0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
On Sunday, fans had already driven "Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits" to the top of the charts on Amazon.com, and her signature hit single "I Will Always Love You," was the top download on iTunes.
QuoteOn Sunday, fans had already driven "Whitney Houston - The Greatest Hits" to the top of the charts on Amazon.com, and her signature hit single "I Will Always Love You," was the top download on iTunes.Itunes jacks up price of Whitney Houstons catalogue by 75% 45 minutes after she died Houston's 2007 Ultimate Collection increased by £3 to £7.99 in the space of just 30 ... By fataldawg - Yesterday, 05:29 PM - You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login > You are not allowed to view links. Register or LoginHouston's 2007 Ultimate Collection increased by £3 to £7.99 in the space of just 30 minutes, with iTunes users reporting that they were prevented from downloading the LP at its original advertised price while the update occurred. Some accused Apple of "cashing in" on the tragedy, while others said that the company should be "ashamed" of their "shameless exploitation". One customer, who claimed to have spent two hours trying to purchase the Ultimate Collection at its original price, added: "To say I am angry is an understatement and I feel it is just a case of iTunes cashing in on the singer's [rip], which in my opinion is totally parasitic. "The album itself is great so please don't be put off purchasing it, just [realize] that you will merely be lining some fatcat's pocket before Whitney's lifeless body is cold." Digital Spy readers have also registered their objection at the new prices, with Twitter user @CallumGriffiths describing the move as "d|sgusting". He added: "Understandable that she would go up in the charts, but that's just making every last penny they can from her [rip]!" Another, @InTheLittleWood, argued: "I'd say disgusted but maybe artists have agreements with their labels about it, to ensure their kids / family stay afloat?" Despite the price increase, the Official Charts Company has said that they expect Houston to dominate the singles and album charts next week.You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 February 2012 12.02 GMTArticle historyWhitney Houston album price hike sparks controversySony Music under fire after cost of greatest hits set on iTunes rises by more than 60% after singer's death Josh Halliday guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 February 2012 12.02 GMTArticle historySony Music has come under fire after it increased the price of a Whitney Houston album on Apple's iTunes Store hours after the singer was found dead.The music giant is understood to have lifted the wholesale price of Houston's greatest hits album, The Ultimate Collection, at about 4am California time on Sunday. This meant that the iTunes retail price of the album automatically increased from £4.99 to £7.99.Houston's The Ultimate Collection, originally released in 1997, was the second top-selling album on iTunes on Monday morning. Apple returned the album to its original price late on Sunday.Music fans described the move as a cynical attempt to capitalise on Houston's in-demand greatest hits records. The price hike came as tributes flooded in for the singer, whose catalogue includes hits such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody and I Will Always Love You. Houston was found dead in her Los Angeles hotel room on Saturday afternoon, local time, at the age of 48.The change happened when Sony Music, which owns the rights to much of Houston's back catalogue, increased the wholesale price of The Ultimate Collection. This automatically boosted the retail price of the popular album, although Apple is responsible setting the price paid by music fans.It is understood that the change occurred after Sony Music reviewed Houston's iTunes catalogue after the singer was pronounced dead.One insider close to the situation said the price hike was not a "cynical" move – but that the wholesale price of Houston's The Ultimate Collection was wrong. The change in wholesale price boosted the album's retail price on iTunes.Houston's The Ultimate Collection and Whitney – The Greatest Hits were in the top three albums on iTunes at noon on Monday.Apple and Sony Music declined to comment.
but that the wholesale price of Houston's The Ultimate Collection was wrong.