iTunes developing interactive albums

Apple has revolutionised the digital music industry with the development of iPods and the online music store iTunes, but it is set to make another breakthrough with the release of interactive albums.

Apple has revolutionised the digital music industry with the development of iPods and the online music store iTunes, but it is set to make another breakthrough with the release of interactive albums.

The application, to be made available next month for the iPod Touch and iPhone, gives users access to extra content such as art, behind-the-scenes images and lyric sheets.

Digital music sales have come under criticism by some because they do not provide an actual physical product for purchase, unlike CDs from a record store which usually provide booklets with album art.

The application will be launched with the release of alternative rock band Snow Patrol’s fifth studio album, A Hundred Million Suns, for Polydor Records.

Polydor product manager Liz Goodwin told Music Week: “It will be an interactive element; a digital booklet that will take you into the videos and content.”