Macenstein

Posted by Dr. Macenstein

Although Steve Jobs has publicly fought in the past against changing Apple’s “one-price-fits-all� pricing structure for songs sold via its iTunes music store, a recent report from Marketwatch sites an EMI exec as saying there are plans at Apple to restructure the way Apple charges for songs. Alain Levy of EMI says the pricing structure will be based upon a song’s popularity, with popular songs costing more than the unpopular ones. This idea has popped up in the past, and seems to be a favorite of the music companies.

According to Marketwatch:
EMI Group (UK:EMI) expects Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) to increase the price of popular songs and cut those by unknown acts on its iTunes Web site within a year, according to a published report Wednesday. The chief executive of EMI Music, Alain Levy, said EMI had discussed the issue with Apple CEO Steve Jobs and believed Apple planned to end its single-price policy for iTunes music, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site. “We are having discussions which make us believe it will happen in the next 12 months,” Levy reportedly said at a press conference in London for the company’s half-year profit results. “There is a common understanding that we will have to come to a variable pricing structure. The issue is when. There is a case for superstars to have a higher price.”