One of the more annoying things the music companies do is try to hold their music content with an iron fist. If UMG wants to pull out, let 'em. iTMS will still survive despite the missing company. UMG can see for themselves what would happen if they pull out. Let 'em take the sharp revenue drop in music sales as a result.

iTMS's selling model is virtually a de-facto standard that has made iTMS a store that still survives today. It's hard to change and go against that. Granted, people would happily welcome a cheaper price. But bump up the 99 cent modal to a higher price for the same content, that can generate a huge backlash and uproar from customers. Apple's stand on keeping the price modal as it is gives Apple the power to keep the music companies in check. The price isn't too high nor is it too cheap. And with EMI paving the way for DRM-free music, many welcome that with open arms despite the slightly higher pricetag. Yet its higher price is justified as the music themselves are encoded in 256kbit/s and come without any DRM.

Since I listen to a different kind of music, Apple's iTMS isn't all that... erm... friendly to me. US/American/English music is becoming more boring and I have had very little motivation to really get up and grab a good album. It's been so long since I last purchased a full CD that I completely forgot what it was. This news is not all that surprising. But I'm rather amused by it.

translation: Dinosaur shoots self in foot again.

You'd think that with one of the worst feature film and new music artist track records in the industry, they'd be smart enough to realize that they aren't actually in a position of strength here. But the dinosaur distribution companies would rather scream at the top of their lungs as they sink into the tar pits of obsolescence rather than swallow their pride and take the branch from the hand of the future of online distribution.

Welcome to extinction.