Open letter to iTunes Canada

Greetings iTunes Canada,

I am writing to you today to tell you that I both love you and hate you.

I know that is a harsh way to start a letter.  I know I should have started with a bit on the weather and perhaps a general update on my life, but with the advent of your genius feature, you probably know all that stuff anyway.  So I’ll get right down to it.

1.  I love you.  You can probably guess why.  You bring new music so easily into my life, and not just new music, but audio books and podcasts and Canadian content!  Oh how I love Canadian content!  I really respect you for picking free songs of the week from a group of indie artists that are looking to make their way in the world.  I’m more aware of Canadian artists than ever, and having my patriotic buttons pushed so frequently, you help me believe that all of our culture won’t be swept away into a globalized and bland vat of dribble that sounds like it was engineered in southern California.

I’ve only once bought an album from your recommedations and not liked it.  You’ve enabled me to spend money on music and not feel resentful.  I like buying the songs I want, and not comitting to the whole album just yet.

And don’t get me started on the genius feature!  How do you get into my head like that?!?  You have my affection.  (As long as you keep refraining from selling my info….if you started doing that, I’d have the separation papers drawn up immediately).

2.  I hate you!

WHY, WHY FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD AND TRUE, DO YOU KEEP ME FROM PURCHAISING OFF THE AMERICAN iTUNES!?!

For instance, yesterday I was eager to support one of my favourite shows, “This American Life” and saw that they were selling their new TV season on iTunes.  I should have know better than to get my hopes up…   I went to the iTunes store, and low and behold, if I was but an hour south, I could have purchased aforementioned series.  Right then.  Immediately.  To be enjoyed post-haste.

I took a perusal around your US store and there was so much more content!  Stuff I wanted to listen to and watch!  Things I would have spent my money on.  Shame on you iTunes.  Shame on you.  Are you punishing Canada for our lax copyright laws?  If its not that, than is it our stance on gay marriage?  Our connection to the Queen of England?  Our coloured money?

It’s bad enough that any Wal-Mart in the states has 40 different kinds of yogurt (and 80 different flavours at that).  That’s not your fault, but its still a bone of contention with me.

So, iTunes, that’s what I needed you to hear from me today.  I’m frustrated and upset, but am hoping we can reconcile.  You could start by taking a step toward acquiring the rights to sell ‘The American Life’ episodes in our store up here.  That would help.

Think of the children.

Sincerely and somewhat warmly (its snowy here),

Wendy