iTunes begins offering 90-second song previews
It's been a long time coming: Apple has begun offering 90-second previews of songs in the iTunes Store. Previously capped at 30 seconds, all songs longer than 2 minutes 30 seconds will now have a 90-second preview available. According to MacRumors not all songs offer the extended previews yet, but eventually, all songs over 2:30 in length should.
Apple played hardball with the music labels last month, stating its intent to extend song previews to 90 seconds and remove from the iTunes Store any labels who didn't agree to support the new licensing terms -- so if some music mysteriously goes missing from the iTunes Store over the coming weeks, we'll know why. Music licensing entities who resisted the extended previews (for whatever reason) must now weigh that reticence against the potential costs associated with not having their wares available on the number one music vendor in the US.
For us consumers, this is nothing but good news; the old 30-second previews often weren't nearly long enough to get a sense of whether or not a song was worth a download, but 90-seconds is just right.
Thanks to everyone who sent this tip to us.
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It's been a long time coming: Apple has begun offering 90-second previews of songs in the iTunes Store. Previously capped at 30 seconds,...
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The "sample" for the Beatles' "Her Majesty" plays the entire song. All 23 seconds of it.
December 10 2010 at 2:11 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI love how much power Apple has, either submit to 90 second previews or we just won't allow you to use iTunes to sell your music.
Truth of the matter is, is 30 seconds ever really a good enough preview of a song that is averaging about 3 to 4 minutes? No. Especially when the preview is during some musical interlude with no vocals. Oh yeah, let me base my purchase on that. Right.
Yet TV shows are still 30 second previews? :
December 09 2010 at 2:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"It's been a long time coming" - Is that purposely a Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young) reference?
December 09 2010 at 10:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt seems like some song previews go over 90 seconds. The songs I'm previewing fade out at 1:30.
December 09 2010 at 10:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOh nevermind. 60+30=130.
December 09 2010 at 10:48 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou are in luck if your favorite band is "Charles Bronson" as their longest song is 92 seconds.
December 09 2010 at 5:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThen their preview will remain 30 seconds
December 09 2010 at 7:28 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIn the past at a Borders Books, I've purchased albums based on listening to the entire songs on headsets in the music section. Wouldn't work for itunes model, but 90 seconds is way better to get the feel of a piece of music than 60 seconds. Listening to Pandora or LastFM however gives a similar experience where I have purchased based on hearing an entire piece. Just had to have that tune!
December 09 2010 at 4:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGreat... for Americans.
The rest of the world is stuck with 30 seconds or else going to the US store.
Unfortunately, the world according to Apple is the US.
December 09 2010 at 5:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's not just according to Apple, but a big majority of the US citizens...
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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