(09-07-2012, 12:40 AM)Miguel Wrote: Quote: Apple, which has already dominated the field of digital music with its iTunes store, is in the early stages of negotiating with the major record labels for the service, and the full scope of its plans were not clear, according to these people, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations are private.
Apple’s service would probably take the form of a preinstalled app on devices like iPhones and iPads and might be able to connect to users’ iTunes accounts to judge their tastes.
By offering streams customized to each user, Apple’s program would compete with Internet radio services like Pandora, Slacker and iHeartRadio, which is offered by the radio giant Clear Channel Communications.
But while most such services operate under limited licenses that restrict what they can do with the music — for example, limiting the number of times songs by particular artist can be played within an hour — Apple is seeking direct licenses with record labels that would give the company more flexibility in using music, according to the people briefed on its plans.
Like Pandora, Apple’s radio service would have advertising, carried through Apple’s iAd platform. Whether Apple would then share part of the ad revenue with labels, or pay them some other licensing fee, was unclear. It was also unclear whether the service would be free or require a subscription. Pandora with ads is free, although its users can pay $36 a year for a service that eliminates the ads.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/techno...radio.html
It will probably be popular with the Apple people who are clueless about all the available music services that are not owned by Apple. I have Itunes on my computer because it is necessary for the Ipod that I own. Eventually I'll get rid of the Ipod and will immediately uninstall Itunes since I don't like it.
Apple does a fantastic job of getting people to pay for their products and services so I expect whatever new service they offer it will be successful in increasing their revenue.
I'm a big fan of Pandora. Also I get my music from a local not-for-profit radio station with great DJs, my cable audio channels, mp3's on my Sansa mp3 player (I seldom us my Ipod for music), CDs and internet radio channels (thousands to choose from). It's hard to get excited over Apple's or anyone's new music service.
