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Warner Music Considering Not Renewing Long-Term iTunes Contract

bubblegum80 said:
CD's are not expensive, nor are they overpriced.
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I think everyone agrees $9.99 is a fair price for a CD, but how did they get there?

By huge retailers like Wal-Mart pressuring the labels to lower their wholesale price. It wasn't by the kind benevolance of the labels.

Without the kind of pressure Wal-Mart/Best Buy/Amazon brought, we'd still be paying $16.99 at Tower for CDs.

The labels do not understand the value of their product in the public eye, period. Especially digitally.
 
Shadow said:
Not sure about that...people buy iPods because they are good players not because of the store. A recent study showed that most of the music on iPods is pirated anyway (I think ;))....
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I don't know about that. Many credible reviews have long stated that players by Creative and Microsoft are better than the iPod. I'm pretty sure the appeal of the iPod is how easily it ties into the iTunes Store, and thus, its wide array of available music.
 
Consultant said:
...snip.......
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like i said, you can look at it or envision a future for it in your case, however you wish. none the less the reality of it is that Apple is playing hardball in it's own backyard, but the industry giants are vigorously trying to creating other ball parks to play in quickly, not in Apple's backyard.


This news bit may not be much news as it's apparent that Warner is merely playing scare tactics in order to let Apple know, "buddy, your not holding all the cards here". still the story highlights the delicate balance that is the relationship between Apple and the Copyright holders (music & movies).


I never said I agree with pricing and the labels. But i'm not stupid either. Comprise would be wise for the long haul.


EDIT: btw , regarding your comment about me working in the music industry. You are correct but not in your context. I actually like the "Free music model" . The sale of music is only about 25% of revenue generated in the music industry as it is. The entire dispute in the music industry regarding piracy has more to do with control (god knows technology flipped, fried, and blended up the former control and distribution model in a short few years) then it has to do with revenue from sales.
 
What!!!!!

Quillz said:
I don't know about that. Many credible reviews have long stated that players by Creative and Microsoft are better than the iPod. I'm pretty sure the appeal of the iPod is how easily it ties into the iTunes Store, and thus, its wide array of available music.
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Creative maybe has a few competitve players. But Players by Microsoft?

Comeon, the Zune is no iPod.
 
It'll be just like when Foreman went to look for a new job, then came crawling back to Dr. Cuddy.
 
I do not know which artists are at which label. If I want to buy some songs and have to figure out at which label they are available and sign up for an account all the convenience is gone. I just won't bother with it. Apple has a great solution for it. I guess we just have to wait till the labels see a shrinking bottom line and come to their senses.

Steffen
 
Amazon's music service is clearly superior to iTunes. I'll take a DRM-free browser-based platform-independent music service over a bloated DRM-infused iTunes. Let me use my music without implying I'm a crook. Consumer trust, novel idea I know.
 
Blue Velvet said:
Let's not get too hysterical... wait, this is MacRumors. What am I saying? ;)


Originally Posted by The Article
Warner Music Group, whose contract with Apple expires at year-end, is considering switching to a month-to-month deal with Apple, said a source with knowledge of the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no decision has been made.


So there it is. No decision. No news.
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Well said :) I added additional emphasis: there's no decision on switching to a DIFFERENT deal with Apple. This article is NOT about Warner leaving iTunes.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled hysteria.
 
Quillz said:
I don't know about that. Many credible reviews have long stated that players by Creative and Microsoft are better than the iPod. I'm pretty sure the appeal of the iPod is how easily it ties into the iTunes Store, and thus, its wide array of available music.
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Have you got a source?
 
OK, Apple Inc to my knowledge can become a Label it self. Time to start signing artists. Apple can pay the Artists a lot better than the Major Labels since it has little overhead. It can even promote them and their concerts.

I wonder what the big labels will do if Apple heads that way.
 
waynesworldri said:
So the publishers have proven that price controls are their game and while they sold cd's at a higher price than cassettes even though they were a fraction of the costs to produce, they will try and price-fix this market as well. Good luck to them. I doubt it will work this time.
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Your terms are wrong. Publishers are not record labels, there income is statutory (set by law). You are talking about the record labels and distribution issues.
 
