ArticleBlaster Embedded Ads In MP3s? Apple�s New Marketing Ploy

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Please consider this free-reprint article written by:
Danny Wirken

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Article Title: Embedded Ads In MP3s? Apple�s New Marketing
Ploy
Author: Danny Wirken
Word Count: 1074
Article URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=83015&ca=Marketing
Format: 64cpl
Author's Email Address: wirken[at]gmail.com (replace [at] with
@)

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The Internet has definitely revolutionized our lives. From
shopping to communicating to the way we listen to music � all
these aspects of our lives have changed dramatically due to the
Internet. It has been said that music is the universal language.
It is probably more so now, as music can easily be shared all
over the world, transcending traditional geographic barriers.

Statistics show that digital music has become the regular fare
of majority of listeners the world over. That is why digital
music stores have been popping up left and right, trying to
take advantage of this boom. Yet ask anyone who is a regular
digital music listener � what are the main advantages of
downloading music off the Internet? Chances are you�ll get a
response similar to this: it�s free and it�s convenient.

Who can forget the days when you can get all the music you want
on Napster? All you needed was an Internet connection and you
were all set to go. That is not to say that there are no more
sites and services offering similar services for free today.
With the outcry that the music industry has raised (and is
raising), legislation has been put into effect with the aim of
curbing illegal downloading. Thus the birth of online music
stores.

Perhaps the most popular online music store today is the one
created and maintained by Apple � the creators of the iPod.
Apple iTunes is a digital media player application released in
2001. You can use iTunes to play and manage all your digital
files. Music and video are both supported by iTunes. You can
also use iTunes to manage files on your iPod. More so, iTunes
has its own online music store, from which you can download
music and videos for a fee. With the big success of podcasting
� broadcasting over the Internet � iTunes also features a
podcast site where you can get podcasts both for free and for a
fee.

Apple has always prided itself in keeping itself pure. That is,
providing services to its users without the irritating ads that
the Internet is widely known for. From the start, Apple has
been known as the alternative to the big companies who make
money off ads online. Yet in April of this year, a rumor that
Apple was going to sell ads through iTunes emerged. With the
release of iTunes version 6.0.5.20, the rumor became truth. Now
listeners and viewers are exposed to certain ads on iTunes.

How does it work? For now, the ads are limited to the lower
part of the window whenever you listen to a song on iTunes.
This feature is incorporated into the new MiniStore. Anytime
you click on any song on your playlist and listen to it, you
will see visual ads on the MiniStore window. These ads are
basically songs and albums related to the song you are
currently listening to. In addition to this, you will see
another section with the heading �Listeners Also Bought.� This
part shows you albums by different artists which are being
patronized by other listeners who liked the same song you are
currently listening to. For example, if you click on Eric
Clapton�s Lonely Stranger. What you will see in the MiniStore
window would be something like this: Unplugged by Eric Clapton
(this is the album from which the song comes from); More from
Eric Clapton (other albums released by Eric Clapton, as well as
some of his popular songs); and a list of other songs and albums
that other listeners bought.

If you think about it, it�s not so bad as it initially seemed.
The ads are not really ads in the strictest sense of the word.
You see products that may actually enhance your listening
experience. You are listening to Clapton, you will probably
appreciate � or at the worst, not mind � seeing related
material to what you are currently listening to. They are not
irritating ads selling you stuff and services that you are most
probably not interested in. Furthermore, you have the option of
minimizing the MiniStore window. If you do this, then you won�t
be bothered by the ads. If the ads are such a hassle for you
then all you need to do is turn the MiniStore off.

However, many people think that this �small� step that includes
embedded ads on iTunes is a precursor of ominous things to come.
The fact is that iTunes originally offered an ad-free listening
experience and this attracted many users to leave their old
client behind and switch to Apple iTunes. Now that ads are
finding their way into iTunes proves to be foreboding to these
very listeners. Though the ads seem to be limited to iTunes
itself for now, people can�t help but wonder how much longer
till the ads find their way to their portable devices as well.
Apple has to consider that fact that majority of iPod users
choose to use this product in order to �unplug� from the world
of radio which is rife with advertisements. All they want is an
uninterrupted supply of music (or video or talk, as technology
evolves). With the introduction of ads, this luxury can be
taken away from them.

With the widely varied formats that iTunes support, there is
more opportunity for ads. Videos and podcasts are probably as
popular as MP3s nowadays. In fact, Apple has introduced some
ads in their podcasts as well. An example would be ESPN Radio.
With this step towards providing ads, they will probably come
up with more ad offerings. At present, videos and TV series
episodes are still ad-free. Several TV networks are now coming
up with free versions of some TV shows they are selling on
iTunes. Of course there is a catch � ads that cannot be
skipped. If this trend continues to go the way it is going, it
is only probably a matter of time till iTunes will be
completely full of ads instead of being completely ad-free.

For users, the bottom line is simple. They have the choice
between convenience and free content. Convenience and
portability would probably come with a price soon. Some people
would be willing to pay for that, it is sure. Then again, some
would just want free content whenever and wherever they could
get it.

About The Author: http://www.theinternetone.net

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