We’ve heard (and reported) rumors aplenty in recent months about Apple’s plans to extend the length of song samples in iTunes, and it appears that day may be forthcoming as Cupertino sends a letter to music labels announcing the change.
AppleInsider is reporting that Apple sent an e-mail on Tuesday to music label representatives, effectively notifying them that iTunes song samples in the U.S. market will get extended from 30 to 90 seconds -- apparently whether they like it or not.
The forthcoming change was announced in an e-mail from “The iTunes Store Team” sent to the music labels, where Apple proclaimed that they were “preparing to increase the length of music previews from 30 seconds to 90 seconds on the iTunes Store in the United States.” Unfortunately, the letter gave no indication of when this change might actually occur.
Music samples will only be extended to 90 seconds on songs that are over two minutes and 30 seconds in length -- shorter songs will retain the existing 30-second sample. Apple’s letter notifies the music labels that by continuing to make their content available on iTunes, they are agreeing to the new terms.
“We believe that giving potential customers more time to listen to your music will lead to more purchases,” the letter explains.
Everyone expected longer song previews to come at the September 1 music event where iTunes 10 was unveiled, and several reports following that release claimed that Apple might have had resistance from the National Music Publishers Association over a licensing disagreement. There was no word on whether or not that issue might be resolved now, but it appears that Apple will move forward either way.
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