ITunes Originals

iTunes Originals is a series of digital releases that were only made available through Apple's iTunes Store. It was developed by iTunes executive Alex Luke who also developed Apple's "Live From" and "Single of the Week" programs.[1] Each release features the music of a single artist. The releases typically contain more than twenty tracks (some more than thirty), which include music from the artist's body of releases, new recordings (of both previously released and sometimes unreleased songs) specifically for the iTunes Originals, and spoken word tracks that explore the artist's history and work, and/or discuss the next song.[2] Some releases have also included video, both previously released, and originally created for the iTunes Originals. The songs recorded exclusively for the albums are usually recorded live in a recording studio.

Most iTunes Originals albums are available in the United States iTunes Store, with availability in other countries' music stores varying with each release. Occasionally there are Originals available only in other countries; one notable example is Ulfuls' Japanese release, which was the top downloaded album in Japan for the first four days after iTunes first launched in that country in August 2005.[3][4] Though they are definitely full-length releases (most are longer than the length of even an 80-minute Compact Disc), the fact that a majority of the tracks are either previously released recordings, re-recordings, or spoken word, results in the releases typically not being considered a "primary album release" for the artist.

By 2006, fifteen iTunes Originals albums had charted on the Billboard Top Digital Albums chart, including those by The Fray, Ben Harper, Rob Thomas and Fiona Apple.[5] The best-selling digital-only album of 2005 was iTunes Originals – Sarah McLachlan.[6]

The most recently released iTunes Originals was iTunes Originals – Weezer in 2010.[7]

  1. ^ Morris, Chris (December 16, 2010). "Alex Luke ankles iTunes for EMI". Variety.
  2. ^ Golderman, Gail, and Connolly, Bruce (spring 2006). "Top of the Pop", Library Journal 24–30.
  3. ^ Sarafin, Peter (August 20, 2005). "Japan Finds iTunes Appealing", Billboard 117 (34): 7–8.
  4. ^ McClure, Steve (October 6, 2005). "Big labels play waiting game with iTunes", The Daily Yomiuri.
  5. ^ (September 2, 2006). "Hot 'Tunes'", Billboard 118 (35): 69.
  6. ^ Christman, Ed (March 18, 2006). "2005 Sales Data: Long Tail Is Wagging", Billboard 118 (11): 9–10.
  7. ^ "ITunes Originals: Weezer by Weezer". iTunes. January 2010.