Universal Music to Sell CDs at iTMS Prices in Europe - Mp4 Converter

Beginning in September, Universal Music will begin selling CDs for the same prices as their iTunes Music Store (iTMS) counterparts in Europe, according to The Guardian. The CDs, however, will come in a cardboard case with no liner notes, which Universal Music calls "the record equivalent of paperbacks," reporter Dan Milmo noted.

Max Hole, executive vice-president of marketing and A&R at Universal's international division, told the newspaper: "There are lots of really good signs that the industry has a future thanks to digital, but we must not lose sight of the fact that 90% of what we sell is physical goods. For over 20 years we have been selling the same standard package. If you bring the price down, catalogue sales start to move again."

Universal Music will also offer "super jewel" versions of CDs, which come with sturdier cases than the ones currently used, and "DeLuxe," which will include bonus content on a CD or DVD.