Apple Renews iTunes Pricing at 99 cents

MacRumors · May 1, 2006, 11:45 PM

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

After months of negotiations, Apple announced on Monday that they had renewed contracts with the four largest record companies to sell songs through iTunes for 99 cents each.

This represents a win for Apple as the record labels have been pushing for variable priced songs for some time now. In that model, newer songs would cost more than $.99 while older songs would cost less.

Steve Jobs has reportedly insisted on keeping pricing constant for all songs at $.99. With iTunes now with 80% of the U.S. digital music marketshare, "the labels need Apple too much right now", according to one record executive.

No comments were made in the article regarding the term of the contracts.

Platform · May 1, 2006, 11:47 PM

Good, this is the way it should be

amateurmacfreak · May 1, 2006, 11:48 PM

Awesome.

New ads, this... Apple is making me happy.

dynamicd · May 1, 2006, 11:49 PM

Good to see newer songs won't cost more than .99 a piece. It seems like Apple's marketshare makes it possible for them to delegate whatever pricing scheme they deem fair.

technocoy · May 1, 2006, 11:49 PM

this is hilarious... steve wins again!!! I think it's so funny that everyone was saying they wouldn't renew and that if they did it would be with no contract....

maybe they like that apple green more than they let on.

shigzeo · May 1, 2006, 11:50 PM

somehow for once i thought i would read something first... and be able to comment on it... rather, i just follow suite and say, yeah steve!

Superdrive · May 1, 2006, 11:50 PM

Glad to see the right things work out here. Had prices gone up, I would have been forced to find music elsewhere.

Ja Di ksw · May 1, 2006, 11:51 PM

This is what a lot of us have been waiting to hear. Congrats to Apple! That could not have been an easy fight.

I wonder how long it is for . . . .

amateurmacfreak · May 1, 2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superdrive

Glad to see the right things work out here. Had prices gone up, I would have been forced to find music elsewhere.

Yeah.... kinda agreed. Kinda sorta.

Felldownthewell · May 1, 2006, 11:57 PM

whew. Now that that is out of the way we can all start complaining about how the songs aren't $0.50 each!

Surreal · May 2, 2006, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felldownthewell

whew. Now that that is out of the way we can all start complaining about how the songs aren't $0.50 each!

THAT may be the source of any negative votes.

EricNau · May 2, 2006, 12:00 AM

Glad to hear that Apple won and got to keep the songs at $.99.

Superdrive · May 2, 2006, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amateurmacfreak

Yeah.... kinda agreed. Kinda sorta.

If prices went up I would be forced to get my music from other sources....CDs

Seriously, I'm glad to see the record companies did the right thing.

~Shard~ · May 2, 2006, 12:28 AM

Great news - way to stick by your guns Apple and refuse to budge. I like it.

kasei · May 2, 2006, 12:30 AM

Damn...now I have to use self control to regulate my shopping on iTunes. On a serious note that is great....

Doctor Q · May 2, 2006, 12:38 AM

Actually, I want more complicated pricing. Namely, I want to be able to upgrade from a few tracks on an album to the entire album for the difference in price. That way, I can buy songs I already know and like and, when I find that the group's music has grown on me, I can "upgrade" to the album. I'd spend more if Apple allowed this. They don't have to make the interface look much different to do this. They can simply have the album prices change when you already purchased tracks from that album.

devilot · May 2, 2006, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Q

Actually, I want more complicated pricing. Namely, I want to be able to upgrade from a few tracks on an album to the entire album for the difference in price.

Ooooooh. I so wish they would implement this!!! Have you written them yet? You should!

Especially because I'm too lazy to. :o

~Shard~ · May 2, 2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Q

Actually, I want more complicated pricing. Namely, I want to be able to upgrade from a few tracks on an album to the entire album for the difference in price. That way, I can buy songs I already know and like and, when I find that the group's music has grown on me, I can "upgrade" to the album. I'd spend more if Apple allowed this. They don't have to make the interface look much different to do this. They can simply have the album prices change when you already purchased tracks from that album.

I really like this idea - you should work for Apple!

Chef Medeski · May 2, 2006, 01:01 AM

HINT HINT!!!

This is great news not because of the stupid pricing thing. But because renewed deals. Apple had been trying to make deals with media companies over video content, which of course nearly all due music as well. I'm sure it not just an audio thing, but actually a full blow agreement over music and video. I'm almost assured of this. Just wait for a contract or agreement to pop up in the next couple weeks.

Hopefully they can now release the video ipod and reduce the price of my ipod.

twoodcc · May 2, 2006, 01:13 AM

great news. keep it up Apple

weitzner · May 2, 2006, 01:40 AM

yay! This really shows that Apple is becoming a force to be reconned with. Not even big evil record labels can push Apple around.

Lollypop · May 2, 2006, 01:50 AM

I think this is great!! 99c seems such a nice price even if its just a sweet marketing number. Now apple can expand the store to more countries and add more videos as well!

nagromme · May 2, 2006, 02:10 AM

Even if the agreements are short-term, it's better than labels bailing out, which some were afraid of.

Fixed single pricing = simplicity = one of iTunes big attractions.

(L) · May 2, 2006, 03:35 AM

Yay, they decided to keep the one-size fits all system. I think they'd actually lose money otherwise, but this probably feels good for consumers too.

joe8232 · May 2, 2006, 04:45 AM

That is great news....for the US. Why do we in Britain still have to pay £.79 which comes out at $1.44????

