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

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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".

Tag: CNET

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Top Rated Comments

jared52 Avatar
183 months ago
Wow, so then 95% of my collection won't be in the iCloud? Don't think I'll be paying for that.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Centient Avatar
183 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.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cougarcat Avatar
183 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:
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OllyW Avatar
183 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.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dwd3885 Avatar
183 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.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
314631 Avatar
183 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.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)