How can I change Primary Email Address to icloud email?

Question

I have an apple id been using for many years.  I would like to change the primary email address.  I would like to create a new icloud email address and use that as primary email for my apple id.
When I try to do this in the Manage Apple ID it says that I cannot pick an email address associate with apple domain.
How do I do this???
Essentially I would like to start over with an icloud email address but keep all my existing itunes purchases etc.   If I create a new Apple ID with icloud email id I am hosed and cannot copy over my purchases.   If I stay with existing Apple ID, I can change primary email address but I can't use icloud email.
Any suggestions??

Answer 1

While you can't currently change your Apple ID to a Mobile/iCloud email address, I found a solution that helps with a related problem.
Suppose you've recently got an iCloud email address, but Apple are still sending all your iTunes Store, App Store and Mac App Store receipts to your old gmail address (the one that's still your Apple ID). And suppose they're also sending all the Apple Support Communities notifcation emails to your old gmail address. How do you change it? How do you fix it?
Well the option exists, but it is hidden away in a weird place. To get Apple sending all of their receipts and notifications to your new iCloud email address...
• Go to your country's Apple Store website http://store.apple.com/
• Click on the Account button in the top-right corner
• Under Account Settings, click on Change your default shipping or billing info
• Sign in with your usual Apple ID and password
• The email address listed under Payment Information is the key
• Click on Edit next to Payment Information and change that email address to your iCloud address
That's all you have to do.