Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iTunes Canada... Soon

Re: Re: Just so you should understand ...

Originally posted by danbirchall
For those who don't know the music biz, the CMRRA is roughly analagous to BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) or ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) here in the U.S.

They're still concerned with folks getting their royalty checks, but since the song owner/music publisher is often the person (or people) who wrote the song, this is entirely different from the RIAA, which is concerned with making sure the labels get theirs - CMRRA, BMI and ASCAP end up making sure artists and people like that get theirs. :)
Click to expand...

Nicely timed posted, I was about to ask if the CMRRA was like ASCAP/BMI. :)

Mr. Basskin, thank you very much for taking time out, repeatedly, to answer Q's and educate us a bit as to the iTMS Canada situation. I know it's something many of us, especially Canadian Mac users, have been wondering about since iTMS was first announce.


Lethal

EDIT: I guess I should thank you, Mr. Basskin, for clearing up the ASCAP/BMI thing and thank danbirchall for attempting to clear it up. :D
 
I agree

I am also a bit sceptical as to Mr Basskins authenticity. Why we he come out to answer questions? Doesn't make sense. Maybe we should ask him a few questions about Canada...


Anyway, as a Canadian...I have to agree with the pricing strategy. They have to be .99CDN. We earn Canadian Dollars here and a dollar is a dollar, no matter where you earn it. Most Canadians will mot pay 1.49 for a song when most new release CD's are $13 dollars at A&B, Wal-Mart, Future Shop or even the Mom and Pop shops.

Flo
 
As a Canadian, and one who has bought many CD's over time, I must say that I've honestly never seen a $13.99 new release until now. Normally, when you walk into your local CD shop (HMV, Music World...the big ones), if you're lucky you'll get away with $16.99 or so I find. $18.99 is very common, and many sell for $20+ (most of the ones I take interest in when I'm browsing anyways)

The cheaper prices I think has to do with Universal dropping CD prices....or maybe it's just me. I dunno. Either way, I will still pay $0.99 a song even if I can get a full CD for $13. Most of the time, I don't want the whole album anyways, just those few good tunes on there.

I hope we get the iTMS soon...listening to the previews is fun and all, but it'd be nice to click the buy button sometime :D

EDIT: Almost forgot. I live in Ontario, where the sales tax adds up to 15%. So even if I can get a CD for $13, it ends up being around $15, etc.
 
Hey, I've been called names before ...

... but nobody ever called me imaginary. I'm quite real, I can assure you. I'll be the first to agree that most music industry executives don't deal with the public directly. It's their loss.

I'm not most music industry executives, and CMRRA isn't your typical industry organization. See our site (http://www.cmrra.ca) for more information.

David A. Basskin
President
CMRRA Ltd.
Toronto, Canada
 
Re: Re: interesting point

Originally posted by NavyIntel007
For starters CDs in canada are usually no more than $13. So having anything more than $.99 a song would not make money. In canada they don't make up employee pay on the american dollar. So a canadian making $9/hour is doing the same amount of work as a US employee making $9/hour and yet the money is not worth the same.

Are we to say that Canadians don't work as hard as people in the US? Absolutely not, that's obsurd.

The difference between $.99 CAD and $.99 USD is small. It's not as if the artists are making any more money on CDs in canada when clearly the CD prices in canada are sometimes half (with currency conversion) of what they cost in the States.
Click to expand...
I think there is a little misunderstanding. It is obvious that the price/track can not be higher than the average CD price...other wise it is not competitive, what I wanted to point out was the potential problem with iTMS in different countries...
clearly there will be a problem once iTMS will be spread overdifferent contries...except if Apple does a country-localized iTMS...otherwise, I will probably by music on iTMS canada, and not in Europe...I do understand your point concerning price/track if a CD is around $13 CAD, not such a problem in Europe, in France it is around 15-18 Euro/CD, so 0.99 Euro/track coud be quite competitive, but I can buy the same track on iTMS canada for even $0.99 CAD it will be a good deal....
 
99 Cent Songs Everywhere

I am sure that they will be able to detect where the cardholder is from. They know I am in Canada, so it will charge my card $0.99 CDN...and they will know that you are in Europe with a European Credit Card. An American could not pay the CDN rate nor could a Europeean pay the CDN rate. iTunes will know where you are....and you would have no choice.


I suspect that the biggest problem will lie in getting the same Record companies in the US to accept less per track (for CDN customers) for the same music. One CDN dollar is approximately $0.73 US. From what I have heard, Apple makes only about $0.08 per song, so they would not be able to sell the music at the lower rate without striking a new deal for the costs per track. The only way that lowering the price would be possible is if the Canadian branches of the record companies (Universal Canada, BMG Canada etc.) are free to make there own licensing arrangements independant of what has already happened in the US.

