Apple forced to lower price at U.K. iTunes store

According to an Apple statement sent out yesterday, Apple will equalize the price of music on its iTunes Stores across Europe within the next six months.

It seems the peeps at Which? weren't satisfied that us Brits were being charged more for music in iTunes than the rest of Europe, so they filed a formal complaint with the U.K.'s Office of Fair Trading, which then contacted the European Commission, which started antitrust proceedings. Apple's decision has satisfied the EC, which will take no further action.

At the moment you have to pay 79 pence (about $1.53) per track in the U.K. iTunes Store, while the rest of Europe only pays 99 euro cents (about $1.33). So we're not talking huge savings, but it's still important that companies take some notice that we won't be ripped off by "rounding up." EC Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes commented, "The Commission is very much in favour of solutions which allow consumers to benefit from a truly Single Market for music downloads."

In the press release, Apple states that it "will reconsider its continuing relationship in the U.K. with any record label that does not lower its wholesale prices in the U.K. to the pan-European level within six months".

(Source: Crave UK)

[make_or_break]

Even at .99 ?

It's a 33% premium than what we here in the U.S. pay (at current exchange rates).

[Delfairen]

33% cheaper....

Even at 33% cheaper its cheaper than the vast majority of things sold in the UK in comparison to most electronic items/clothing etc.

On average the cost in dollars is the cost in pounds, which appears to be fair until you look at the exchange rate and realise that its 1USD is roughly 2GBP.

But then again the prices of Gas is even more screwy 2.99USD per gallon and 1.03GBP per litre which is 3.93BBP per gallon or roughly 7.86USD per gallon.

[Dirk VanNerden]

Less $$$ for Apple : .(

Now all we gotta do is get them to stop ripping off recording artist. Only 14% of iTunes sales go the the artist. Apple currently rakes in 30% of the sale. For those not good with math, that leaves the record company rapist with the biggest slice 56%. Maybe I'm retarted- but should'nt this scale be in the opisite order?

Of course if you own the lable, then it's not as bad of a deal. However in both cases I would cut Apples take 5%.