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Difficult Negotiations May Prevent 'iRadio' Launch at WWDC

Friday May 17, 2013 9:05 am PDT by Eric Slivka
itunes_radio_round_iconLast week, we noted that Apple was still struggling to convince the major music labels to sign on to its planned streaming service, informally dubbed "iRadio", with Sony and Warner reportedly holding out even after market leader Universal had agreed to Apple's revised terms.

In a new article highlighting how Google was able to announce its own music service ahead of Apple, The Verge notes that Apple's desire to provide a hybrid listener experience has meant more work at the negotiating table.
For starters, Google chose to offer a standard subscription music service very similar to those built by Spotify and Rdio, and that meant the terms had largely been established, according to multiple sources close to the talks. Apple, on the other hand, is pioneering a hybrid web and radio service — one that resembles Pandora but melds it with some on-demand features, the sources said. The licensing agreement had to be created from scratch.
According to the report's sources, number four music publisher BMG is also holding out against Apple's proposed terms, and while there still appears to be significant momentum behind iRadio and a desire by many parties to get a deal done as quickly as possible, it is now looking as though Apple may not be able to launch the service at next month's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Word of Apple's plans for a Pandora-like service surfaced last September, with subsequent reports indicating that Apple was targeting the first quarter of this year for a launch. As negotiations continued to prove difficult, Apple shifted its focus to a summer launch, but it now appears unclear whether the company will be able to meet even that revised goal.

[ 143 comments ]


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gnasher729
80 months ago

Launch it at WWDC anyway and use the buzz as a negotiating tool.


"Hey Apple, all your customers are so excited about this, surely you can pay a bit more than you intended? "
Rating: 8 Votes
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jklps
80 months ago
I'm still confused with this approach and why anyone would want it, unless it's free.
Rating: 7 Votes
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camnchar
80 months ago
Launch it at WWDC anyway and use the buzz as a negotiating tool.
Rating: 7 Votes
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ChazUK
80 months ago

Let the "Apple is doomed" or "Apple is catching up" comments begin now......:apple:


These types of comments are getting just as bad as "apple is d00med" crap. :(
Rating: 6 Votes
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groovetech
80 months ago

I'm still confused with this approach and why anyone would want it, unless it's free.


This is due to your lack of imagination.
Rating: 6 Votes
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TWSS37
80 months ago
What 'on-demand' feature would differ from Spotify/Google Music of typing in a name, artist, or album and being able to listen to it immediately?
Rating: 4 Votes
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Raketemensch
80 months ago

Apple, on the other hand, is pioneering a hybrid web and radio service -- one that resembles Pandora but melds it with some on-demand features, the sources said. The licensing agreement had to be created from scratch.


Uh, Spotify already does this? Spotify is on-demand, *and* it has radio service. And a web player.

I know Apple likes to think they invent everything, but this has been done, and I use it on a daily basis.

I know everyone's excited for this to happen, but to me it just represents one more thing I love that Apple will lock down to their own service on the AppleTV. There's no reason not to have an Amazon Video app, a Pandora app or a Spotify app on the AppleTV other than Apple once again trying to lock out the competition.
Rating: 3 Votes
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BigHonkingDeal
80 months ago


IMO launching a half-baked idea, when everyone would know it's half-baked doesn't sound like a good business plan. Definitely doesn't sound like Apple.


Like SIRI or Maps?
Rating: 3 Votes
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bawbac
80 months ago

Let the "Apple is doomed" or "Apple is catching up" comments begin now......:apple:


No.
Apple needs to stop being cheap and pay the piper.
Greed is holding Apple back.

It's all about money that Apple doesn't want to pay.

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They should focus on both. Streaming is taking over the world by storm.

Storm? More like scattered showers. :p
Rating: 3 Votes
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Plutonius
80 months ago

i bet apple wants a cheaper rate which they aren't going to get
its not 2001 anymore


Read the MacRumors news from the other month. Apple has offered to pay Pandora's rates for a similar service. I believe the labels feel that they got taken in the original iTunes negotiations and want to get their money back :D. It looks like they want Apple to pay more than everyone else.
Rating: 3 Votes

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