Google Facing Difficulties Getting iTunes Competitor Off The Ground

[MacRumors]

Image from Droid Life
All Things Digital reports that Google is having difficulties as it works to develop its own iTunes competitor, describing the company's talks with major record labels as "going backwards". Google has been working since last year to roll out a music service that would also integrate with the company's Android platform in an attempt to rival the iTunes-iOS mobile media combination and move into cloud-based storage.

Google's negotiations with the big music labels are "broken," says a source familiar with the search giant's thinking: "There's definitely a problem with the Google music conversations." Another industry source says Google's top executives are reconsidering their music plans altogether. "They've gone backwards," I'm told.

Some label sources have suggested that Google is continuing to negotiate and that things are moving forward, but there appears to be growing discontentment at other labels due in part to Google potentially changing its demands at the last minute and label concerns over Amazon's new cloud-based storage service and music player launched late last month.

Apple of course is widely rumored to be working on a revamp of its MobileMe services that would allow users to store their media in the cloud and access it from any Internet-connected Apple device. The company has been said to be talking with record labels for many months now, working to get labels on board for the service that they have repeatedly said is not a permitted usage under current distribution contracts.

Article Link: Google Facing Difficulties Getting iTunes Competitor Off The Ground

 

[Satori]

Ho hum...

Competition for itunes would not be a bad thing but those record companies are just too greedy!

 

[MCIowaRulz]

Maybe the reason why they are having problems with licensing is because of gTunes
http://www.androidfreeware.net/download-gtunes-music.html

 

[Consultant]

Let's see, Google's open wasteland is undesirable. What's news?

Ho hum...

Competition for itunes would not be a bad thing but those record companies are just too greedy!

There are plenty of competition. Look back the history for the past 10 years. Almost all of them, including Microsoft's versions, failed against iTunes.

 

[Eddyisgreat]

wow the iOS/Apple closed ecosystem must really be the WORSE THANG EVAR if google is trying to trying to do it.

 

[fishmoose]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; sv-se) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)

I think Apple will be able to get the right deals in the end get Steve Jobs pissed enough at the labels and they'll come around he usually gets his way, one way or another.

 

[jonnysods]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/8H7)

Suckaz. Closed system works best.

 

[Stowaway]

Google can't release a polished project to save their lives.

As much as I like google as a company, as with everything they start I'm sure they will never finish this. I've come to believe google is incapable of releasing a complete, polished project. But maybe I'm just bitter since I own a 40" google tv that is virtually incapable of doing anything worth doing on a tv.

 

[Satori]

There are plenty of competition. Look back the history for the past 10 years. Almost all of them, including Microsoft's versions, failed against iTunes.

Absolutely correct!

What I meant is that a competitor, that might stick around, would be a good thing for iTunes store users in terms of both pricing & usability. I don't have any particular beef with iTunes store - it is fine, but who knows what sort of improvements some decent competition might bring.

 

[dscuber9000]

Google is finding out just how difficult it is to negotiate with record labels.

 

[ghostface147]

I am more curious how the labels are going to try to renegotiate contracts with Apple once Steve moves on.

I am not too sure Tim Cook or anyone of his pay grade is as tough as Steve is when it comes to these label execs.

 

[hob]

why do music companies make it so difficult to distribute their music? weird.

 

[Glideslope]

Good.

How is the new office Eric? What goes around comes around. The walls are starting to lean.

The future is WIN7, iOS, and RIMM.

I am more curious how the labels are going to try to renegotiate contracts with Apple once Steve moves on.

I am not too sure Tim Cook or anyone of his pay grade is as tough as Steve is when it comes to these label execs.

Do more research on Tim. Steve picks the target. Tim delivers the system.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Sounds like the Record companies are being their typical stupid selves. Only reason Apple is really able to get away with it is because they are Apple. It is not the closed system part but because they are Apple. I bet if the record company could they would say F you to Apple and pull out. I also would not be surpised if they regreat now making a deal with them when iTunes first launched.

Amazon on it cloud stuff just said F-You to the record company and Amazon has enough sells like Apple iTMS that they can force the music company to bend over and take it.


This stinks over all. It is not closed or open argument. This is a record company being record companies.

 

[Glideslope]

Ho hum...

