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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.

It will prolly be a mix of both.
Example people with iTunes-match gets to control music they own (rewind, repeat) similar to spotify. If they don't own, it stream once and can't rewind also less iAd. For people without iTunes-match its more like Pandora with more iAd.

That would be the smartest thing to do I think.
 
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

LOL they couldn't stop Apple unless they told apple to stop.Sounds pretty unstoppable.

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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.

Yes I'm having a hard time getting exited based on the rumors.BUT Apple frequently surprises so it may be awesome.We'll know soon enough.
 
Apple must be adding some decent sweeteners to push the deal through.

If the leaked Steve Jobs e-mails of negotiations past are any indication, I think the sentiment that Apple expresses to get these deals done is more along the lines of, "Look, we know you don't like our terms, but you can't afford to not be on board with us. You can either make money or you can not make money. You decide."

And yes, Eddie Cue is the man.
 
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.

I would agree that Apple has a history of closing deals and getting others to bend to their will. This deal though? From all that I've read, and admittedly, it's all been rumor, this deal is not one for the curriculum vitae. Others smarter than me have hinted that the negotiations were a bit more contentious because the record labels saw this as way to "get back" some of what they gave up in the iTunes negotiations.

I have no idea if it's true or not. IMO this deal in particular is not the shining moment you seem to think it is.
 
This is going to have to be a hell of a service to top Spotify Radio. Very, very rarely do my stations play something I absolutely hate, which is something I could never say about Pandora and Slacker.
 
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!

Just to replace my current music collection would be about $10,000 which pays for 83 years and 4 months of Spotify subscription, not including everything that might come out that I want to hear in the next 83 years. I think I'll stick with Spotify.
 
Platforms?

Will this thing be for iOS only or will it also be added to the desktop version of iTunes?
 
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.
 
...difficulty reaching an agreement over compensation for songs skipped by users...

Ah, wouldn't that be $0.00?

I'm curious: what are people looking for in this service, especially compared to the established streaming services like Spotify and Pandora?
 
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.

How about: available in countries other than the USA?
 
What about EMI? Since when did the 4 major labels become 3?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMI#Sony.2FUniversal_sale

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]
 
What if Apple pulled that iRadio wouldnt count against your data usage. (only a player like Apple could pull this off)
 
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

In regards to your expectations for iOS 7, you will be disappointed come 2PM EST, Monday...
 
I hope they hit it out of the park. I've been waiting for a music service worth subscribing to.

My thoughts exactly. I rarely use this type of service, but when I do it's pandora. Crossing my fingers that they hit it out of the park
 
What about EMI? Since when did the 4 major labels become 3?

EMI recordings are owned by Universal. Publishing is owned by Sony.

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I too prefer Rdio to Spotify. The music selection is a little more tailored to my tastes, with a little more rare/obscure stuff from the past 4 decades.
 
Really?

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.

Ummm...I'm just spit-balling here but Microsoft, Sony, Google, Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, Rhapsody, Pandora, iHeartRadio, AOL, etc..

I really hope you are kidding and being sarcastic with your question.
 
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