From an American looking at the price Canadians pay....sure it would look cheaper....but we Canadians still view it as $0.99 (Not $0.73 US).

Does that make sense? I may have lost myself...

Flo
 
I'd say it's time to move questions for Mr. Basskin over...

I'd say it's time to move questions for Mr. Basskin over to his site directly--he's been extremely generous with his time & posts here, but has also gently-but-repeatedly suggested that the discussion should be moved to their site :)
 
Re: I agree

Originally posted by florio
I am also a bit sceptical as to Mr Basskins authenticity. Why we he come out to answer questions? Doesn't make sense. Maybe we should ask him a few questions about Canada...
Click to expand...

To clear the air, Mr. Basskin is not an imposter.

arn
 
Originally posted by RStone
(HMV, Music World...the big ones)
Click to expand...
There's part of your problem.

While Music World tends to be in line with the $13.99 - $16.99 window (at least in T.O.), HMV is routinely ~$1-2 more expensive for CD's than any of the other major players.

In my experience, if you're shopping there you're going to be over paying on everything...
 
I'm not sure if this has been noted yet, but, the CMRRA http://www.cmrra.ca/default.html is the same licensing agency that is currently part of the group http://www.cpcc.ca/ imposing levies on recordable media in Canada. Currently this levy is relatively small and managable, however, this agency has been trying to increase not only the percentage of the levy, but also what the levy is applicable to:

http://www.sycorp.com/levy/, a report on their good work: http://music.instabizsolutions.com/index.php/article/view/228/1/39/. With all the bureaucracy involved in administering such a levy, it makes me wonder who exactly is getting this money. http://www.avav.ca/unfair_media_levy.html

Say what you want, but this is the music industry doing their own style of stealing from other people and industries.

As a rodnarms noted in regards to iTMS:

I have e-mailed the CRIA, Canada's RIAA and received a response.

"Dear Mr. Armstrong,

I'm not aware of iTunes' business plans for the introduction of their service in Canada but I can tell you that they haven't contacted us yet . I imagine they'll be in touch some time in the near future, however, now that we've got the licensing framework in place.

We'll publish any new news of iTunes' introduction at our website so please continue to visit.

Regards,

Jennifer Hardy
Manager of Administration
Canadian Recording Industry Association"


That means there is no indication as of yet that Apple is dealing with the industry - only the artists.
Click to expand...

While this is a good first step, I find it quite suprising that Apple hasn't contacted the CRIA in this matter.

As for the levy, my main concern is that it unfarily penalizes music consumers who abide by the law and consumers in other industries who use recordable media such as the Photographic industry, who use various types of camera cards, hard drives, CD's and DVD's purely for recording of images.

http://www.ccfda.ca/

I might also add that along with other companies, Apple Canada is a member of the ccfda, who are against this blatant tax grab.
 
Now with ISP taxes

Not being happy stealing millions already from Canadians, seems David Basskin has found another means to get more of our money!

http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031203.gtsocan1203/BNStory/Technology/

"SOCAN argues that everyone is downloading music, so all ISPs should pay a blanket royalty fee." Really? And this research comes from whom...SOCAN??? Very simplistic rationalization.

"I believe that those who benefit from selling access to music should compensate the creators," Compensate you for nothing...with this kind of rationalization, companies, groups, orgainzations could start demanding taxation in the form of levies, fees or extra service charges for services we are already paying for.

SOCAN, CMRRA are morally bankrupt and are looking towards taxation schemes to deal with their inability to manage these new technologies.

...where do I send in my CD purchase receipts for my rebate?
 
i just don't understand how any canadian would pay per song when they can legally download the song for free. i only see this happening for obscure music, which is prolly not on iTMS. for most other stuff, i would be happy with a .mp3 downloaded and checked out for quality for free.

what is it that makes someone who is paying a tax to download for free to pay more to download for pay?
 
If only it were that simple

To use most file-sharing programs, you aren't allowed to be a "free-loader." And it's illegal to upload.

It's only legal to download so that we can be taxed. There is still the sense of it being "wrong."

There are a surprising number of people who recognize some things as "wrong" and want to do things legally, morally, without a heavy conscience.

iTunes Music Store in Canada!
 
I agree. Also, while it is technically legal to download, it isn't "the right thing to do".

As much as the CCRA and their cronies don't like it, their little "levy" only works to legitimize downloading.

What we need are more music stores, and Puretracks just doesn't cut it because they use WMA files which gives me no choice (sorry microsoft) We need the king of all music stores...iTMS.

And we need to get this levy recinded. Hopefully some of the legal persuits that are currently going on to repeal this tax grab will be sucessful.
 