May 1, 2006, 11:45 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple Renews iTunes Pricing at 99 cents http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif After months of negotiations, Apple announced on Monday that they had renewed contracts with the four largest record companies to sell songs through iTunes for 99 cents each. This represents a win for Apple as the record labels have been pushing for variable priced songs for some time now. In that model, newer songs would cost more than $.99 while older songs would cost less. Steve Jobs has reportedly insisted on keeping pricing constant for all songs at $.99. With iTunes now with 80% of the U.S. digital music marketshare, "the labels need Apple too much right now", according to one record executive. No comments were made in the article regarding the term of the contracts.

May 1, 2006, 11:47 PM	#2
Platform macrumors 68030 Join Date: Dec 2004	Good, this is the way it should be __________________ Aluminium Macbook \| 20" iMac G5 (iSight)

May 1, 2006, 11:48 PM	#3
amateurmacfreak macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2005	Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. New ads, this... Apple is making me happy. __________________ I like life. - Emma

May 1, 2006, 11:49 PM	#5
technocoy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Raleigh, NC	awesome... this is hilarious... steve wins again!!! I think it's so funny that everyone was saying they wouldn't renew and that if they did it would be with no contract.... maybe they like that apple green more than they let on. __________________ 4GB 1G nano, 16GB iPhone 2.4 17" MBP 2.66 MacPro, 3TB, 5Gigs of RAM, 8800GT 2.9 Quad FakePro, 2TB, 8Gigs, 2 9800s, BR/HD DVD

May 1, 2006, 11:50 PM	#6
shigzeo macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Korea	winning is not easy somehow for once i thought i would read something first... and be able to comment on it... rather, i just follow suite and say, yeah steve!

May 1, 2006, 11:49 PM	#4
dynamicd macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chicago	Good to see newer songs won't cost more than .99 a piece. It seems like Apple's marketshare makes it possible for them to delegate whatever pricing scheme they deem fair.

May 1, 2006, 11:50 PM	#7
Superdrive macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Far out... Glad to see the right things work out here. Had prices gone up, I would have been forced to find music elsewhere.

May 1, 2006, 11:51 PM	#8
Ja Di ksw macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2003	This is what a lot of us have been waiting to hear. Congrats to Apple! That could not have been an easy fight. I wonder how long it is for . . . . __________________ Fetch Daddy's blue fright wig! I must be handsome when I unleash my rage.

May 1, 2006, 11:57 PM	#10
Felldownthewell macrumors 65816 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland	whew. Now that that is out of the way we can all start complaining about how the songs aren't $0.50 each! __________________ "Under a government which imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison" -Henry David Thoreau

May 2, 2006, 12:00 AM	#12
EricNau macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA	Glad to hear that Apple won and got to keep the songs at $.99. __________________ November is Pancreatic Caner Awareness Month www.PanCan.org \| Get Involved

May 2, 2006, 12:28 AM	#14
~Shard~ macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 1123.6536.5321	Great news - way to stick by your guns Apple and refuse to budge. I like it. __________________ My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants. - J. Brotherton

May 2, 2006, 12:30 AM	#15
kasei macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA	Damn...now I have to use self control to regulate my shopping on iTunes. On a serious note that is great.... __________________ 13" 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook; 17" 1.33 GHz PowerBook with 1 Gig of RAM; 32 GB 3GS iPhone/Black; 8GB iPhone 1st Gen; 4GB iPod Mini; 4GB iPod Nano;

May 2, 2006, 12:38 AM	#16
Doctor Q macrumors god Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the table with countless relatives	Actually, I want more complicated pricing. Namely, I want to be able to upgrade from a few tracks on an album to the entire album for the difference in price. That way, I can buy songs I already know and like and, when I find that the group's music has grown on me, I can "upgrade" to the album. I'd spend more if Apple allowed this. They don't have to make the interface look much different to do this. They can simply have the album prices change when you already purchased tracks from that album. __________________ "You've just been abducted, of course you need crepes!" -- Walter Bishop

May 2, 2006, 01:01 AM	#19
Chef Medeski macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Montreal, QC	HINT HINT!!! This is great news not because of the stupid pricing thing. But because renewed deals. Apple had been trying to make deals with media companies over video content, which of course nearly all due music as well. I'm sure it not just an audio thing, but actually a full blow agreement over music and video. I'm almost assured of this. Just wait for a contract or agreement to pop up in the next couple weeks. Hopefully they can now release the video ipod and reduce the price of my ipod.

May 2, 2006, 01:13 AM	#20
twoodcc macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Right side of wrong	great news. keep it up Apple

May 2, 2006, 01:40 AM	#21
weitzner macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY	yay! This really shows that Apple is becoming a force to be reconned with. Not even big evil record labels can push Apple around.

May 2, 2006, 01:50 AM	#22
Lollypop macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa	I think this is great!! 99c seems such a nice price even if its just a sweet marketing number. Now apple can expand the store to more countries and add more videos as well! __________________ What do you get when u cross a nun with apple? A computer that will never go down on you!!

May 2, 2006, 02:10 AM	#23
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	Even if the agreements are short-term, it's better than labels bailing out, which some were afraid of. Fixed single pricing = simplicity = one of iTunes big attractions. __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

May 2, 2006, 03:35 AM	#24
(L) macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: L	Yay, they decided to keep the one-size fits all system. I think they'd actually lose money otherwise, but this probably feels good for consumers too. __________________ L

May 2, 2006, 04:45 AM	#25
joe8232 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2005	That is great news....for the US. Why do we in Britain still have to pay £.79 which comes out at $1.44????

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode