Canadian download service Puretracks.com is lowering prices on specific Universal Music Canada titles by 20 percent with albums priced at $7.99 and singles at 79 cents. The usual prices are $9.99 and 99 cents, respectively.

According to Graham Henderson, President of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, the price decrease reflects a maturing business where products are offered at various price points. Industry analyst Phil Leigh further noted that price wars are part of a healthy market.

A spokesman for Puretracks denied suggestions that the price decreases were made to compete with Apple’s iTunes Music Store which recently launched in Canada. Rather, Puretracks is simply doing what regular music retailers do after Christmas – lowering prices to attract consumers.

Puretracks also offers a subscription service for $4.99 per month. In addition, Puretracks will soon open in the U.K.

(Abstracted from Puretracks Kicks Off Price War, by Robert Thompson, Canada.comNews, January 4, 2005)