Quillz said:
I don't know about that. Many credible reviews have long stated that players by Creative and Microsoft are better than the iPod. I'm pretty sure the appeal of the iPod is how easily it ties into the iTunes Store, and thus, its wide array of available music.
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I think Quillz has bad eye sights or taking some hallucinogen drugs.

Engadget review on zzzz.une: "We came away underwhelmed and not at all surprised -- and why? The expectations were for Microsoft to deliver a "Microsoft" player and system; maybe not too shabby looking, but not very usable, and definitely bug-ridden."

Also, "The Microsoft Zune is not backward compatible with WMA-DRM9; weak native video support (cannot play protected content) and no video offerings from Zune Marketplace; cannot be used as a hard drive (and no UMS support); proprietary USB; minimal bundled accessories;"

As to creative, they make too many so-so players with so-so reviews that there aren't any reviews of their recent players. By the way, creative flash players are usually pretty bloated, about twice the size of iPod Nanos, and their video players are usually the thickness of (or larger than) the 6 year old first generation iPod.
 
EagerDragon said:
OK, Apple Inc to my knowledge can become a Label it self. Time to start signing artists. Apple can pay the Artists a lot better than the Major Labels since it has little overhead. It can even promote them and their concerts.

I wonder what the big labels will do if Apple heads that way.
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That sounds easy and logical. however, there are established circles and hurdles in this industry that Apple is not positioned to overcome. Never mind the fact that Apple doesn't have the management, staff or facilities in place to take on the arduous task of promoting a single artist let alone a few hundred. To top that off Apple doesn't have an established Library of musical works to generate streaming income from....the list goes ..the point is ... it's just not as easy it you make it sound.
 
I purchased music from itunes.
I purchased music from amazon mp3 service.

My conclusion is apple have a tough competitor
amazon service is nice thats where i been buying my music lately.

Bye Bye iTunes.....

I dont get it can somebody please answer me this...

Apples monopoly is accepted and worshipped
but microsoft operating system and office is not?
which leads me to believe if amazon takes itunes spot and they start shelling out numerous products will this community start hating on amazon and start screaming monopoly?

The mac community overall is helpful but man the double standrad logic behind being a mac fan is overkill.

p.s eagerdragon do you honestly believe that if apple turns into a music label they will pay the artist better? Do you honestly believe apple will offset their earnings to satisfy
end users? I CAN JUST IMAGINE the screams of shareholders if it where to happen.

I am just looking at it as a shareholder and in a business way. It makes no sense to me but maybe you can enlighten me on some key points you may have.
 
I hope Apple pays less to Labels that are on a month to month plan, simply refuses to extend their month to month dreams. Sign a contract, get less with no contract, or take your content and run.
 
Quillz said:
I don't know about that. Many credible reviews have long stated that players by Creative and Microsoft are better than the iPod. I'm pretty sure the appeal of the iPod is how easily it ties into the iTunes Store, and thus, its wide array of available music.
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And many credible reviews have long stated that the iPod's interface/ease of use (not just iTunes management) is better than Creative and Microsoft :) Small size and great design have often been pluses too.

I'm pretty sure the appeal of Microsoft players is... um... sorry, I got nothing :eek:

(I've never seen ANY credible review state that any player is "better" in a simplistic, blanket sense than the iPod line. Better if you want to rent music, or record voice memos without an add-on, or have FM DJ's, etc.--better in specific ways for specific needs: that's more credible. While the iPod is better for others.)

Not that this article is about Warned taking music off of iTunes anyway.
 
uNext said:
I purchased music from itunes.
I purchased music from amazon mp3 service.

My conclusion is apple have a tough competitor
amazon service is nice thats where i been buying my music lately.

Bye Bye iTunes.....

I dont get it can somebody please answer me this...

