single tracks or whole album? an iTunes rule of thumb

A friend asks about what he calls a tough economic decision: $1.29 for a song in iTunes, or the whole album for $9.99? I have yet to find my iTunes tipping point. If liking one song means I should buy the single, what about two songs? At almost $4, is three songs the tipping point for purchasing the whole album as opposed to singles? There must be an algorithm out there for this.

My answer is two-layered. The first is simple math: your tipping point is only reached if the price of the singles exceeds the album price. In the case of iTunes's $1.29 tracks, it's seven songs. Only if you buy the eighth is it worth buying the album. Simple market economics. Pay less for less.

The second layer adds one subjective variable. You might be buying from an artist who you think doesn't get enough attention for what they're offering, in which case you can consider the greater expenditure as not only purchasing more music (albeit which you may enjoy less) but also — crucially — giving business and support and, through your clicks, attention to a deserving artist.

So, that's one way of doing things. Glad to be of very little help.