I saw that Apple has released the specifications for their iTunes LP format. For those that don’t know iTunes LP is Apple’s way of encouraging customers to purchase whole albums. Including extra material like artwork, music videos, and other bonuses with the music files. Basically they are trying to replicate the music purchasing experience most of us had when we were teenagers and creating something similar to a DVD or an enhanced CD.
I think this new iTunes feature is very interesting for a whole variety of reasons, but the biggest one is how accessible these things are becoming to independent artists. The entire backend of an iTunes LP is made up from standard web technologies, which makes it very easily produced and inexpensive. A good web designer/programmer should be able to adapt and quickly put together an iTunes LP for a musician or a band. Also since it’s based on standard and open web technologies it should be easy to adapt an iTunes LP to be used in other online distribution fronts, like Amazon.com, should they begin offering a similar service.
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