Music Labels See Slower iTunes Sales Growth in Wake of Price Increases

[MorphingDragon]

That's what I thought as well and I am surprised nobody else seems to have picked up on it.

Personally, my purchases go down by more than 30%, as I end up adding the song to my wishlist to see if I can get a better deal on Amazon or Lala, but never get around to checking it out, so they keep staying on my wishlist.

Some people don't know how to use percentages properly. In most cases you just can't add them together.

 

[Freeþinker]

Errr... you do realize that iTunes music is DRM-free?

I understand you to mean that iTunes doesn't use DRM the way other media players use it, but I refer to the proprietary mp4 format that won't allow any conversion to mp3 for making disks that can play in a car stereo, for example. That to me is every bit as restrictive as DRM (by the strictest definition.)

And yes, iTunes has wiped out my cover art on Sony titles and some other labels, when I uploaded those files from physical CDs that I had purchased legitimately. I despise iTunes.

 

[notjustjay]

I understand you to mean that iTunes doesn't use DRM the way other media players use it, but I refer to the proprietary mp4 format that won't allow any conversion to mp3 for making disks that can play in a car stereo, for example. That to me is every bit as restrictive as DRM (by the strictest definition.)

Well, now you've got me confused, because I'm pretty sure I've right-clicked on my iTunes AAC .m4a files and selected the "Convert to mp3" command for use in projects such as videos with iMovie. Note that you do need to set up your iTunes import preferences to use MP3 for this to work (if your importer is set to use AAC, then it'll give you the option to convert... AAC to AAC. Useful.)

If you had purchased songs before the switch to DRM-free music ("iTunes Plus") then yes, those .m4p files don't convert.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Well, now you've got me confused, because I'm pretty sure I've right-clicked on my iTunes AAC .m4a files and selected the "Convert to mp3" command for use in projects such as videos with iMovie. Note that you do need to set up your iTunes import preferences to use MP3 for this to work (if your importer is set to use AAC, then it'll give you the option to convert... AAC to AAC. Useful.)

If you had purchased songs before the switch to DRM-free music ("iTunes Plus") then yes, those .m4p files don't convert.

.m4a is the non-protected version of MPEG4-AUDIO. Any OpenSource software will convert .m4a or .m4p to MP3. If it bugs you that much download Max.

 

[RazHyena]

I understand you to mean that iTunes doesn't use DRM the way other media players use it, but I refer to the proprietary mp4 format that won't allow any conversion to mp3 for making disks that can play in a car stereo, for example. That to me is every bit as restrictive as DRM (by the strictest definition.)

And yes, iTunes has wiped out my cover art on Sony titles and some other labels, when I uploaded those files from physical CDs that I had purchased legitimately. I despise iTunes.

Not to mention the personally identifying meta data that is stored in those "DRM Free" files. Hope your iPod isn't stolen and your files shared online. The RIAA will be hunting YOU down, not the thief.

 

[Freeþinker]

Well, now you've got me confused, because I'm pretty sure I've right-clicked on my iTunes AAC .m4a files and selected the "Convert to mp3" command for use in projects such as videos with iMovie. Note that you do need to set up your iTunes import preferences to use MP3 for this to work (if your importer is set to use AAC, then it'll give you the option to convert... AAC to AAC. Useful.)

If you had purchased songs before the switch to DRM-free music ("iTunes Plus") then yes, those .m4p files don't convert.

Thank you for your thorough and helpful explanation, but, as it turns out, those songs were purchased prior to Apple's decision to go "DRM-free," if I may continue to misuse the term.

 

[Freeþinker]

.m4a is the non-protected version of MPEG4-AUDIO. Any OpenSource software will convert .m4a or .m4p to MP3. If it bugs you that much download Max.

Thanks for the recommendation to use Max. I might get that. Do you consider it to be superior to DRM Dumpster?

 

[arjen]

This is great news for the consumer.

I've read an article lately in which a researcher argues a ¢60 price point is the optimum price point for maximum profit.

From my own perspective I must say that I would be inclined to buy even more songs, even the slightly lesser onces (in my opinion) just to capture the timeframe in music. Now I only buy $1 songs which I like. €1.29? To bad, but I am still boycotting those https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/682876/.

Hope the music industry will come to it's senses and lower prices.