Apples monopoly is accepted and worshipped
but microsoft operating system and office is not?
which leads me to believe if amazon takes itunes spot and they start shelling out numerous products will this community start hating on amazon and start screaming monopoly?

The mac community overall is helpful but man the double standrad logic behind being a mac fan is overkill.
Click to expand...

Not double standards, M$ makes buggy crap, has constant hacking bacause it is easy to find those bugs and because the design sucks, is slow to inovate, has little imagination, and is constantly pushing their protocols to others instead of using open standards.

What you see Apple doing is business, they have a hot distribution point, they know how to market it. They are invited to sell thru iTunes or go elsewhere, no bullying, no presure, little or no negotiation. Just because someone is not willing to bend, does not mean that they are bullying, it means they have a strong product and a strong hand. Sort of take it or leave it.
Are you Bill?
 
Music Companies are stupid.

They have ALWAYS been 4 steps behind. Now instead of making their music available on multiple sites giving consumers several options, they want to start dictating again. This is the same attitude that got them in trouble to begin with.

My guess is, Apple wants exclusivity. iTunes or no store. I think Apple should cave in this demand if it is one. iTunes, no matter what Amazon, Walmart, whoever does...will still be highly lucrative because of the iPod and the iTunes compatibility with it. Plain and simple.
 
mustang_dvs said:
I really don't get why content providers are looking to 'play hardball' with Apple by threatening to balkanize the legal distribution of digital music, especially when the iPod holds an 80% share of the market, and iTunes is, so far, the only digital music model to have shown steady profits and customer growth.

You'd think that they forgot how they got into this mess in the first place.
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Actually, it's Apple that has played hard ball. They want a fixed price instead of variable pricing, which is ridiculous when you think about it. As far as I'm concerned, variable pricing is more fair. A longer song should cost more, and likewise, a shorter song should cost less. Older songs should cost less whereas new ones should cost the full amount.

The other issue is that Apple refuses to offer a subscription model for the iPod and iTunes. The music industry wants them to use subscriptions but they refuse, and in turn, the music companies are now being jackasses right back at Apple.
 
boss1 said:
That sounds easy and logical. however, there are established circles and hurdles in this industry that Apple is not positioned to overcome. Never mind the fact that Apple doesn't have the management, staff or facilities in place to take on the arduous task of promoting a single artist let alone a few hundred. To top that off Apple doesn't have an established Library of musical works to generate streaming income from....the list goes ..the point is ... it's just not as easy it you make it sound.
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Never said it was easy, never said it will take them a week. Personnel can be hired, experience can be gained, its a matter of wanting.
 
First off, Apple has bullied around the music industry. They have used the ipod/itms success as a big stick to get what they want. The music industry is irked b/c they don't think they are getting enough cut out of the usage of their product. Without music the ipod would be useless. As far as apple is concerned they make their money off of their hardware, so they don't mind putting huge downward pressure on the song prices.

Apple losing music on itms is a bad thing. Everyone I know who isn't tech-savy has purchased an ipod/itms. They purchased the complete experience and not just some music player. Losing music off of itms will make them rethink what their next player should be, and this is something Apple should be worried about.

I'm sure the labels have mentioned to Apple that if they want to list their music and use it to sell ipods then they want a cut of that juicy ipod revenue. Sounds like the label being greedy, but where have we heard that before? Oh yeah, the deal Apple has with ATT for the iphone...
 
uNext said:
My conclusion is apple have a tough competitor
amazon service is nice thats where i been buying my music lately.

Bye Bye iTunes.....

I dont get it can somebody please answer me this...

Apples monopoly is accepted and worshipped
but microsoft operating system and office is not?
which leads me to believe if amazon takes itunes spot and they start shelling out numerous products will this community start hating on amazon and start screaming monopoly?

The mac community overall is helpful but man the double standrad logic behind being a mac fan is overkill.
Click to expand...


Agreed, the double standard is so obvious and ridiculous. there are superior vehicles for purchasing music from smaller competitors but the fanboyism keeps them in denial. Lemmings I tell you:rolleyes:


(That said i do continue to use itunes for tv shows;))
 
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