Apple looks set to increase the preview time of songs on the U.S. iTunes store to 90 seconds. The change was detailed to music label representatives on Tuesday via email.
The change of song preview from 30 seconds to 90 seconds will only affect songs longer than 2 minutes 30 seconds, anything shorter will keep a preview of 30 seconds. It is unknown when the change will take effect or whether it will only apply to the U.S. iTunes store.
The email obtained by AppleInsider is detailed below:
Dear Label Representative:
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.
All you have to do is continue making your content available on the iTunes Store, which will confirm your acceptance to the following terms.
You agree that this letter modifies our U.S. Digital Music Download Sales Agreement so that “Clips” for songs longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds may be up to 90 seconds long (“Clips” for shorter songs will stay at 30 seconds); and you agree to license, or pass through to Apple, gratis mechanical rights for 90-second “Clips” embodying the entirety of compositions owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by you or your affiliates. Further, you represent that you have the authority to enter into this letter agreement for 90-second “Clips”.
Thank you,
The iTunes Store Team