Apple accused of exploiting Whitney Houston's death after cost of albums soar on iTunes



Whitney Houston fans have accused Apple of exploiting the late singer's death by increasing the cost of her in-demand albums on iTunes.

Her Ultimate Collection album, released in 2007, has increased by £3 ($4.70) to £7.99 ($12.60), according to Digital Spy.



It comes after the singer, whose most famous hits include I Will Always Love You and I Wanna Dance With Somebody, was found dead in her Los Angeles hotel room on Saturday afternoon at the age of 48.

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'Exploitation': Apple has been accused of raising the cost of Whitney Houston's albums following her death at a hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday

Users reportedly complained they were unable to download the Ultimate Collection while it was given the new price.

Some music fans accused Apple of 'cashing in' on the singer's death, while others said the company should be 'ashamed', Digital Spy reported.

One customer said: 'To say I am angry is an understatement and I feel it is just a case of iTunes cashing in on the singer's death, which in my opinion is totally parasitic.



Fans' anger: The cost of The Ultimate Collection album has reportedly soared

'The album itself is great so please don't be put off purchasing it, just [know] that you will merely be lining some fatcat's pocket before Whitney's lifeless body is cold.'

Despite the increase in cost of her albums, the singer is expected to dominate the singles and album charts next week

She is currently top of the iTunes’ chart, with her 1992 smash hit I Will Always Love You.

The spring release was a massive worldwide success, and a tie in with her hugely successful film with Kevin Costner, The Bodyguard.



Houston's albums also dominated Amazon's CD best seller chart on Sunday, with The Greatest Hits at No. 1 and seven other Houston-related albums - including the soundtracks to The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale - in the top ten.

The Greatest Hits' also topped Amazon's MP3 sales chart, and several of Houston's other releases filled the digital top 40.

Favourite: Houston belts out her cover of Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard soundtrack. It is the best-selling single by a female artist



Toe-tapping hits: Houston's earlier work, such as I Wanna Dance With Somebody, is proving to be just as popular in the download charts following her death



On iTunes, eight of Houston's albums were listed on the top 100 album sales chart, with The Greatest Hits once again taking the No. 1 slot and both the original and deluxe versions of her eponymous 1985 debut charting.



Houston sold more than 170 million albums and singles worldwide over the course of her career, winning two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards and 22 American Music Awards along the way.

According to the latest reports, Houston’s body was found in the bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.



The singer was allegedly in possession of prescription pills such as Xanex