Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

selowitch · Jan 17, 2004, 08:46 AM

The iTunes Music Store is fabulous, but man, sometimes it's really mystifying to realize what material isn't available through it.

My father's been looking for the Beatles' rendition of Yesterday, and can't find it. I suppose that might have something to do with Michael Jackson owning the lion's share of the Beatles' music catalog.

As for me, I notice that they don't have Anne Murray's version of Could I Have This Dance, nor is there a single track by Madonna (don't laugh). These are pretty frustrating gaps in an otherwise truly excellent library.

BTW, please don't tell me to request the songs I want; I already do that regularly.

Now, I don't expect iTMS to have every song on the planet that I might want; nevertheless, it is interesting to speculate on why they don't have this song or artist or that.

BTW, I just downloaded an iTunes-exclusive track by Richard Thompson called Hand of Kindness that is really great!

hardcat1970 · Jan 17, 2004, 08:55 AM

Beatles, Madonna and some bands like Metallica won't allow their music to be sold online, i think metallica was on buymusic.com though. So it is not apple's fault.

I was looking for Human League's catalog and Joy Division's love will tear us apart, and they weren't on itunes too. Then I went to my work's pc and logged on to Napster 2.0, and they weren't there too. So I think it is an industrial wide thing.

However, i wonder why sometimes the pricing are different from Napster and ITMS. For example, Pearl Jam's album like Yield and Riot Act sell for $13.95 in ITMS, but only $9.95 in Napster.

selowitch · Jan 17, 2004, 09:03 AM

I guess I could start downloading some music from other services and converting it to ACC/MP3 for use in iTunes. But that's a drag and requires additional software.

I also suppose I could actually *gasp* go out and buy the flippin' CD.

Ilja · Jan 17, 2004, 12:00 PM

The point I don't understand: the iTMS is like an online cd-store right? Why can a cd-store sell any cd/record it wants, but has the itms all these difficulties with obtaining rights?

selowitch · Jan 17, 2004, 12:12 PM

Originally posted by Ilja:
The point I don't understand: the iTMS is like an online cd-store right? Why can a cd-store sell any cd/record it wants, but has the itms all these difficulties with obtaining rights?

Sort of. Because the phenomenon of purchasing music digitally emerged after the technology of CDs did, the rights became separately negotiable.

Developer · Jan 17, 2004, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by Ilja:
The point I don't understand: the iTMS is like an online cd-store right? Why can a cd-store sell any cd/record it wants, but has the itms all these difficulties with obtaining rights?

A CD store can not sell any CD it wants. It can only sell CDs which the holder of the copyright offers to the store.

hardcat1970 · Jan 17, 2004, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by Ilja:
The point I don't understand: the iTMS is like an online cd-store right? Why can a cd-store sell any cd/record it wants, but has the itms all these difficulties with obtaining rights?

Some artists claim that they are selling an album concept and so they insist their music are only available in whole not individual tracks, and apple refused. Others like Madonna and The Beatles, they never really like digital distribution anyway.

selowitch · Jan 17, 2004, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by hardcat1970:
Some artists claim that they are selling an album concept and so they insist their music are only available in whole not individual tracks, and apple refused. Others like Madonna and The Beatles, they never really like digital distribution anyway.

Eventually, by using and supporting digital music services like the iTMS, we will force recording artists, labels, and distributors to recognize that their way of doing business is rapidly becoming obselete.

Krypton · Jan 17, 2004, 12:56 PM

The Beatles would never let Apple sell their songs because of the trademark infringement case - and it would be too confusing for Apple to sell music from Apple.

Art Vandelay · Jan 17, 2004, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Krypton:
The Beatles would never let Apple sell their songs because of the trademark infringement case - and it would be too confusing for Apple to sell music from Apple.

Not too mention the fact that they stated several months ago that they would never allow their music to be sold anywhere online.

Angus_D · Jan 17, 2004, 02:36 PM

Support Warp Records instead. No DRM, 160Kbps VBR mp3s, full back-catalog online...

selowitch · Jan 17, 2004, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by Angus_D:
Support Warp Records instead. No DRM, 160Kbps VBR mp3s, full back-catalog online...

Sure ... but is it compatible with iTunes?

OptimusG4 · Jan 17, 2004, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by selowitch:
Sure ... but is it compatible with iTunes?

MP3's naturally work with iTunes so I would imagine.