$1.50 for the crappy ringtone version of the song, 99 cents for the actual song

Cafe Society
1

So I get it in my head that I want ‘Tubular Bells’ (you know, the Exorcist theme) as my ringtone. Sure enough, I can purchase and download it to my phone from my provider, and do so for $1.50.

Then it crosses my mind that I could have had the song itself, not just the crappy polyphonic ringtone version of it, for the lower price of 99 cents from iTunes. To listen to whenever I want, not just when someone deigns to call me.

Yes, I realize I’m paying for the convenience and/or novelty of it being on my phone, but it still struck me kind of silly.

2

I wonder if it has anything to do with royalties, meaning that you’re unlikely to listen to the song itself as often as you’d hear it from the ringing of your phone.