iTunes Discount Aisle
Apple announced today it has added nearly 40 albums to the iTunes library at $5.99 and $6.99 per album, including several DRM-free titles, including Seattle’s Brandy Carlile, Ceu, and LCD Soundsystem.
Earlier in the week Universal announced their intention not to renew a three-year old distribution contract with Apple, placing the iTunes availability of artists such as U2 and Black Eyed Peas in jeopardy. Universal claims it does not have enough control of pricing for certain artists and songs, based on their popularity. Apple has been rigid on its 99 cent, $9.99 album (generally) pricing philosophy.
Could the discount “Next Big Thing” category be another shot by Apple across the bow of the big record labels? The progress of the Universal negotiations will be telling over the next several months.
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