A funny sort of economics governs the world of music piracy. Those who buy usually do so out of morality. Those who steal steal with some misgiving, but they're too poor for the moral cost to outweigh the financial benefits. Apple's new iTunes pricing plan might bring the threshhold—the point when you agree that it's worth it to support the artists you like—a little closer.
Now Apple, which previously set all song prices at 99 cents, will allow record companies to choose between 69 cent, 99 cent and $1.29 price tags. Apple is loosening the reins in exchange for a new freedom brokered to it by record companies: Songs no longer come with those pesky chastity belts, "digital rights management" locks, that keep you from sharing them with friends. Apple does a pretty good job of building the presumption that they are the only option, the alpha and omega of the technology universe, but we'd like to remind you that there is actually a plethora of choices when it comes to music downloads. Our current favorite is eMusic, an NYC-based company that collects monthly subscriptions and stocks mostly underground, hard-to-find tracks.Where are your Captain Beefheart B-sides, iTunes?
