Apple: iTunes LP is free, will be open to all
Blame the Cupertino, California-based Mac, iPod and iPhone maker’s lack of transparency or the propensity of anyone with a blog to fill that void with whatever happens to come out of their mouths, but iTunes LP is free and the company will soon publish open specifications on how it’s done.
Recently, Chicago-based independent music producer Brian McKinney generated a lot of smoke about what he believes iTunes LP is — expensive at $10,000 per title and exclusionary, not being open to the indies — based on hearsay from his distributor. However, according to Music Week, it seems that Apple doesn’t charge a $10,000 authoring fee for iTunes LP artwork and multimedia, and this digital album format will soon be open to everyone once the kinks get worked out.
“There is no production fee charged by Apple,” says an unnamed Apple spokesman quoted by Music Week. “We’re releasing the open specs for iTunes LP soon, allowing both major and indie labels to create their own.”
Now that Apple’s said straight up that there are no fees, that a standard will be published and that all music makers will be welcome to participate, McKinney’s singing a less whiney tune, though only just slightly.
[I]t is currently possible to design an iTunes LP independently. I’ve tested a couple designs on iTunes and they work great. The problem is that Apple won’t let you sell them through their store. So, the $10,000 production fee isn’t the barrier, it’s the exclusion of indie labels and artists by Apple.”
McCredibility
Come again? How about the problem is, Brian, that the universe doesn’t turn around you and that Apple’s working out the kinks before opening iTunes LP to every under resourced indie troll with a blog.
I’m not ashamed of speaking out, given the information that I had because that’s my responsibility and my right as an American.”
You know, Brian, I’m sure Jerry Springer and Glen Beck would agree with you…
What’s your take?
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Filed under: Corporate news, Music, Software, iPhone, iPod
“I’m sure Jerry Springer and Glen Beck would agree with you…”
You should have mentioned Ron Paul while you were at it!
/s
Not reading anymore; just had to be a political asshole, didn’t you?
This is par for the course. Someone comes up with an inane accusation in a feeble attempt to make Apple look bad. The mainstream press picks it up and it spreads far and wide in a matter of minutes.
Then, when the story turns out to have been a complete fabrication, the press ignores it – no retractions or corrections, no apologies for publishing fabricated rumors, nothing. They’re too busy with the next fabricated anti-Apple story, I guess.
re: “Not reading anymore; just had to be a political asshole, didn’t you?”
Not sure I follow…I mean, isn’t Glen Beck the political asshole?
I’m just saying…
Other than that, I agree that the press is guilty of it’s own assholery…they just love to sensationalize whether they have real facts or not, and tend to ignore any rebuttals or accurate corrections.
Seems to me like Apple is doing it right.
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