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Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
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Release Date: August 29, 2009
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Release Date: March 27, 2009
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iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

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Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
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Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

Discover New Music

  • Another Day on Earth

    • 10 out of 10
    • Brian Eno
    • In his first proper solo release since 1996's relatively cold "The Drop," Brian Eno has constructed a whimsical and ecclectic masterpiece which is arguably one of the year's strongest records thus fa
  • Spilt Milk

    • 10 out of 10
    • Jellyfish
    • The second and final album from this power-pop group makes me wish Jellyfish had been able to make just one more record together. The album is best enjoyed as a whole piece, flowing from one track to
  • Billy Miles

    • 10 out of 10
    • Billy Miles
    • Take the voice of a young Billie Holiday and stuff it into a svelte, petite body with the face of an angel, and you have some idea of what it's like to experience the music of Billy Miles in her self-
  • Life's Rich Pageant

    • 8 out of 10
    • R.E.M.
    • In the long series of R.E.M.'s evolution, this album (finally?) showcases their ability to capture on tape what had been happening in the live for years: heartfelt, sweat-filled performances that just
  • The Wall (Deluxe Packaging Digitally Remastered)

    • 10 out of 10
    • Pink Floyd
    • Okay, someone had to say it, and though others on the iPO staff are more qualified to review this album, I decided the time was now. This is the quintessential concept album. Though others came before

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News

Vote Leaves Music Royalties Intact, iTunes Safe

The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board voted on Thursday to leave the current royalty payment rates in place instead of raising them to 15 cents per song, up from 9 cents. The decision lets Apple off the hook after the company threatened to close down its popular iTunes Store if the rate increase was pushed through.

According to MarketWatch, the National Music Publishers Association had been pushing for the royalty rate increase for CD and digital music download sales claiming the extra money would go to artists. Online music resellers, however, felt that the change would force prices up and negatively impact sales.

Apple made its position on the rate increase very clear when iTunes boss Eddie Cue told the Copyright Royalty Board "If the [iTunes Store] was forced to absorb any increase in the... royalty rate, the result would be to significantly increase the likelihood of the store operating at a financial loss -- which is no alternative at all. Apple has repeatedly made it clear that it is in this business to make money, and most likely would not continue to operate [the iTunes music store] if it were no longer possible to do so profitably."

Since the board chose to leave the current rates in place, Apple won’t have to decide whether or not to shut down its online music and video purchasing service, which means that iPod and iPhone owners that rely on the online store can breathe a sigh of relief.

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