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TMO Reports - Apple iTunes Adds Band Aid 20 Single, But Not in US
by , 5:00 AM EST, December 1st, 2004
iPod owners in Great Britain can now download the Band Aid 20 single from the iTunes Music Store after Apple Computer reached agreement with the charity and its record label over its price. The single, priced at GB£0.79, is currently only available through the UK iTMS (see screen shot below) and not available in the U.S., Apple's largest online music store market, or any of its 11 other international markets.
In a prepared statement obtained by The Mac Observer, Apple's UK offices said, "Apple is pleased to offer the Band Aid 20 single on the iTunes Music Store to raise funds for the plight of hunger and poverty in Africa. Since all songs on iTunes are £0.79, we've decided to sell it for £0.79 and Apple will donate an additional £0.70 for each downloaded song to the Band Aid Charitable Trust."
A copy of the original 1984 song is also available for download at 79p. More than 72,000 copies of the new Band Aid single were sold on its first day of release on Monday, according to sales figures.

Apple has come under criticism for not selling the single Do They Know It's Christmas?, which is part of a charity program which is raising money to fight hunger in Africa. Universal Music, the record company behind the single, said last week the issue was the song's £1.49 price, which is almost double the 79p Apple charges for all singles on its U.K. store. Universal Music did not release a statement about the apparent new understanding and a company spokesperson did not immediately return calls to TMO.
Observer Comments
Wed Dec 01, 2004 9:14 am Subject: Interested in the details
Wed Dec 01, 2004 10:22 am Subject: Don't they know that song's 20 years old?
Wed Dec 01, 2004 10:50 am Subject: Asinine.
If the companies--or, for that matter, the purchasers--are soooo generous, why not just cut a check for $20 or whatever and send it to the actual charity directly, instead of donating a whopping $1.50 and getting a song which has already been irritating people for 20 years now?
The point of this whole thing is *supposed* to be about *feeding the hungry*, not buying mediocre music, for God's sake.
/yes, I've donated more than my share to various charities this year.
Charity recordings are going to keep coming. This is just one of many.
Apple needs to devise a policy to accommodate them, otherwise it will end up either having to contribute a similar amount to future charities, or to decide that charity 'A' is to be supported, but to turn it's back on charity 'B', which would invite hostile press reports.
I believe that Apple needs to create a category for charity recordings and to offer them at variable prices. The customer should also have the option to donate more than the asking price if they choose to.
Apple would then pass on 100% of that money directly to the charitable trust, no deductions, no middle men. Apple would absorb the credit card handling charges and the cost of hosting the tracks, but Apple would presumably be able to write some expenses off as a tax loss and would also gain from increased awareness of iTMS.
The charity would benefit and Apple would be seen to be doing something for the greater good.
I can understand Apple's initial (and ongoing) position. Their system is designed for a single price and probably cannot be changed on the spur of the moment.
Large companies do include Contributions in their annual budgets - in the 50's and 60's my father's company matched (dollar for dollar) contributions employees made to their schools. It's a part of the business community that is too often overlooked. Apple simply worked out the most logical approach to this situation for them and deserve a pat on the back.
As for the song - people enjoy getting involved in it. Let 'em enjoy the Christmas spirit.
Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:55 pm Subject: Good comments here, esp zpock, jfbiii, AlanAudio, Jerry.
I'm not sure of the PR value of this Band Aid, lots of negative vibes:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/30/band_aid_dilemma/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4012619.stm
I agree there is an attempt to put a chink in the armour of Apple's resistance to the record companies forcing variable (more expensive) prices. Apple obviously felt it had to respond and seemingly has made a good decision. I hope the mainstream press pick up that Apple is cheaper.
It would be interesting to see what the financial breakdown is. There is no way every contribution is free, equipment hire, transportation, venues usually get paid. Pressing plants, printers and distributors usually get paid. I can't recall the record companies ever doing a charity single for free even though they benefit from the exposure. It's usually the most visible who contribute (bands, retailers) and the back end earns their profit as usual. Maybe Bob has been very persuasive this time.
QuoteGuest wrote:
This is such a policy. What Universal is trying to do is break Apple's policy of selling all songs at a uniform price.
Jerry
I too am not convinced that Universal are acting as honourably as they try to make out. It looks to me that they have another agenda ( breaking the one -price system ), but are cynically dressing it up as an act of charity.
If Apple were to create a charity record category, it would be restricted to clearly defined non-commercial tracks and there would be no compromising of the single price arrangement.
In fact it could turn the tables on any publisher who tries to retain a small amount of money for 'covering their costs' as Apple would raise the money and pass on ~all~ of it. That would show who had the biggest heart.
Apple got some very bad undeserved publicity over this matter, unless they prepare for the next one, Apple's many detractors will be using it as a stick to beat them again.
Apple have done an excellent job of turning this particular story around, the next time they should be fully prepared.
Whoever break the original story is trying to weaken Apple hold on the legal music download industry. Apple had done a good damage control job, with potential long term benefits.
It is generous of Apple to donate 70p for each song sold. I did not expect that. I thought Apple need only to forgo the distribution cost + profit.
I now wonder what portion of 79p go to charity. I am sure not all go towards the charity.
Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:35 pm Subject: Re: Charitable songs
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