When Apple announced its multimedia album packages, dubbed iTunes LPs, some hailed it as the return of the album-as-object. But some indie labels who've tried to create their own LPs on iTunes are dismayed over the $10,000 production fee that Apple charges for LPs.

Not only is the cost prohibitive, but Apple is also being choosy about who it offers the LP format to, reports TUAW [2]. Out of misguided loyalty to the big labels, Apple isn't offering LPs to indie labels who can front the money, either. Outraged, Cult of Mac [3]'s Pete Mortensen calls it less a new format for music than for paid advertising.

Stifled in the iTunes Music Store, on-the-cheap labels may instead choose to go to the App Store and release an iPhone-only selection of artwork and liner notes.