Skip to Content

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

umg1

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

Popular Stories

Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Apple Accidentally Leaks 'MacBook Neo'

Tuesday March 3, 2026 7:00 am PST by
Apple appears to have prematurely revealed the name of its rumored lower-cost MacBook model, which is expected to be announced this Wednesday. A regulatory document for a "MacBook Neo" (Model A3404) has appeared on Apple's website. Unfortunately, there are no further details or images available yet. While the PDF file does not contain the "MacBook Neo" name, it briefly appeared in a link...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils Two New Products

Monday March 2, 2026 7:49 am PST by
Apple today introduced two new devices, including the iPhone 17e and an updated iPad Air. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as the iPhone 16e, but it gains Apple's A19 chip, MagSafe for magnetic wireless charging and magnetic accessories, Apple's second-generation C1X modem for faster 5G, and a doubled 256GB of base storage. In the U.S., the iPhone 17e starts at $599, just like the ...
MacBook Neo Feature Pastel 1

Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip

Wednesday March 4, 2026 6:15 am PST by
Apple today announced the "MacBook Neo," an all-new kind of low-cost Mac featuring the A18 Pro chip for $599. The MacBook Neo is the first Mac to be powered by an iPhone chip; the A18 Pro debuted in 2024's iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads,...

Top Rated Comments

193 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)
193 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)
193 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
193 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)
193 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)
193 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)