Those looking for fresh material to bash major record labels need not look further. To the outrage of fans, iTunes and Sony raised the prices on one of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits album just 12 hours after her death. Though the album was quickly returned to its original price after many Twitter rants and a general public outcry, people seem not to be quick to forgive.
In the UK version of the iTunes store, the price of Houston’s Ultimate Collection was raised from £4.99 to £7.99. As noted by The Guardian, that is a whopping 60% increase in cost. To many, this seemed like an attempt of a couple already wealthy individuals to profit off a tragedy. After the protests began rolling in, Sony decided it was time to address the issue. They claimed that the price was incorrect before her death, and they were simply adjusting the price to its proper value. Whether or not this is true, it’s clear that Sony realized this was not a battle worth fighting. As of last night, the album went back to its original price. Sony must have realized it wasn’t worth alienating tons of customers for the sake of raking in a couple extra bucks.
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