At first I thought there wasn't much to post about this article from MusicWeek. Queen and Universal are throwing their support behind the iTunes LP for the band's upcoming reissues (the next batch of which is out next week). Big deal, right?
But then I thought about a few paragraphs from the middle of the piece, that really seem to tell a more intriguing story than the idea of a band trying to promote their catalogue titles:
Universal’s commitment to iTunes LP could prove a shot in the arm for the format, which has yet to really break through since launch in September 2009, despite acts like Gorillaz experimenting with the format and The Beatles’ albums being available as iTunes LPs.
Criticisms of iTunes LP have included the price – they can be as much as twice the price of a standard digital album – and the fact that they only work on the iTunes desktop, so consumers don't get the full experience on an iPad or iPhone.
I think, in a nutshell, these paragraphs pretty accurately sum up the issues of the format. Look, here's the problem (and I realize I'm not saying anything groundbreaking, but here it is): nobody seems certain of which demographic the iTunes LP (never a favorite format at The Second Disc) is meant to cater to. As with even physical products, older fans aren't going to spring for it if the content isn't totally excellent and deserving of the deluxe treatment (that's not even taking into consideration the whole "older consumers will stick to physical product" argument). And younger fans aren't going to see any value in bonus content, since they've been trained by years of downloading to not see a whole heck of a lot of intrinsic value in any kind of music.
There are certainly exceptions on both sides, but the majority of people who would even be interested in the offerings of an iTunes LP would just as soon buy them in a physical format. Labels owe it to themselves to cater to that market share as long as it's around while still figuring out some sort of strategy that will honor a deluxe package in a non-physical format - all the better for younger music fans to get hooked on.
Have you ever bought an iTunes LP? What are your thoughts on the format? What might sensibly replace them?
Release Round-Up: Week of October 25
Keep Yourself Alive: Queen Announce Deluxe Edition of Debut with Remixes, Outtakes and More
Release Round-Up: Week of May 10
Sadly for me, these iTunes LP for Queen are not available in the U.S. I'd buy them in a heartbeat if they were.
I have to say did not even know the format existed I tunes LP existed, a quick check on I tunes revealed to me that its pretty pointless.
The problem with these queen re-issues are that they are neither fish nor fowel, they offer bonus tracks and (with teh exception of Queen) possibly 1 track of the bonuses is genuinly worth having. Hot space could ahve been much better with the 12" remixes of added. The live tracks have in the most part been available before.
They dont offer the full deluxe treatment which is a shame as there is plenty that could have been done to improve these even the bonuses on i tunes are lacking in really quality.
I have so far been quite dissappointed by these. I had hoped and expected so much more.
Will 'the works' album contain some outtakes and the full album of 12" remixes as released on singles at the time. or will be be treated again to a couple of outtakes and a live track previously released on DVD from Wembley (Radio Ga ga ?)
Pointless is right. It's ridiculous as a format. iTunes LP...it's almost an oxymoron.
All I want is FLAC or ALAC (or begrudgingly, 320k mp3...not 256k AAC) with a .pdf booklet and .jpg files of CD tray sized art if I decide to archive to CD-R.
And sadly, I can find all of the above more easily for FREE, illegally.
iTunes LPs provide an interactive experience very much like the menu screen of a DVD. Several that I have do the job very well; Bruce Springsteen's The Promise, Tom Petty's Live Anthology, and Hendrix's West Coast Seattle Boy all have extensive liner notes, an easy way to jump from videos to music, and photo albums. Unfortunately, they only work on PC or on your TV if you happen to have an AppleTV, probably Apple's least-selling A/V accessory. What I don't understand is why they haven't rolled them out to iPad, which would be a natural place for the content, or found a way to scale the content in some way that it would work on an iPhone. I listen to very little music in front of my PC, so I rarely look at the iTunes LP content, which is a pity.
As you said, most people who care about liner notes and other "enhanced content" would rather just have the physical product anyway. I appreciate the effort they're putting into it, but I'd never pay that much for an album that I can't actually hold in my hands. 🙂
I'm in the 'older' demographic. At 53, I enjoy having CDs - liner notes, photos and even more so if its a new deluxe reissue. I don't begrudge or belittle the vagaries of new formats, but I think it's ridiculous for 'legacy' acts to ignore the CD format when their primary fan base likely remains comfortable with a CD.
It's all about options.
As a related example, Crosby & Nash recently issued 'Another Stoney Evening,' an old concert that was never officially available, on LP and digital download, but not CD. We recently went to one of their concerts and I was one of the youngest concertgoers in the theatre. And during the intermission and at the end of the show, lots of CDs were being sold for their other titles. Some bought LPs. But why not also issue 'Another Stoney Evening' on CD when their fan base still obviously purchases CDs? On stage, Nash made fun of CDs but he wasn't behind the counter in the lobby where his stuff was being sold.
Some people, including Nash, are a little blind to the realities of the current marketplace. Of course, this will shift over time as technologies improve and more people embrace them - and the older fan base gets even older. But for these acts in the current environment, the CD still sells. If someone wants an iTunes LP, well, fine, but again, at this point in time, offering options makes sense.