We first mentioned this back in January, but now the L.A. Times puts a date on it: Hottest tracks to cost $1.29 at iTunes starting April 7.
The world’s largest music store, Apple’s iTunes, plans to boost the price of many hit singles and selected classic tracks to $1.29 on April 7, breaking the psychological barrier of 99 cents in what could be the first big test of how much consumers are willing to pay to download individual songs.
Although the date for higher prices has not been publicly announced, Apple has been notifying record labels it will go into effect on that date, industry executives said.
So what do you think? You willing to spend thirty cents more for that new Flo Rida jam?
If 4 million people are willing to pay $3 each for a Flo Rida ring tone, they’ll probably not blink at $1.29 on iTunes.
Buying music through iTunes is stupid. Always has been, always will be. Get thee a CD from you local record store or even Amazon so you have something tangible.
Well, that’s right 21st century of you.
It was a long time coming, but I no longer really care about physical CDs. I love my music library and my iPod, and if it’s faster and cheaper to get the mp3s, then bully for me. Since iTunes went DRM free I have started buying more stuff from them – and it’s a thing of beauty to be able to buy the shit directly ON MY IPOD. However, if it’s cheaper to dl the music from Amazon, then I can wait a few hours until I get back to my computer. If the CD is cheaper, then I can wait a day or two for delivery. The record companies are playing with fire here.
The last physical CD I actually purchased was Animal Collective’s new one. I find that somehow appropriate.
I buy more vinyl than I do CDs. And I buy more digital downloads than I do vinyl. Which reminds me of a David Cross joke: I think women are smarter than men. It’s true. I also think dogs are smarter than women…
budda bump-ching!