iTunes LP (referred to in pre-launch press by the code name Cocktail) is a format for interactive album artwork introduced by Apple Inc. on the 9 September 2009.[1][2] It is similar to the CMX format being developed by the 4 major record labels, and operates within the iTunes 9 software, allowing the user to view multimedia elements alongside the music. This format is also used to bundle extra content (known as iTunes Extras) with selected movies at the iTunes Store.[3][4]
iTunes LP downloads utilize a proprietary file format with the extension .itlp, which is essentially a WebArchive adhering to special conventions using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, CSS Animations, and plists.[5] This technology is referred to in iTunes LP files as TuneKit.[4][6]
As of November 2009, a limited number of releases are available in this format, with more titles being added gradually over the first couple of months of the format's existence.
As of November 28, 2009, the iTunes LP SDK has been released to the public.[7]