|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
September 25, 2005 ../ Download Price Hike ImminentRumors of a rise in individual download prices on the leading online music services surfaced again when Steve Jobs, Apple Computer's CEO, did some major whining to the press that he was being pressured by several major labels to increase prices.Jobs has insisted that an increase above the 99 cent threshold would turn innocent, law-abiding legal downloaders into a pack of rabid dogs intent to only get their digital music through illegal means. While he has a point, the online world knows that several other music services are thriving selling downloads up to $2.99 each. Beatport.com announced at the Billboard Dance Summit that they are selling 50,000 tracks per month at $1.99 each. Jobs was particularly scratchy when speaking to the press at the Apple Expo show in Paris. He reportedly called the majors pushing for the increase "greedy" even though prices for individual songs are more expensive in Europe and Asia. Warner and EMI are pushing for the hike while Universal Music appears content with the 99 cent price point. Sony BMG declined to comment, but iTunes Japan launched without their catalog. In the US, iTunes accounts for over 80 percent of all legal downloads with 500,000 and counting to date.
The Future: Look for prices to increase to
$1.29 or $1.49 in 2006. The contracts with the major labels are up for renewal and while Jobs may persuade
some of the majors to remain at the 99 cent price point, others, notably Warner, will object. Even if Universal
signs on at 99 cents, they will certainly have a clause that gives them the right to increase the price if another
label renews at a higher rate.
Copyright © 2005 Futuremusic® All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
 As the name correctly implies, Experiments In Sound, is Futuremusic's latest endeavor for pushing electronic music technology to the very edge of what's possible. Experiments In Sound grew out of Futuremusic's avant-garde events in New York City that featured DJ's taking mixing and live sound reinforcement to a whole new level with the very latest gear and software. Now Experiments In Sound has become The Ultimate Mix Contest...
After the tremendous success of our groundbreaking The Next Big Thing DJ Contest, Futuremusic has decided to once again create a new paradigm...
Futuremusic wants to thank everyone who participated in The Next Big Thing 2004. John Digweed, Beatport, Alienware, M-Audio, Native Instruments, IK Multimedia, PVDJ, PK Graphics, Ableton, The DubHouse, Propellerheads, Technics, FreeFloat, The Church, PCDJ and every DJ who entered this year's event thank you. From the sheer number of quality mixes, we can tell you that dance music is thriving in the United States. The amount of outstanding talent and creativity really blew us away, and every DJ who's putting their heart, mind and soul behind the music is a winner. John Digweed has made his decision and the winner is... Think you got skills?? Then start practicing! The Next Big Thing 2005 will kick off at the end of the summer!!
News Archives
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|