If you’re browsing songs and iTunes but those 30-second previews just aren’t enough to let you decide whether or not it’s worth it, here’s some good news. Every song on iTunes now gives users a 90-second preview.
In a letter sent to all of its record label partners, Apple said, “We are pleased to let you know that we are preparing to increase the length of music previews from 30 seconds to 90 seconds on the iTunes Store in the United States. We believe that giving potential customers more time to listen to your music will lead to more purchases.”
It certainly isn’t a huge, cataclysmic deal, especially now that people can go on Youtube any time they want to hear a song in its entirety.
As such, it would be difficult to imagine any of the labels having a problem with Apple’s new system. I’m sure you’ll be able to find some songs that are less than 90 seconds in their entirety, but then again, it’s unfair to make people pay a full 99 cents for songs like that in the first place.
This is a move that actually makes iTunes stand out against its other digital music store rivals. There is now something tangible that makes iTunes a better online music store destination than Amazon MP3 or Zune Music. It’s a small move, but a move nonetheless.