Re: Re: interesting point

Originally posted by NavyIntel007
For starters CDs in canada are usually no more than $13. So having anything more than $.99 a song would not make money. In canada they don't make up employee pay on the american dollar. So a canadian making $9/hour is doing the same amount of work as a US employee making $9/hour and yet the money is not worth the same.

Are we to say that Canadians don't work as hard as people in the US? Absolutely not, that's obsurd.

The difference between $.99 CAD and $.99 USD is small. It's not as if the artists are making any more money on CDs in canada when clearly the CD prices in canada are sometimes half (with currency conversion) of what they cost in the States.
Click to expand...

Telstra Australia just opened their online music store on Thursday available to Australian residents only so I cant buy from it. Their tracks are based on the .99US per track and priced at 1.17 AUS I think ( what ever the current exchange rate is)

I would expect when we get iTMS in NZ after Australia gets theirs that our tracks will be priced at .99C US = NZ $1.58 approx depending on currency fluctuations

The US dollar is regarded as International currency so most prices in different countries when being traded internationally are based on the US dollar. It has nothing to do with how hard someone works for $9 Can and hour or $9 US an hour

So my guess is you might find that iTMS will be priced at .99C US per track world wide but with country specific stores other wise eveyone would end up paying NZ .99C per track which works out at about .60c US going on the current exchange rate (approx) and then the US industry really would struggle
 
just a bit offf the topic

Microsoft to modify software
Ted Bridis
JANUARY 16, 2004

MICROSOFT has agreed under pressure to change its Windows software to resolve complaints by the US Justice Department that it unfairly influenced how customers buy their music online, the US government said.

Microsoft will offer updated software for its Windows XP operating system in February or March to stop its disputed practice of compelling consumers who buy music on the web to use only Microsoft's internet browser. The company continues to maintain its design was legal.
Government antitrust lawyers concluded that the design violated the landmark antitrust settlement approved by a federal court in October 2002.
 
Re: iTunes in Canada... Soon

Originally posted by jimjiminyjim
When is soon, anyway? Once madcow disease leaves stops being an issue? My goodness!
Click to expand...

Sounds like there is going to be a bunch of iTMS stores opening up world wide very soon

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,8401276^15306^^nbv^,00.html

The research indicates the number of internet-connected Australians who frequently downloaded music illegally fell from 14per cent in October 2002 to 8per cent in July 2003. AMR analyst Nick Steigrad said that while this showed there was a growing opportunity for commercial music services, Bigpond was likely to face stiff competition from Apple Computer, which is expected to replicate its US iTunes online music store in Australia in the next few months.

iTunes is the most popular online music retailer, partly because of the popularity of Apple's iPod music players.

However, Mr Milne said BigPond's music service would benefit from its existing customer base of 1.5million Australians. Ninemsn, a joint venture between Microsoft and Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd, also plans to launch an online music service early this year, while Telstra's main competitor Optus said it preferred to let internet users choose their own music service.
 
Just a thought

Call me slow (I'm a guy )

It just occured to me that with HP's release of the HiPod and iTunes in April for all their PCs and laptops world wide then it would make sense to release iTMS world wide at the same time in each respective country
 
Re: Just a thought

Originally posted by winmacguy
Call me slow (I'm a guy )

It just occured to me that with HP's release of the HiPod and iTunes in April for all their PCs and laptops world wide then it would make sense to release iTMS world wide at the same time in each respective country
Click to expand...

That would be an impressive feat. It would be (yes, this is apple...) completely unprecedented. The work that's been done however makes it a possibility.

Wow. Not to underestimate the value of what apple has done for their home country, but this thought made me realize the enormity of such a project. Huh. iTunes World!! This is all very interesting.
 
CD prices in Western Canada

Just to clear up a few things about CD pricing in western Canada to people from the US and those in other parts of Canada:

Pricing in western Canada, thanks in no small part to A&B Sound, has been remarkable affordable for as long as I can remember.

CD's around $13 CAD ($15 CAD max) was very common for new releases. And now with the reduction in CD prices by Universal Canada, A&B slashed their CD prices ACROSS THE BOARD not just for Universal CD's like Futureshop and HMV did.

Case in point: The Coldplay "Rush of Blood to the Head" release price of $9.99 CAD. Now for less (because of the exchange rate) than the iTMS you have the actual CD.

Granted, prices aren't always as low as that, but with $12 CAD on the low end and $15 CAD on the high end, Canadians (at least those in western Canada) wont be paying $1.49 CAD per song. And certainly not $15.99 CAD for an album.

One last bid of information...CD prices were compared continent-wide and Vancouver came out on top with an average price of $10.78 USD compared to New York at upwards of $20.00 USD.


EDIT: typo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back