Rumor: Apple getting creative on album pricing
It's one of the problems of the digital-music era. You buy a couple of songs from an album at 99 cents each. After listening to them a few times, you think you might want the album.
Trouble is, you've either got to buy the other nine tracks individually or pay the full $9.99 for the album. Either way, you don't get any credit for the songs you've bought, making you somewhat less likely to buy the album.
So not only are you not getting your tunes, but the music industry is leaving some money on the table.
A source tells CNET News.com that Apple Computer and the record labels are onto this. Supposedly, iTunes customers may soon be able to buy the album and get credit for any single tracks they have bought.
Gartner analyst Mike McGuire said that, if true, such a move does remove an unneccessary barrier.
"In the interest of more consumer-friendly transactions, that makes some sense," McGuire said. "In the end that's dependent on whether I see value in those other eight songs."
Apple has already been showing more flexibility when it comes to album pricing. The company has started selling some classic rock albums for $7.99, $2 less than its typical pricing. There are even a few albums, such as Bon Jovi's eponymous release, for $5.99.
An Apple representative declined to comment.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.
