...But does any of this really matter? Are people really going to iTunes Store to give a song a partial listen? I just use YouTube and I get to listen to the whole thing, often with a video.
Exactly why the 360 deals that Iovine is familiar with come into play. He'll get more cross-promotional activity going on to make up for the loss on the music (I refer to things like the Beyonce video/music release that was a recent iTunes exclusive, and the Beats promotions using licensed properties).
This has nothing to do with the media companies. Why on earth would they care about 30 vs 90 second previews? This is about Apple trying out the shorter previews to see if A) people even care and save on bandwidth costs if they don't.
What? Ok, so, them serving up 40+GB of developer videos every year after WWDC has ended, available to anyone, not just registered devs is simply because that saves them the bandwidth by not sending it over to everyone with an AppleID over email¿
Or them upgrading the video store from 720 to 1080 even though they didn't see the need for it but the public wanted that?
Bandwidth? Right. On skipping 60 seconds of an 256kb audio file, only streamed to those who use previews. Seriously, I have no words for your post. I also can't figure out how you think Apple is going to get any feedback on uploading a stream accessible to anonymous people.
It appears that Apple has recently changed its iTunes Music Store policy regarding song samples, reverting preview times for certain tracks from 90 seconds to the old 30-second standard.
As I remember it (but the memory isn't as good as it used to be LOL) the shift to longer previews was never promised to be for the entire catalog available on the iTunes store. I know it was rolled out in stages.
I would like the option to switch between preview lengths (e.g., 30, 60, 90 secs) controlled of course by what the artists provide) cause there are times I want lo listen to a preview of and album (especially a "Best of" collection) where I really don't want to listen to the longer preview
I would like the option to switch between preview lengths (e.g., 30, 60, 90 secs) controlled of course by what the artists provide) cause there are times I want lo listen to a preview of and album (especially a "Best of" collection) where I really don't want to listen to the longer preview
Got to admit learning to play a guitar and playing in a rock group worked pretty well for that ...
I knew you sounded familiar, your that rock Casanova that told me I could stay a virgin by having bummy love instead. You know I had to carry an extra pair of underwear with me for a week because of your shenanigans, on the plus side I got to keep my purity ring.
I always thought 30 seconds was too short and 90 seconds longer than it needs to be. How about 60 seconds? How often do hooks typically come in modern songs?
But does any of this really matter? Are people really going to iTunes Store to give a song a partial listen? I just use YouTube and I get to listen to the whole thing, often with a video.
Yes; I always thought 90 seconds was unusually generous. 60 seems like a good compromise. But they should make tv shows longer. 30 seconds is silly—maybe two minutes or 90 seconds for those.
I would like the option to switch between preview lengths (e.g., 30, 60, 90 secs) controlled of course by what the artists provide) cause there are times I want lo listen to a preview of and album (especially a "Best of" collection) where I really don't want to listen to the longer preview
Can't you just hit "Next?"
Yes I could. I could also pick them one by one but the idea behind Preview All was to allow an unattended listen to samples of the songs. Songs from earlier generations did not get airplay if they were not in the 2:20 to 2:30 range. That was the format especially when AM controlled the airwaves. There is a lot of that length music out there both old and new. There is also a lot of music (Art Rock, Live, Jazz, etc... e.g. Genesis, Yes, Allman Bro, Grateful Dead, CSNY and Dixie Dreggs, Chic Corea, Ginger Baker) that does not fit the one size fits all preview. What is the matter with providing uses a choice?
I've been trying to come up with a good reason for cutting back the length and can't think of one. What's the perceived downside to longer previews? I like 'em.
I suspect they'll revamp iTunes radio/Beats into a new streaming service, and will want you to listen there for a more lengthy preview. I'm not sure royalties are paid for the current 90 second previews on the iTunes store, whereas they are with any given streaming service. Probably the major labels wanting those extra spins when you preview over 30 seconds. The new popularity metric will be digital spins, not sales, not terrestrial radio so anything to bump that number the labels are going to fight for.
This has nothing to do with the media companies. Why on earth would they care about 30 vs 90 second previews? This is about Apple trying out the shorter previews to see if A) people even care and save on bandwidth costs if they don't.
I disagree. Media companies want to get their streaming counts up, and they want to be paid for their streams. They don't want people previewing a full 90 seconds for free on the iTunes store when they could get paid for that stream on any given streaming service. I can't imagine Apple cares about the bandwidth costs on audio previews in iTunes when they also serve up HD video.
Exactly why the 360 deals that Iovine is familiar with come into play. He'll get more cross-promotional activity going on to make up for the loss on the music
An average song is what, 3:30 - 4:00 minutes long?
90 seconds is too long for a preview. 30 seconds is more than enough time for somebody to make up their mind if they want to buy a song or not.
Should there be free movie previews where 1/3 (30 minutes - 45 minutes) of the film is viewable?" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
You think if someone can listen to 90 seconds of a song they'll just do that instead of buying it?
30 seconds of a song is not very useful when you're trying to discover new music that you've never heard. It's okay if you're just trying to find a song you heard on the radio and know you want to buy it, to make sure it's the same song. But when you're looking for new music, 30 seconds can be very deceiving. This is a huge disappointment if it spreads to the entire store.
I buy far more music after listening to 90 second previews than I ever did at 30 seconds. And I still get surprised at some of the passages I find in songs, even after hearing the 90 second previews - sometimes they're interesting, but sometimes disappointing. Then again, I'm looking for interesting (rather than repetitive) music.
They can revert to 30 seconds, although 45 or 60 seconds would be nice, but why then does the song still show 90 sec.? Then preview play stops abruptly. This is reminiscent of purchased songs ending 20 seconds from the end. I was plagued with that issue for years, and it still happens on some tracks. Apple is now selling most songs for $1.29 and needs to clean up their act.
