopolies with vested interests would never try to get away with giving out mis-information

[winmacguy]

Well that makes it better.
Two monopolies with vested interests would never try to get away with giving out mis-information
Not trying to defend it or anything, but the site is regularly updated on tech news. The Computerworld source quoted in the article is also another reputable publication.

[aafuss1]

Maybe the artists represented by Sony-BMG got into an uproar? I checked Sony Australia music site and there are literally thousands of famous artists represented by Sony. I then cross checked against iTMS AUS and found several artists listed, but perhaps they were listed before signing up.
Like Michael Jackson-is on there, but not Bad,Thriller, Off the Wall. Mindless Self Indulgence, again only has 1 album on the Oz iTMS, but more than one in the US Store.

[aafuss1]

Xtramsn, it is a coalition between Microsoft NZ and Telecom NZ ( our monopolistic Telecoms company.) It is a reputable source of information.
nineMSN is similar-a MS/PBL joint-venture.

[Renegate]

Who is Sony anyway these days? A few points left too negitiate can mean anything!

[Lynxpro]

would it be that bad to have varying prices on music? what's the consensus here?
i wouldn't care about different prices for different songs.
i'm just afraid it would open the door for the music industry to quietly raise the average prices of music and to rip the customers off.


I want varying pricing, but not the type that the music companies/RIAA/etc. wants. They'd want something like "old songs $0.99, new songs $1.99 (US)". Whereas Joe Consumer would say "new songs $0.99, old songs $.49 (or less)".

[Lynxpro]

Hello, this is 1959 calling, we want our scandal back! The weirdest thing that came out in the 1960 hearings is that it turned out to have no real correlation with what sold well; the percentage of payola and non-payola hits turned out to be about the same. Why money continues to be poured down that hole is something of a mystery.


Pretty good film about that with Kevin Bacon in it. "Telling Lies in America". It was Joe Ezterhas's (sic) redemption film.

[Lynxpro]

Perhaps it's a payoff for being one of the last remaining members of the "Coalition of the Willing" in Iraq – Free Trade Agreement and all.


Isn't "coalition of the willing" a euphemism for the "Neo British Empire" (minus Canada and not including the other token forces of non-English speaking nations)? Its been a while since I've read from a stolen copy of the International Leftist SOP Manual... :)

[Lynxpro]

Like Michael Jackson-is on there, but not Bad,Thriller, Off the Wall. Mindless Self Indulgence, again only has 1 album on the Oz iTMS, but more than one in the US Store.


Why would you want to give Wacko more drachmas to shell out on his next closed-door "settlement"?

I mean, the last time I heard, Gary Glitter isn't doing to well financially...

:)

[ezekielrage_99]

The more Sony BMG sit back and watch the iPod generation pass them by the more money they loose each day, and this means to recoop profits they will have to charge more for a song to make any sort profit.

Honestly I think it's a greedy unscrupulous company getting an ironic punishment for trying to stop the inevitable.

Sony BMG join this millenium and embrace the iPod.

[Alasta]

Not trying to defend it or anything, but the site is regularly updated on tech news. The Computerworld source quoted in the article is also another reputable publication.

They may well be reputable, but they're wrong. I'm downloading another video as we speak.

In case anyone's curious, I created my account on Tuesday night, but logged in immediately prior to using it tonight.

[devman]

What are you talking about? The entire pop music industry would be non-existant if it wasn't for money being "poured down that hole". The kids will always buy exactly what popular media tells them to.

Geez sometimes I think most radio stations wouldn't know what to play either if they weren't being told (paid) to...

[teme]

Actually there is already a way to charge more than 0.99 for a one song. In Finnish iTunes they are selling Depeche Mode's Precious mixes separately (each remix is a one track album). The track has "album only" buying option, and the album price is 1.49 euros (the normal price is 0.99 euros). So, there you have it, one song for more than 0.99 euros!