Basically, Apple paid up in the end. Or it threatened Sony with bags of future hurt.
Result = iRadio + iAds = I won't be using it anyway.
Result = iRadio + iAds = I won't be using it anyway.
I really hope this is good enough to let me cancel my spotify subscription! Despite the rumors, I am hoping for a model much closer to spotify than to Pandora.
Or not. Could be like when they wanted to do 90 second previews. They said they were doing it and if a label objected they could pull their content. Otherwise they couldn't stop Apple
I'm not really sure what it can do to wow us. I used to listen to Pandora, but I found the repetition to be very high so I switched to Slacker. I just don't know what they could offer that would make me use it over something else.
The only thing that may do it would be for some kind of built-in feature of the OS that a 3rd party app isn't able to do. I can't really expand on that because I can't think of any examples.
Also, while it may be free, I hope they offer no-ads for a nominal fee.
Apple must be adding some decent sweeteners to push the deal through.
Is there any other tech company that has the ability and reputation to close deals with content producers as well as Apple can? Eddy cue is a closer.
Spotify is good if you dont want to keep the music. Lets say you dont want to pay for Spotify anymore you loose all your music. Its gone!
Will this thing be for iOS only or will it also be added to the desktop version of iTunes?
...difficulty reaching an agreement over compensation for songs skipped by users...
Great - so Apple will have something to launch this year.
The question is, will it actually be anything worth using?
I've yet to hear a single thing rumored for this service that would actually make me want to use it instead of Spotify.
What about EMI? Since when did the 4 major labels become 3?
On 12 November 2011, it was announced that EMI would sell its recorded music operations to Universal Music Group for £1.2 billion ($1.9 billion) and its music publishing operations to Sony/ATV Music Publishing-for $2.2 billion.[45] Among the other companies that had competed for the recorded music business was Warner Music Group which was reported to have made a $2 billion bid.[46] However, IMPALA has said that it would fight the merger.[47] In March 2012, the European Union opened an investigation into Universal's purchase of EMI's recorded music division[48] and had asked rivals and consumer groups whether the deal will result in higher prices and shut out competitors.[49]
On 21 September 2012, the sale of EMI to UMG was approved in both Europe and the United States by the European Commission and the Federal Trade Commission respectively. The European Commission approved the deal, however, under the condition that the merged company divest itself of one third of its total operations to other companies with a proven track record in the music industry. To comply with this condition, UMG divested the following labels: V2 Records, Parlophone Records, Sanctuary Records, Chrysalis Records, Mute Records, EMI Classics, Virgin Classics, and EMI's regional labels across Europe. EMI's operations would be operated separately as the Parlophone Music Group. Universal will, however, retain its ownership of the Beatles' library (Parlophone) and Robbie Williams' Chrysalis recordings.[50]
Universal Music Group completed its acquisition of EMI on 28 September 2012.[51] In compliance the conditions of the European Commission, Universal Music Group sold a German-based music rights company BMG the Mute catalogue, previously property of EMI on December 22, 2012.[52] On February 8, 2013, Warner Music Group signed an agreement to acquire Parlophone, Chrysalis Records, EMI Classics, Virgin Classics and some of EMI's regional labels across Europe for US$765 million (£487 million).[53][54] Regulatory approval was received on May 2013.[55]
Universal Music will continue to operate EMI entities it is retaining using the EMI name and has formed Virgin EMI Records as a UMG label unit in the UK.[56]
I hope apple has something awesome lined up next week..
iRadio is not one of them for me but at least it's good that apple is working on something actively.
IOS 7 .. oh please... it better have complete overhaul of UI.. it better
I hope they hit it out of the park. I've been waiting for a music service worth subscribing to.
What about EMI? Since when did the 4 major labels become 3?
Is there any other tech company that has the ability and reputation to close deals with content producers as well as Apple can? Eddy cue is a closer.