Comments
...But does any of this really matter? Are people really going to iTunes Store to give a song a partial listen? I just use YouTube and I get to listen to the whole thing, often with a video.
Exactly why the 360 deals that Iovine is familiar with come into play. He'll get more cross-promotional activity going on to make up for the loss on the music (I refer to things like the Beyonce video/music release that was a recent iTunes exclusive, and the Beats promotions using licensed properties).
What? Ok, so, them serving up 40+GB of developer videos every year after WWDC has ended, available to anyone, not just registered devs is simply because that saves them the bandwidth by not sending it over to everyone with an AppleID over email¿
Or them upgrading the video store from 720 to 1080 even though they didn't see the need for it but the public wanted that?
Bandwidth? Right. On skipping 60 seconds of an 256kb audio file, only streamed to those who use previews. Seriously, I have no words for your post. I also can't figure out how you think Apple is going to get any feedback on uploading a stream accessible to anonymous people.
Wow.
Got to admit learning to play a guitar and playing in a rock group worked pretty well for that ...
I'm sure the Chuck Norris look helped immensely
It appears that Apple has recently changed its iTunes Music Store policy regarding song samples, reverting preview times for certain tracks from 90 seconds to the old 30-second standard.
As I remember it (but the memory isn't as good as it used to be LOL) the shift to longer previews was never promised to be for the entire catalog available on the iTunes store. I know it was rolled out in stages.
I would like the option to switch between preview lengths (e.g., 30, 60, 90 secs) controlled of course by what the artists provide) cause there are times I want lo listen to a preview of and album (especially a "Best of" collection) where I really don't want to listen to the longer preview
I would like the option to switch between preview lengths (e.g., 30, 60, 90 secs) controlled of course by what the artists provide) cause there are times I want lo listen to a preview of and album (especially a "Best of" collection) where I really don't want to listen to the longer preview
Can't you just hit "Next?"
Got to admit learning to play a guitar and playing in a rock group worked pretty well for that ...
I knew you sounded familiar, your that rock Casanova that told me I could stay a virgin by having bummy love instead. You know I had to carry an extra pair of underwear with me for a week because of your shenanigans, on the plus side I got to keep my purity ring.
Yes; I always thought 90 seconds was unusually generous. 60 seems like a good compromise. But they should make tv shows longer. 30 seconds is silly—maybe two minutes or 90 seconds for those.
I would like the option to switch between preview lengths (e.g., 30, 60, 90 secs) controlled of course by what the artists provide) cause there are times I want lo listen to a preview of and album (especially a "Best of" collection) where I really don't want to listen to the longer preview
Can't you just hit "Next?"
Yes I could. I could also pick them one by one but the idea behind Preview All was to allow an unattended listen to samples of the songs. Songs from earlier generations did not get airplay if they were not in the 2:20 to 2:30 range. That was the format especially when AM controlled the airwaves. There is a lot of that length music out there both old and new. There is also a lot of music (Art Rock, Live, Jazz, etc... e.g. Genesis, Yes, Allman Bro, Grateful Dead, CSNY and Dixie Dreggs, Chic Corea, Ginger Baker) that does not fit the one size fits all preview. What is the matter with providing uses a choice?
My whole family is on it, has saved me at at least a thousand dollars a year on iTunes purchases.
I'm crying.
- Independent songwriter.
I've been trying to come up with a good reason for cutting back the length and can't think of one. What's the perceived downside to longer previews? I like 'em.
I suspect they'll revamp iTunes radio/Beats into a new streaming service, and will want you to listen there for a more lengthy preview. I'm not sure royalties are paid for the current 90 second previews on the iTunes store, whereas they are with any given streaming service. Probably the major labels wanting those extra spins when you preview over 30 seconds. The new popularity metric will be digital spins, not sales, not terrestrial radio so anything to bump that number the labels are going to fight for.
This has nothing to do with the media companies. Why on earth would they care about 30 vs 90 second previews? This is about Apple trying out the shorter previews to see if A) people even care and
save on bandwidth costs if they don't.
I disagree. Media companies want to get their streaming counts up, and they want to be paid for their streams. They don't want people previewing a full 90 seconds for free on the iTunes store when they could get paid for that stream on any given streaming service. I can't imagine Apple cares about the bandwidth costs on audio previews in iTunes when they also serve up HD video.
Exactly why the 360 deals that Iovine is familiar with come into play. He'll get more cross-promotional activity going on to make up for the loss on the music
A good decision.
An average song is what, 3:30 - 4:00 minutes long?
90 seconds is too long for a preview. 30 seconds is more than enough time for somebody to make up their mind if they want to buy a song or not.
Should there be free movie previews where 1/3 (30 minutes - 45 minutes) of the film is viewable?
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
You think if someone can listen to 90 seconds of a song they'll just do that instead of buying it?
30 seconds of a song is not very useful when you're trying to discover new music that you've never heard. It's okay if you're just trying to find a song you heard on the radio and know you want to buy it, to make sure it's the same song. But when you're looking for new music, 30 seconds can be very deceiving. This is a huge disappointment if it spreads to the entire store.
I buy far more music after listening to 90 second previews than I ever did at 30 seconds. And I still get surprised at some of the passages I find in songs, even after hearing the 90 second previews - sometimes they're interesting, but sometimes disappointing. Then again, I'm looking for interesting (rather than repetitive) music.
I can't imagine Apple cares about the bandwidth costs on audio previews in iTunes when they also serve up HD video.
Apple is now selling most songs for $1.29 and needs to clean up their act.