Universal Music Group's iTunes Contract
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Universal Music Group is set to notify Apple that it will not be renewing their long term contract to sell digital music through Apple's iTunes Store. Instead they will continue with a "short-term" sales agreement, which would mean Universal's catalog would remain on iTunes for the time being.
The exact impact of shift is not entirely clear, but record labels have been reportedly concerned with Apple's increasing dominance in digital music sales.
Though it is unlikely to have sweeping effects immediately, the change could give Universal more flexibility in its dealings with competitors to iTunes -- for instance enabling the company to offer other digital download stores parts of its catalog exclusively to other services.
The exact impact of shift is not entirely clear, but record labels have been reportedly concerned with Apple's increasing dominance in digital music sales.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)60 months ago
I wonder what this means for Ringtones, if any, on the iPhone.
Why wouldn't they want to position themselves on the long term with the #3 music retailer in the US?
Why wouldn't they want to position themselves on the long term with the #3 music retailer in the US?
60 months ago
They must hate that they are selling so much music. We should all go back to using peer-to-peer networks to make them happy.
60 months ago
I'm kind of surprised the record labels haven't all gotten together and formed their own music store, locking out the others and splitting the profits amongst themselves. They'd get 100% of the profits (minus technical overhead) and could control pricing and any other factors they wanted to.
60 months ago
uhoh. hopefully the price of AAPL won't plumment tomorrow. I was hoping that we'd have sales numbers from the iPhone.
60 months ago
Dont they realize how much something like this could hurt them? The results are in: iTunes is best digital music store around!
60 months ago
Universal Music is still owned by the French company right. I don't think it is part of Universal Studios which is now owned by GE (NBC). Isn't Universal Music the one that is getting money for every zune sold. May be they want the same deal from Apple too!! Yeah right.
60 months ago
Damn, these labels are totally clueless.
Fishes,
narco.
Completely and utterly clueless
60 months ago
So, Apple is the dominant player?
What music company is stepping up to stop the Wal-mart machine?
Is this just a case with Universal trying to take out their frustration on someone they can maybe push around?
What music company is stepping up to stop the Wal-mart machine?
Is this just a case with Universal trying to take out their frustration on someone they can maybe push around?
[ Read All Comments ]

Analytics firm Chitika today released a report showing that by its metrics iOS has now surpassed OS X in overall web traffic share in the United States. Chitika's methodology involves an analysis...
One of the most frequent reasons for an iPhone to go on a trip to the Apple Store's Genius Bar is because of water damage. Typically, a water damaged iPhone can be replaced for a flat $199...
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.
Image from RepairLabs
As...
Last July, Apple discontinued the white MacBook from its consumer lineup, pushing consumers toward the company's popular MacBook Air line or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The company didn't kill...
Popular iPhone Twitter client Tweetbot has finally arrived on the iPad, with a user interface instantly familiar to any current Tweetbot user. Designed for the Twitter power-user, Tweetbot packs a...