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Apple Finally Signs Universal Music, iCloud Streaming Available "Soon"

Thursday June 2, 2011 12:40 pm PDT by Arnold Kim


CNet reports that Apple has signed the last of the four major record labels to its iCloud service which will be officially announced next week.
The agreement means that Apple now has the rights to offer recording rights from all of the major labels. In addition, Apple has reached agreements with some of the large publishers, the sources said.
This represents the final step before Apple is able to launch its iCloud service which is believed to offer music streaming to iOS and Mac users. Apple has already announced that they will be detailing iCloud at next week's WWDC keynote which takes place on Monday, June 6th.

CNet reports that labels will get 58%, publishers 12%, while Apple retains 30%. They also add that streaming won't be available on Monday but will be offered "soon". And at first, Apple will only store music in iCloud that was purchased in iTunes, but Apple is looking to include songs outside iTunes "sometime in the future".

[ 107 comments ]

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jared52
27 months ago
Wow, so then 95% of my collection won't be in the iCloud? Don't think I'll be paying for that.
Rating: 14 Positives
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Centient
27 months ago

And at first, Apple will only store music in iCloud that was purchased in iTunes, but Apple is looking to include songs outside iTunes "sometime in the future".


Well Apple can let me know when that sometime in the future rolls around. Until then almost all interest in this service has just streamed out of me.
Rating: 11 Positives
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Cougarcat
27 months ago

Pretty specific taste if 95% of your music is not available on iTunes.


Who would rebuy music just to use it on iCloud? :rolleyes:
Rating: 8 Positives
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314631
27 months ago
I can't see the recording industry ever allowing Apple to store music acquired outside of iTunes. So the service will be pretty useless to me. Most of my music is purchased through Amazon these days and that isn't going to change no matter how cool Apple's service turns out to be.
Rating: 8 Positives
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OllyW
27 months ago

Pretty specific taste if 95% of your music is not available on iTunes.


I read it as he has only purchased 5% of his music from iTunes so he won't be allowed to access the other 95% from iCloud.
Rating: 7 Positives
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Robin4
27 months ago
How about finding out what they offer first, then you can choose to hate them. Geez, I hate those Debbie downers.
Rating: 7 Positives
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dwd3885
27 months ago
Good start, but Amazon has everything you purchase stored in addition to whatever you already have. Apple's service is substandard if true.
Rating: 7 Positives
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Piggie
27 months ago

I read it as he has only purchased 5% of his music from iTunes so he won't be allowed to access the other 95% from iCloud.


I purchased 0% of my music from iTunes and have no plans to ever buy any music or movies from iTunes either.

Not looking good for me, and others like me is it? :(
Rating: 5 Positives
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OllyW
27 months ago

If you pay a monthly fee for this and if the labels get a cut of that* then they may not care if it's illegally acquired. You've already got the pirated music...here's a chance to make some money off that.

You act as if it's a hard sell to get the music labels to take money. It may yet happen.


* 2 'ifs' I admit. That's where the optomism comes in, I guess.


I'm still having trouble understanding why I'd want to pay a monthly fee to access music I've already got? :confused:
Rating: 5 Positives
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FuNGi
27 months ago
Agreed. I'll be 'waiting until the future' as well. Who buys itunes music anymore when there are legit and cheaper alternatives? If I can't put all my music in the frickin' iCloud then icanforgetaboutit.
Rating: 5 Positives

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