Apple Woos Indies

[MacRumors]

MTV.com reports that Apple is meeting with hundreds of indie label representatives on Thursday to discuss adding their content to the iTunes Music Service.

Senior iTunes music store staffers will show the label reps how the store runs and they'll perform some hands-on demos, though it is unclear whether Apple boss Steve Jobs will attend. The spokesperson declined to specify which, or how many, labels were invited to the meeting.

The article quotes Sub Pop and Matador Records as two labels specifically planning to attend the event.

Indie Support for the iTunes Music Store has been expected and mentioned specifically by Steve Jobs.

 

[catalystx]

Nice to see Apple isn't sitting their laurels with adding more selection to the iTMS, especially with all the competition popping up. I'd still like to know how much of the 99 cents the artists get...

 

[Jesus on OSX]

Excellent. SubPop is one of my favorite labels.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of The Postal Service.

It's an excellent CD.

 

[kylos]

Sweet!! The more music, the better.

 

[Jesus on OSX]

Originally posted by catalystx I'd still like to know how much of the 99 cents the artists get...

afaik, with the mainstream (RIAA-affiliated) artists, apple gives away 60cents (NYT) from each track sale to the label. Out of which probably 10% or less goes to the artist I would suppose.

With independents this figure might be different since indie labels usually don't screw their artists over with inflated tariffs and dues.

 

[Mudbug]

This is nothing but a good thing - but I'm willing to bet someone will post a negative rating on it anyway. What's with that? Can't we all just get along?

 

[nickmcghie]

this is a good sign.. the more choices the better

i see a good cycle going on.. as apple adds more labels, more people will want to sign up.. as more people sign up, more labels will want to sign on.. this is will continue in an upward spiral until itunes for windows is released.. and that's when the floodgates will burst open

 

[dethl]

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is exactly what iTMS needs! Go Steve!

 

[chewbaccapits]

Great to see apple working hard on getting more than just the mainstream of talent. Hopefully this can happen and truly put ITMS over the edge and make all of the windows peeps salivate even more!

 

[Nebrie]

Originally posted by Jesus on OSX
afaik, with the mainstream (RIAA-affiliated) artists, apple gives away 60cents (NYT) from each track sale to the label. Out of which probably 10% or less goes to the artist I would suppose.

With independents this figure might be different since indie labels usually don't screw their artists over with inflated tariffs and dues.

Actually it's roughly 18% of that 60 cents that goes to the artist.

 

[Dunepilot]

Think about the young people (i.e. music buyers) who are into non-mainstream music, and suddenly you realise that your secondary audience (if we are assuming that the core audience is young teenagers - i.e. those without a credit card - the primary target audience of the music industry) is potentially as big as your primary audience (not every child can persuade his/her parents to pay for music via credit card).

So, this massive 18-25 market, which generally cares more about what Drowned in Sound says than what Rolling Stone says therefore demands the addition of independent labels. That Apple are getting on to this removes a major obstacle to people like me using the iTMS.


Hooray it's happening now.


p.s. I also recommend Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie.

 

[mnkeybsness]

it's more than often decided by the label as to how much profit the band gets on a per signee basis. each band may get a different cut of the sales.

 

[Vlade]

Originally posted by Mudbug
This is nothing but a good thing - but I'm willing to bet someone will post a negative rating on it anyway. What's with that? Can't we all just get along?

I bet someone will too, for some reason more than 50% of the users said its a bad thing that moterolla finally started working on the g4 again

 

[Ambrose Chapel]

ooh maybe now there will be some stuff i want to buy from the iTMS. so far it's been slim pickens for me...

 

[mislabeledstar]

beautiful to see matador was marked as invited, as well as sub-pop. i'm hoping to see barsuk, deep elm n jade tree jumping on there....... beautiful if it all comes through.

i just wonder if apple will cut the same deal with the indei labels or try to take more money themselves because they'd have more leverage than with the major labels...... just some food for thought

 

[Mr.Hey]

The head white boy in charge....who's the man> you is steve!

 

[medea]

good news, I would love to pick up some SubPop albums, Matador as well....maybe I'll finally spend some money on the AMS.

 

[mrwilly123]

DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX DEF JUX

 

[NavyIntel007]

Dude, the Electronic labels really need to climb on board. That has to be the worst section of the store.

And who put the one negative rating? Must have been one of the aussies still crying because it hasn't gone international yet.

 

[Duckie]

They need SubPop & Saddle Creek.

Those are essentials.

 

[MrMacMan]

Ahh, good more choices, with this apple will get some more good PR.

Now about 'The Beatles'!

 

[boobers]

Thrill Jockey

Steve if your reading this make sure Thrill Jockey Records jumps in. Then you will have some of my money.
I haven't found a single song to listen to..as much as i enjoy watching Kelly Clarkson and Roooooben Studdard on the TV, their music does nothing for me.

 

[trebblekicked]

finally. (a short list)

matador
merge
sub pop
touch n' go
thrill jockey
drag city
K
emperor jones
kindercore
flydaddy
up!
candy ass
chainsaw
kill rock stars

keep em coming

 

[nodmonkey]

Originally posted by trebblekicked
finally. (a short list)

matador
...
kill rock stars

keep em coming

what is this list? your want list? labels actually involved? if the latter, how do you know?, and HORRAY!

 

[nagromme]

I like the use of the word "hundreds"...