Apple Inc. denied reports Monday that record label Universal Music Group did not plan to renew its contract to sell songs on its online iTunes Store.
"We are still negotiating with Universal," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said. "Their music is still on iTunes and their not re-signing is just not true."
Representing artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Akon, Universal told the Cupertino technology company last week that it did not plan to sign a long-term contract, an industry source said.
Instead, Universal planned to continue its partnership with iTunes at will, letting the record company negotiate exclusive deals with other music services if those opportunities came up. For instance, it could grant exclusive rights to a new song to an online music service for several months before releasing it to iTunes and other retailers. The news was first reported by the New York Times.
A spokesman for Universal declined to comment.
View: San Francisco Chronicle
"We are still negotiating with Universal," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said. "Their music is still on iTunes and their not re-signing is just not true."
Representing artists such as Andrea Bocelli and Akon, Universal told the Cupertino technology company last week that it did not plan to sign a long-term contract, an industry source said.
Instead, Universal planned to continue its partnership with iTunes at will, letting the record company negotiate exclusive deals with other music services if those opportunities came up. For instance, it could grant exclusive rights to a new song to an online music service for several months before releasing it to iTunes and other retailers. The news was first reported by the New York Times.
A spokesman for Universal declined to comment.
View: San Francisco Chronicle
Ok, but it wouldn't exactly look good if you couldn't get music by U2 to put on your U2 iPod any more
It's becoming boring...
iTunes, made alot of people legit
Universal, here's some simple math for your accountants:
SOME money from online sales is greater than NO money from free distribution methods (i.e. DRM free piracy or the artists releasing the music themselves...without YOU). The old model is dead. Time to move on or die with it.
*gag* That's good enough reason to reject Universal's renewal.
Discerning that required you read the article. Most members here get as far as the title, and if it involves apple, microsoft, or linux they enter the comment area armed with an array of talking points from whatever viewpoint they represent and have little interest in critically reading the article.
-d
Man... we almost went 6 posts with out a comment like this. Too bad.
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