14 DAY TRIAL // Sources with knowledge of Apple’s plans in the music business say all but one of the major labels have signed deals to deliver content through a new service which the media has dubbed “iRadio.”
Rumored to have prepared a music-streaming service akin to Pandora, Apple has reportedly convinced most record labels to sign deals that will allow the Cupertino giant to push out the service this year.
Apple, however, wants to showcase iRadio at WWDC 2013 next week, alongside iOS 7 and the next-generation OS X.
The NY Times cites people briefed on the talks as saying, “After months of stalled negotiations over its planned Internet radio service, Apple is pushing to complete licensing deals with music companies so it can reveal the service as early as next week.”
Universal Music Group has signed for its recorded music rights, but not for music publishing, while Sony (which includes Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV) is still to be convinced, says the report.
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is scheduled to begin with a keynote address on June 10, next Monday.
There have been little to no details leaked about iRadio, only speculation as to how the service would operate. Some say it’s a combination of Pandora and Spotify, but few people have any real knowledge of the service as a whole.
For instance, it isn’t clear whether iRadio will be just another iTunes service, or whether it will have its own standalone app on both iOS and OS X.
Another uncertain aspect is the monetization system, and how many of iRadio’s offerings will be free of charge to end users.
The NY Times report suggests Apple will have a hard time competing with the likes of Pandora, which has over 70 million regular users.
Needless to point out, Apple is not only late to the game, but is having major difficulties in getting the show on the road merely a few days before the event where iRadio is to be introduced.