Download albums hit wrong notes for value

MUSIC fans who download albums off the internet can get a better deal by buying compact discs in traditional record shops or via mail-order instead, an Irish Examiner survey can reveal.

Of the top 15 albums on Apple’s Irish iTunes website, nine are cheaper or as cheap to buy through conventional methods — with savings of up to 23%.

iTunes, which is Ireland’s most popular download site, charges €12.99 for the 19-track version of the latest U2 album, U218 Singles.

For that price downloaders get just the raw music to play on their computer or iPod portable music player but they get no album booklet, printed insert labels or actual CD.

Yet the complete album is on sale as a conventional compact disc via the CD Wow mail-order website for €9.99 — a difference of €3 over iTunes.

Similarly, Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds album — — is €12.99 on iTunes but €11.99 through CD Wow.

Among this year’s other big festive stocking-fillers is the Now65 double CD hits compilation, which is €19.95 in Tesco but fractionally more expensive at €19.98 on iTunes.

But downloaders wanting to play the Now album on a normal hi-fi would first have to transfer or “burn” the music onto blank CDs.

At a price of €1.80 for two discs and boxes, the Now album would cost downloaders €21.78— almost €2 higher than Tesco.

Last night the Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI) urged music fans to shop around and not assume that downloaded albums are always cheaper.

“The whole theme of the internet was cheaper and faster delivery, and value for money but this survey seems to have changed that around,” said CAI chief executive Dermott Jewell.

“Online providers are going to have to look at costs or else they are going to go out of business.”

Of the top 20 records on Ireland’s album chart, only 14 are available via iTunes yet half of these are cheaper or as cheap to buy in shops or via mail-order.

R’n’B sensation Beyoncé’s B’Day album is €12.99 on iTunes but €1 cheaper through CD Wow as is the Pick of Destiny album by rock act Tenacious D.

Now the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), is calling on iTunes to look at its range of prices.

“The record labels have been trying to get flexible pricing on iTunes but so far without success because it’s the dominant player in the (download) market,” said IRMA boss Dick Doyle.

No one was available to comment from the Apple computer company.