Posted by Jeremy Scott in Uncategorized | 0 Comments
Apple Wants to Give You Unlimited Free Music Downloads on iTunes
The current iTunes business model is that you pay $0.99 per song. It’s been that way for quite some time, in fact.
But according to news reports, Apple is negotiating with record labels for a new model that would be music to the ears of iTunes fans: free music access.
That’s right. Free. Apple is trying to get the labels to consent to an iTunes where users gain access to any and all music they desire. The catch–there’s always a catch, isn’t there?–is that Apple would then charge more for their digital music devices, and pass that extra revenue on to the record companies as payment.
So your new iPod might cost $500 or $600, but then you’d have free music access to download all the free songs your device can hold. Well, there’s also a rumor that Apple may include a sort of “membership” or “download subscription” fee–and I can’t tell if that’s in conjunction with the added cost to the mp3 player or as an alternative pricing model. Either way… free music is probably on its way to iTunes soon.
Pretty sweet, eh? Just look at the guy in that picture; that dude is loving this news.
Theoretically, you’d never have to pay for music again… only for mp3 players. Granted, those mp3 players might end up costing as much as a gently used motorcycle, but hey… unlimited free music downloads, right?
Unfortunately, if you own a Zune, you’re out of luck. Sounds like the only folks who will be able to take advantage of this new model will be people who own or buy Apple products like the iPhone and the iPod. Of course, if you own a Zune, you’re probably already used to being in the minority.
The change in revenue model will be huge news if it goes through, and will further cement iTunes’ status as the top destination for digital music downloads. Check back frequently for updates as news of this development becomes more readily available.
