Apple have announced a rather smart new extension to their iTunes offering – an affiliate programme. Now websites can earn commission on tracks that recommend to potential customers.
It’s already possible to link to specific content on iTunes, but adding a 5% commission sweetener will encourage sites to promote the music store and favourite tunes. Will providing a financial incentive to promote tracks affect iTunes’ contribution to the new downloaded music charts? It’s too early to tell.
Amazon’s own affiliate service has been a great success, and some of the more prominent affiliates have done reasonably well out of it. Whilst individual tunes are certainly cheaper than books, music has a higher consumption and churn rate – bloggers will leap on this opportunity straight away, as they can now profit it out of telling everyone how cool their music tastes are.
Apple will be supporting their new affiliates with Apple-designed marketing materials and a regular newsletter.
“By working with affiliate websites we’re not only expanding access to iTunes, but are giving site owners the ability to connect to one of the hottest brands online, creating a quick and easy way for them to generate additional revenue,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of applications. Apple said it has to date sold over 125 million songs from its iTunes Music Stores in the U.S., U.K., Germany and France.
As an extra incentive, affiliates have the chance of winning an iPod Mini if they sign up before 15th September.
