Music Executive: 'iRadio is Coming', Apple Pushing for Summer Launch

ItunesNegotiations between Apple and record companies regarding Apple's rumored 'iRadio' music service are progressing, The Verge reports as one tidbit in a larger article about the music industry in general.

The last report about Apple's streaming music service came earlier in March when Apple was reported to be offering half the royalty rate that Pandora pays for a similar product.

Much has been written about Apple's plan to launch a Pandora-esque service this year. Now multiple music industry insiders have told The Verge that significant progress has been made in the talks with two of the top labels: Universal and Warner. One of the sources said "iRadio is coming. There's no doubt about it anymore." Apple is pushing hard for a summertime launch.

It has been reported in numerous publications that Apple wanted to launch its service sometime in 2013, but was having difficulties negotiating royalty rates that were satisfactory to both sides.

That Universal and Warner are the companies claimed to have made the most progress with Apple is noteworthy -- Universal was the last of the four major labels to sign onto Apple's iCloud service, while Warner has been wary of cloud-based services in the past.

Top Rated Comments

Xenomorph Avatar
143 months ago
iOS 7, with iRadio.

People can *FINALLY* listen to music with a portable device. If that isn't innovation, I don't know what is!
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimUSCA Avatar
143 months ago
iOS 7, with iRadio.

People can *FINALLY* listen to music with a portable device. If that isn't innovation, I don't know what it!
I'm so damn tired of this... just because Apple creates a new service or product does not mean it's automatically innovative, nor does it mean Apple ever claimed it was. It's called competition. Let's also not forget that nobody knows *anything* about this service, and for all you know, it does have some innovative features.

The negativity on these forums is at a staggering high...
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aDRock1154 Avatar
143 months ago
Meh. Fix iCloud and THEN go about other services..
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tiger8 Avatar
143 months ago
Apology Letter!

Cut to Tim Cook apologizing for the mediocore iRadio, suggesting Pandora and Spotify instead :D
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThE.MeSsEnGeR Avatar
143 months ago
so, it's shaping up to be one fully packed WWDC '13! Some of the following are imminent while others are slightly possible.

- iveOS 7 :cool:
- Mac OS 10.9
- iPhone 5S
- iWatch
- iPad mini 2
- iOS game controller
- iRadio (or whatever it's going to be called)
- Mac Pro
- And a possible announcement of the iTV, plus developer preview to push app developers to prepare for a christmas release?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2268473 Avatar
143 months ago
iWish
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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