iTunes uniform pricing model to take end next year?

The Wallstreet Journal (requires subscription - article on MarketWatch) reports that an EMI executive, said during the company's half-year financials conference in London that Apple will abandon its uniform pricing model in 2006.

"We are having discussions which make us believe it will happen in the next 12 months," said EMI's chief executive, Alain Levy.

Major music companies have been putting pressure to Apple during the year so as it changes its model over a variable pricing one. Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs, believes that the pricing model has to remain simple.

"There is a common understanding that we will have to come to a variable pricing structure. The issue is when. There is a case for superstars to have a higher price," Alain Levy added.

Apple's current model is to sell all singles for $0.99 and albums for $9.99. Major companies would like to be able to sell new tunes for a bit more than $1 and older ones for $1 or a little less. A variable pricing structure is already used the CD industry.