Variable Pricing Hits the iTunes Music Store: What’s Your Say?

Back in January, Apple announced that it had hammered out a deal with EMI, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group to spread DRM-free, 256kbps AAC songs across the whole of world’s most popular music store (previously such tracks were regulated to the iTunes Plus Music Store).  Today, the arrangement has gone live, and with it comes a variable price scheme:  songs are now ticketed at either $0.69, the familiar $0.99,  or $1.29. Scrolling through today’s top songs,  we saw a healthy mix of $0.99 and $1.29 tracks, but we couldn’t find a single $0.69 song among them. It makes one wonder if only the less popular tunes will make it to that sweet price point, but as how Jose Louis Pardo’s “The Hucklebuck” is $0.99, who knows how this thing will play out. What do you think of today’s big music move? Is it a great move by Apple, or is Amazon MP3′s 256Kbps catalog (mostly priced at $0.99, but with the odd $0.79, $0.89, $1.29, and $1.99 tracks)  look increasingly enticing?