Apple execs have begun talks with the world’s four remaining major labels on plans to offer streaming music services free of charge to consumers, multiple music industry sources told CNET.
Few details yet, but this leak states they, “did discuss offering iTunes users a means to store copies of their music libraries on Apple’s servers.”
So – as I’m sure we touched on last year here – “benefits to an iTunes user would include the ability to back up music and accessing songs off the Web from any Internet-connected device and conceivably from anywhere in the world.”
Apple negotiators are in New York this week for a series of eleventh hour “secret” iSlate-related meetings with leading US book publishers, reports The Bookseller.
The report suggests publishers are attempting to ensure greater control over pricing and supply of digital material. The reports follow the Wall Street Journal report yesterday which named HarperCollins US as one of the parties in the negotiations.
Publishers are seeking an “agency model” with Apple, whereby they control access to the digital file and the price it is sold at. It seems all of the six largest US publishers are involved in these discussions.
We’re not 100 percent convinced on this, but we do note the imminent Apple tablet announcement on January 27, likely to be accompanied by a first glance at iPhone (and iPod touch) Software version 4.0 – but what’s got us extremely curious is the new price we see on the 32GB iPod touch over at Amazon – $30 off. Not bad.
Boxee has announced plans to introduce a payments platform, enabling purchase and sale of TV shows, movies, music and more. The company statement follows:
“Users want to see more content on Boxee. Content owners want to be paid for what they produce (whether that’s TV Shows, movies, music, or applications). We don’t believe these are conflicting interests.
“This is why we plan to release a Payment Platform this summer where users will be able to make purchases with one click on the remote. The content partners we launch with will offer shows, movies and channels that were previously not available to Boxee users. The content owners will be able to package and price as they wish, including pay-per-view and subscription. Content partners will have the flexibility to decide what they make available, whether it’s premium content, content from their existing library, or extras that will never make it “on air”. Read the rest of this entry »
Universal Music Group has aped EMI, reaching a deal with ad-sponsored US digital music download service FreeAllMusic.com to offer consumers free, legal downloads from UMGs digital catalogue of acts.
Thousands of tracks from both labels are being made available now in FAMs current private beta period, where users get up to twenty free downloads per month, five per week, starting every New Music Tuesday. This is based on the usage patterns of a typical “hits-oriented” iTunes customer.
In exchange for watching one brief video commercial per download on the FreeAllMusic.com site, users receive a permanent download which they can enjoy with no further advertising or restrictions. There is no software required for the service.
To download a free track, registered users select a participating brand they prefer, and watch a brief video from that brand. Sharing of download activity can also be posted on popular social networking sites.
Charter brands for the private beta period include Coca-Cola, Warner Bros. TV, Zappos.com, Lionsgate, LG, inconcert3D, and Powermat.
Apple’s latest patent promises a pocketful of entertainment (or at least portable access to what passes for programming on today’s TV schedules), positing as it does possession of the ability to receive, record, playback and pump into iTunes all manner of shows broadcast on over-the-air radio or television (TV), satellite radio or TV, cable TV or music services.
The GrooveMaker range includes over 11 styles, including House, Hip-Hop, Techno, Trance, Electro, D’n’B, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton.
It allows users to create professional full-length tracks and grooves with audio loops. It features hundreds of drums, basses, kicks, lines, pads, percussion and effects loops which can be remixed in virtually limitless ways. Read the rest of this entry »
Consolidation in the digital music industry is inevitable, as many businesses and technologies will be acquired by more viable business models, according to a new report on the sector by Redwood Capital.
Apple is now more likely to move in this direction with its purchase of Lala, and increases our level of confidence that the streaming model is the wave of the future.
Apple execs have begun talks with the world’s four remaining major labels on plans to offer streaming music services free of charge to consumers, multiple music industry sources told CNET.
Apple negotiators are in New York this week for a series of eleventh hour “secret” iSlate-related meetings with leading US book publishers, reports
We’re not 100 percent convinced on this, but we do note the imminent Apple tablet announcement on January 27, likely to be accompanied by a first glance at iPhone (and iPod touch) Software version 4.0 – but what’s got us extremely curious is the new price we see on the 
