New iTunes LP format is live

Promotional page for iTunes LP, which appeared in the iTunes Music Store on Wednesday.

(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Rosoff/CNET)

I'm following Apple's "It's Only Rock and Roll" event along with the CNET staff, but even before the event started, I saw that Apple has revealed its new LP format for iTunes.

It's called iTunes LP, and you can access it by clicking the top item on the "More to Explore" box in the left side of the iTunes Store front page. The new format includes more album art, lyrics, writing about the record, video (such as interviews with band members), and perhaps additional songs.

There are only a handful of albums available in the format right now (see screenshot for the six that are advertised on the iTunes LP page), but I'm sure that more are coming.

So far, I haven't been able to download the iTunes 9 software, but it's available in earlier versions as well.

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[mospeed09]

Just checked and you can't download iTunes 9 right now. It says coming soon...

[sodablue]

Why would I want music with clicks and pops? I think I'll stick to my CDs.

[ducttape36]

while this is cool, it will probably only be avaible for mainstream commercial artists. ill keep going to my local record store for real LPs that dont require a computer to enjoy.

[daveturnley]

But can you cut a line or roll a joint on iTunes 9?

[ducttape36]

HA! nearly spit out my coffee at that one!

[BPMelvin]

Artists have more input...at iTunes...

probably more correct to say Major Labels

my music is on iTunes but so far I haven't hears a thing about any changes to what goes up. The only thing they show is an Album cover so far.

[BPMelvin]

Artists have more input...at iTunes...

probably more correct to say Major Labels

my music is on iTunes but so far I haven't heard a thing about any changes to what goes up. The only thing they show is an Album cover so far.

[dcjenner]

Album LP is a great concept - the issue, I already paid for the original album on vinyl, I paid for the album in iTunes and now they want me to pay again for the LP. It may be worth more but why not offer an upgrade reduced price for those that already paid for the complete album through iTunes? Let's be fair.

[dodgerdo]

ION has a turntable with an Ipod port. You can digitize your vinyl. The GEMM.com marketplace has something like 30 million vinyl records from 80,000 different music vendors. Insane. There's something very cool about vinyl records. Good vinyl in perfect condition sounds great. There's nothing better if you like how your music sounds. The art work ain't bad either.

[ericpaulsnowden]

I did a pretty in depth write up on the iTunes LP format, from both a content and a development perspective. Check it out. http://www.ericpaulsnowden.com/blog/index.php/2009/09/dissecting-the-itunes-lp/