The 'new' two track CD single - Pete or Dud?

Right, so a TWO-track single at two pounds will sell more than a THREE-track single at £1.99? Yes? That is your fantastic idea?

It's... crap. They decided to limit the number of tracks for chart-eligible singles to three a few years ago, in some vague attempt at making things 'fairer' and lessening the pressure on people to put more stuff on their singles, and now it's dropping to two, and the existing format (which is three tracks but allowed to feature remixes of these, bit like they have now) is getting knocked up to four quid.

God, but there are some divs in this world.

But this doesn't change the fact that a lot of three track singles (occasionally with four tracks or three tracks + video) are £1.99. I dunno if this is some attempt to combat the first week price reductions there are with most singles... but I just can't see how this will make any difference to anything, really.

I would much prefer independent labels - that's independent labels covering a wide range of music these days [including electro/ house/ breakbeat/ metal/ drum n bass/ experimental electronics/ avant jazz / post rock/ techno / industrial/ ambient/ leftfield hiphop etc etc - i.e most music that doesn't get daytime airplay] re-introduce more eps of say 30 minutes of music for around 5 or 7 pounds.

Artists could release an ep inbetween albums, rather than duplicate singles off an album - that are merely used as media promotional tools and don't offer value for money.

let the majors play their own game, and give independent labels a chance to reinvent/ repromote themselves that benefits artists/ listeners/ labels/ independent retailers and alternative media outlets.

"Paperpack Writer"/"Rain"

i.e. two tracks worth hearing rather than seven where you have to pick through?

e.g. Rapture single.
House Of Jealous Lovers shorter version / Alabama Sunshine - as £2 version

HOJL full / fulton mix / Cosmos remix / Killing (ends remix) - as £4

i.e. get the maxi if you care that much...

Problem is that you're fucked if you don't have easy access to getting independent label product. (Case in point, I currently don't.) Unlike a large city, where you can find smaller "mom and pop" shops to purchase from (Other Music and Bleecker Street Music in NYC comes to mind), you are stuck with doing Net purchases. Those carry their own charges for S & H, which will jack up the single's price anyway.