Competition for itunes would not be a bad thing but those record companies are just too greedy!

They also know that they have been completely taken by Apple in an almost comical way.

This is the main reason the TV/Movie industry has been so leary of Apple. It's not simply greed. They don't know how to negotiate at Apple's level.

When Apple releases their new HD TV the networks will have complete control on pricing with Apple getting it's cut. Apple will provide a complete hardware delivery system for them that operates seamlessly with a click, and has a magical (could not resist) effect on the end user.

No needing to try all this crap streaming through Amazon and such BS. Could even give Netflix a run.

It's the logical next step, and Steve has already laid out the vision.

 

[chrono1081]

What I meant is that a competitor, that might stick around, would be a good thing for iTunes store users in terms of both pricing & usability.

I can't really agree with this. The last thing I want is a bunch of different places to buy music.

IF and only if the same same content was offered on both stores would this be a good thing in my opinion, otherwise its kind of like the Blu Ray vs HD DVD thing.

 

[ChazUK]

Why are record labels so against cloud based storage and access of music?

Until someone has a decent cloud offering in the uk, I can see myself sticking with Audiogalaxy for my own personal streaming needs.

Amazon may have jumped the gun a bit but I admire what they did either way.

I can't really agree with this. The last thing I want is a bunch of different places to buy music.

IF and only if the same same content was offered on both stores would this be a good thing in my opinion, otherwise its kind of like the Blu Ray vs HD DVD thing.

How is this comparable? Blu-ray and HD-DVD were completely incompatible with each other whereas the various online stores undoubtedly sell their music in an pod friendly format or face cutting off the biggest market for portable music players.

The main problem we used to have was drm incompatibilities but that is pretty much dead. What is the benefit of having a singular source controling the music market?

 

[headfuzz]

Google should sort out their Android media player before trying to wangle record deals.

No gapless playback makes my iPhone 3G live to fight another day as an iPod.

 

[vincenz]

wow the iOS/Apple closed ecosystem must really be the WORSE THANG EVAR if google is trying to trying to do it.

Everyone's just a hypocrite..

 

[djgamble]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-gb) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

wow the iOS/Apple closed ecosystem must really be the WORSE THANG EVAR if google is trying to trying to do it.

Everyone's just a hypocrite..

Android is "closed"... an open system would be a Linux one where you can chop and change every part of the system right down to the kernel. Not gonna happen with mobile devices without hacking IMO.

 

[needthephone]

As much as I like google as a company, as with everything they start I'm sure they will never finish this. I've come to believe google is incapable of releasing a complete, polished project. But maybe I'm just bitter since I own a 40" google tv that is virtually incapable of doing anything worth doing on a tv.

Exactly, I totally agree and have said this before (only to be shot down in flames mind!)

Google hardly every leaves anything stable long enough, its always just about to be finished, always in beta. They always put a disclaimer and never accept any responsibility, hey its just beta use at your own risk.

Google is great and have to be admired just that I wouldn't use them for anything other than adsense or searching the internet

 

[saving107]

Do more research on Tim. Steve picks the target. Tim delivers the system.

agreed.

The Verizon iPhone deal was all Tim Cook, even before Steve Jobs took his medical leave, it was reported that Steve Jobs had little involvement with that deal.

 

[*LTD*]

Dear Google:

Apple *already* revolutionized the music industry.

Try copying something of theirs that's a little less established.

(and then just leave it in beta like you do with everything else.)

Cheers.

 

[acslater017]

Dear Google:

Apple *already* revolutionized the music industry.

Try copying something of theirs that's a little less established.

(and then just leave it in beta like you do with everything else.)

Cheers.

In fairness to Google, no one said that they were out to destroy iTunes or anything like that. They've got a growing mobile business, and it makes sense that they want to make some cohesive media store.

Likewise, Apple is trying to grow its online/cloud services (Google's strength)! Funny, they are kind of moving towards each other in that sense...

 

[Doctor Q]

What's really causing the difficulties?

Is the difference that Apple is more willing to talk to and play ball with the content providers? Is it that Google has been "changing its demands"? Is it about technical concerns? Are the content provides trying to guess who the winning horse will be?

Or (my guess) is it all about the revenue sharing model?