Apple rolling out 90-second iTunes song previews
Apple has begun extending song previews in the iTunes Store to 90 seconds on select songs in the U.S. store.
Some songs on iTunes now offer 90-second previews for users of the U.S. iTunes Music Store. For instance, "Dark Fantasy" by Kanye West currently offers a 90-second preview in the U.S. iTunes Store, but only 30 seconds in the U.K. version.
It is currently unclear whether the extended song samples will eventually apply to all regions and songs.
In November, a letter sent to music label representatives from "The iTunes Store Team" notified rightsholders that Apple was "preparing to increase the length of music previews," but gave no indication of the timeline. The letter stated that representatives would confirm acceptance simply by continuing to offer content on the iTunes Store.
According to the letter, the changes will only affect songs longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Sample cliips for songs shorter than 2 minutes and 30 seconds will stay at 30 seconds.
Apple was originally rumored to announce extended song previews at its Sept. 1 media event, but the deal was reportedly blocked at the last minute by the National Music Publishers Association. Several publishers apparently believed that longer previews should require an additional license for "performance rights."
"We believe that a license is necessary, and conversations must occur before song samples are extended," NMPA general counsel Jay Rosenthal told CNET.
Some songs on iTunes now offer 90-second previews for users of the U.S. iTunes Music Store. For instance, "Dark Fantasy" by Kanye West currently offers a 90-second preview in the U.S. iTunes Store, but only 30 seconds in the U.K. version.
It is currently unclear whether the extended song samples will eventually apply to all regions and songs.
In November, a letter sent to music label representatives from "The iTunes Store Team" notified rightsholders that Apple was "preparing to increase the length of music previews," but gave no indication of the timeline. The letter stated that representatives would confirm acceptance simply by continuing to offer content on the iTunes Store.
According to the letter, the changes will only affect songs longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Sample cliips for songs shorter than 2 minutes and 30 seconds will stay at 30 seconds.
Apple was originally rumored to announce extended song previews at its Sept. 1 media event, but the deal was reportedly blocked at the last minute by the National Music Publishers Association. Several publishers apparently believed that longer previews should require an additional license for "performance rights."
"We believe that a license is necessary, and conversations must occur before song samples are extended," NMPA general counsel Jay Rosenthal told CNET.
Comments
Of course now I shop where I can get my music in just the same high quality, but less expensive and in MP3 format for MP3 cd's which I have at various locations instead of dragging a vulnerable iPod everywhere and possibly forgetting it.
Hard to beat a cheap mixed MP3 cd with a 120 songs on it, unless your jogging or something.
Some songs on iTunes now offer 90-second previews for users of the U.S. iTunes Music Store. For instance, "Dark Fantasy" by Kanye West currently offers a 90-second preview in the U.S. iTunes Store
Isn't 90 seconds of Kanye West considered a form of torture?
...(plus I'll enjoy listening to choruses of interesting songs I'm not necessarily going to buy).
It makes you wonder why the publishers were against this to begin with. Oh, wait...
A longer preview is great and should have been implemented long ago.
Of course now I shop where I can get my music in just the same high quality, but less expensive and in MP3 format for MP3 cd's which I have at various locations instead of dragging a vulnerable iPod everywhere and possibly forgetting it.
Hard to beat a cheap mixed MP3 cd with a 120 songs on it, unless your jogging or something.
The iPod Shuffles do have their shortcomings, but this is one example where they shine. We have two Shuffles for just that purpose.
The trick to not losing them seems to be keeping the earbuds attached. (Good advice for the new Nano as well.)
A longer preview is all well & good but Apple needs to address the outrageous prices for their single songs, tv shows & movies. I can't justify buying anything on itunes anymore since there's so many other places that are offering a lot better value.
Such as...
A longer preview is all well & good but Apple needs to address the outrageous prices for their single songs, tv shows & movies. I can't justify buying anything on itunes anymore since there's so many other places that are offering a lot better value.
If nothing else, Apple should be able to sell a song on iTunes for the same (discounted) price that Amazon is selling it for. And have the same ability to sell all songs individually; it's crap that Apple has to have two or three songs "Album Only" when those songs are available ala carte on the Amazon MP3 store...
...publishers....
Can't really blame them. Performance rights and fees are a lot of how they make money. I don't want to see how much LaLa had to pay. If it was something you owned and uploaded, they were likely in the clear, but the one time free play thing could have been a major cost given that they would love to charge for even a 30 second preview
Those things could be why Apple hasnt rolled that features into iTunes. Publishers might have cut a little guy like LaLa some slack, but Apple has big pockets. And since th publishers have the power, they can hold up such things
it's crap that Apple has to have two or three songs "Album Only" when those songs are available ala carte on the Amazon MP3 store...
Again, the publishers. Same guys that let Amazon put up DRM free music well before Apple could
How I wish Apple would have provided me the ability to track my 30 or soon to be 90 second preview in 10 or 15 or 20 second intervals anywhere in the entire song without exceeding their preview limit! This would be a proper preview!!