How comes the US version of iTunes has more songs than the UK version?

Question

Until recently, Spice Girls just became fully available to UK, why? The Spice Girls were a British band. Another thing is the I Would Do Anything For Love by Meatloaf, which, until recently, has become available to UK, but you have to buy the whole album, and all I want is one mangy song.

There are loads more examples, just that these ones annoyed me the most. Anyone notice this, and does it annoy you?

Answer 1

It is too difficult to tell. My first guess would be that another online retailer had exclusive online distribution rights for the UK market until recently. Or, perhaps either the label or the artist, depending on the make-up of the contract, simply refused to distribute the material online. Also, the predicted online demand was not sufficient enough to post it on iTunes. Maybe (this is my last one) iTunes asked for too high of a commission on the Spice Girls material. The best thing to do is to purchase a prepaid, U.S.-based credit card and to link that to a Paypal account if you want access to the U.S. iTunes shop. By doing this you will be able to obtain the music at a lower cost, and since music is being downloaded, this means that you will not incur UK sales and customs taxes.

Answer 2

I've never really experienced not being able to buy just one song, i do this all the time - unless they've changed it? I'll tell you what really annoys me though - the fact that you can buy episodes from TV on iTunes US - don't they realise that if they did this in the UK too they would solve a lot of the downloading issues but NO they want to make millions off selling the rights to Sky or whoever - they would probably make more money through iTunes but nevermind...I'm also tired of the second class treatment I want Season 3 of Grey's NOW not next August!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

It does annoy me, I don't want to buy the whole album, just that one song. I don't know about the US vs UK in song count battle, I'm in the US. I like older music, but because it isn't "hip" anymore, iTunes doesn't offer much of it. That ticks me off. Oh, I'm young too, so that is weird I like old music from like the 80's, 70's, etc...

Answer 4

Chelsea it's due to legal issues my dear. Give it time it will come around.

I'm an American and even i know the UK produces more talent than we do in the world of music i mean come on...The Cure, The Streets, U2, Pink Floyd, The Beatles...think of a majorly successful band and then think of what country they come from.

Answer 5

Because the deal that itunes has with most record companies only includes rights to purchase in the United States.

Answer 6

It's all to do with the size of the market.
UK has 60 million people US has about 270 million.
Plus US market needs to cater for different types of music e.g. Black, Latino, Country Western ect.

Answer 7

i have american i tunes
but i suppose it may be considered a bigger market here
is there strong competition to i tunes iin the uk?
if so, maybe they make you buy a whole album to make more money
they have to pay the artists to put the music up, so possibly the artists wanted too much, or simply didnt agree till then

Answer 8

Because America is bigger, and therefore seen as better - which is wrong! - so iTunes discriminate and favour the American site.

Answer 9

the U.s version has more songs probably because more Americans use it.

Answer 10

UK sucks?