14 DAY TRIAL // Despite being well in the lead, Apple continues to constantly improve the iTunes Store both in terms of content and features. While many of the improvements may not be revolutionary, they are nevertheless very welcome and often not seen in other places. Such is the case of Complete My Album.
The new service lets customers take advantage of individual tracks already purchased when they decide that they would like the entire album by giving them a full 99 cent credit for every track they have previously purchased from that album. "Music fans can now round out their music collections by upgrading their singles into complete albums with just one click, and get full credit for those songs they have previously purchased from iTunes," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes, in the press release. "Complete My Album is a wonderful new way that iTunes helps customers grow and enjoy their music collections."
While some have argued that this is just a marketing ploy to help bolster album sales that have been declining, the overall reaction to the new service is very positive. "iTunes continues to revolutionize the digital music industry by offering music fans innovative ways to explore and enjoy new music," said Thomas Hesse, president, Global Digital Business and US Sales, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, in the press release. "With Complete My Album, iTunes is giving music fans the best of both worlds-the ability to discover great new music by buying just the single and a credit toward the purchase of the complete album."
The Complete My Album offer is available up to 180 days after first purchasing individual songs from any qualifying album to purchase the rest of that album at a reduced price, and the offer is cumulative for each track bought so a user who's already purchased three 99 cent singles and decides to buy the corresponding $9.99 album would be able to download the remaining songs to complete the album for just $7.02.