The Philippine Online Chronicles

Timely mistake

Just hours after Whitney Houston’s untimely death on Feb. 11, Sony Music reportedly increased the prices of two of her albums at the iTunes Store for United Kingdom.

From £4.99, Houston’s “Ultimate Collection” rose to £7.99 while her “Whitney: The Greatest Hits” went up from £7.99 to 9.99.

After online outrage from fans, Sony Music issued a statement saying, "Whitney Houston product was mistakenly mispriced on the UK iTunes store on Sunday. When discovered, the mistake was immediately corrected. We apologize for any offence caused."

A report cited Sony saying that it was a mistake of an employee in Britain.

Prices were lifted on Feb. 12.

According to theGuardian Online, “Music fans described the move as a cynical attempt to capitalize on Houston's in-demand greatest hits records.”

Twitter users called the company “greedy” and “a disgrace.”

Interviewed on CNN, Houston’s friend music legend Chaka Khan criticized Sony Music, adding that the music industry is money driven.

“I think we all, as artists, because we’re highly sensitive people, and this machine around us, this so-called music industry is such a demonic thing. It sacrifices people’s lives and their essences at the drop of a dime...I had a manager once say to me, ‘You know you’re worth more money dead than alive,” Khan said.

Sony Music owns the rights to a lot of Houston’s hits. By last week, 42 of her songs have claimed some of the top 200 positions in the UK iTunes chart.

Bobby Brown complains of security mix-up

Amid earlier reports that say Houston’s former husband Bobby Brown was not invited to the singer’s funeral, Brown turned up at the New Hope Baptist Church in New Jersey to pay his respects.

"My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston," Brown clarified.

CNN Online reported that he arrived with several people and looked “emotionally distraught.”

"We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continued to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter (with Houston) Bobbi Kristina,” he said in a statement.

Bobbi Kristina was reportedly hospitalized after suffering a nervous breakdown because of her mother’s death.

Nevertheless, Brown said, "In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. ... I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.”

Meanwhile, public figure Reverend Al Sharpton posted on his Twitter account, "I am at Whitney's funeral. I spoke with Bobby Brown trying to calm him down and not distract from the services. Today is about Whitney."

Brown and Houston’s marriage was a troubled one. In 2003, Brown was arrested for supposedly striking Houston. He has long been having substance abuse problems. They separated in 2006 and divorced in 2007.

In Connecticut, Brown performed with his group New Edition and said to the audience, "I want to give blessings to my ex-wife, Whitney Houston, I love you. I want to give blessings to my kids, my fiancée (Alicia Etheridge), my brothers, and each of you."