Songs listed as "Album Only".

So, I've been told there are no stupid questions, but call me an inquisitive idiot...

In iTunes store, what specifically does it mean when a song's price is listed as "Album Only"? Obviously one cannot purchase just that song, but I am wondering something else about it.

I have two theories.

One, the song is not available as a single, but if the entire album is purchased with the "buy album" button, the song will be included.

Two, the song is available on hard copies of the CD, but iTunes does not have the authorization to sell the song and only lists it as reference. There is no current way to purchase it through iTunes.

Searching the faqs and support pages with the phrase "album only" didn't answer this question, and I couldn't find an appropriate category/sub-category to mail the question to support.

Could someone with more knowledge about this please clarify the situation?

Thanks in advance.



For specifics of what I am looking at, the album "Give My Regards to Broad Street (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) [Remastered]" by Paul McCartney lists tracks 12 (Elanor Rigby/Elanor's Dream), 16 (No More Lonely Nights(Extended Version)) and 18 (No More Lonely Nights (Mole Mix)) as "Album Only." I'd like to know if there's a way to get them.

basic, Windows XP

Posted on Sep 8, 2008 11:04 PM

Reply
7 replies

Sep 9, 2008 6:13 AM in response to Katrina S.

Katrina,
I am not so sure you are correct on that. I believe "Partial Albums" and "Album only" labeled tracks are two different things. I believe "Album only" means you can only get it when you purchase the entire album and can not buy it individually. Albums with "album only" tracks are not marked as "partial albums".
"Partial Albums" are just that, only part of the album being available for download either as individual songs or the whole "Partial Album".
Regards,
Patrick

Sep 9, 2008 7:55 AM in response to Katrina S.

I have found that "Album Only" tracks tend to exceed about 7 minutes in length. I've always assumed that either Apple or the record company don't want to sell anything longer than that for 99c.

I'd be happy to pay a little more for longer tracks, rather than be compelled to buy an entire album. After all, the advantage of iTunes is (or should be) that individual tracks can be purchased, irrespective of length.

Sep 9, 2008 10:34 AM in response to Katrina S.

Katrina S. wrote:
You're probably right. One of those long tracks is $1.94 at amazon


Playing time has a lot to do with how much money record labels have to shell out to the writers/publishers of the songs themselves.

Anything in excess of five minutes gets a higher royalty rate imposed, based on the number of minutes of playing time (rounded up to the nearest minute) of the song. Five minutes or less has a statutory royalty rate assigned.

But it could be that in the link below (for Paul McCartney), medleys may carry a different royalty calculation scheme, thus the higher cost is ultimately passed along to the consumer.

Steve

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Songs listed as "Album Only".

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