Apple pledges to reduce prices on iTunes UK
updated 09:30 am EST, Wed January 9, 2008
UK iTunes price drop
Within the next six months, music prices on the UK iTunes Store will drop to fall in line with other European countries, Apple has announced. The company notes that while iTunes pricing is already standardized between countries such as Germany, Ireland, Spain and Sweden, the UK has for some time paid greater song prices; Apple blames this on unnamed record labels, who it accuses of charging more for distribution in the UK than they do elsewhere. The company says it may "reconsider its continuing relationship in the UK" with labels that do not drop their own fees to the European standard.
Based on current European iTunes prices, tracks on the UK iTunes Store should be cut from 79p to 66p, or $1.30 US. The move is not entirely voluntary however, as it is related to an investigation by the European Commission, which has accused Apple of breaking EU law through a combination of unequal pricing and regional restrictions. The decision to drop prices was made in order to resolve the dispute before any sanctions were levied.
Whether record labels will cooperate with Apple is unknown, but the latter may have help from the European Commission, which has also set its sights on the likes of EMI, Warner, Universal and Sony BMG. Since April of last year, the four labels have also been under scrutiny for their role in unfair online pricing.
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01/09, 10:17am reply
Who's the guy with the face?
Monstermind
Junior Member
Joined: May 2000
He is...
01/09, 10:25am reply
He is the face of the UK.
ok, no fricken clue...
unity@mac.com
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2005
The face
01/09, 10:59am reply
It's Thom Yorke from Radiohead. For shame, people.
Roger@MacNN
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2008
for shame
01/09, 12:42pm reply
yes, for shame roger@macnn, for actually knowing that
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
shiver me timbers
01/09, 01:08pm reply
holy c**p, did the sky just fall in.. what's this major corporation not going to profit from rip-off Britain any more - thanks be to god that we have the EU to protect us.
Now maybe they could do something about the price of them iMacs (US price $1199, UK price £799 = $1565).
chucker
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Joined: Mar 2007
whop dee who
01/09, 02:52pm reply
More importantly why cant the EU sort me out a free iPhone with no monthly contract :-(
coldfusion1970
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Joined: Nov 2004
Yorke
01/10, 07:58am reply
testudo, not recognizing the lead of Radiohead is akin to being unable to point out the lead of Pink Floyd back in its heyday.
Roger@MacNN
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Joined: Jan 2008
Huh?
01/10, 11:22am reply
Who is Radiohead? And who listens to radio anymore anyway. They should update their name to ACCHead or DigitalHead.... ya....
unity@mac.com
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Joined: Sep 2005