Universal Music plays iTunes hardball with Apple

Iria

Source: Between the Lines Blog (ZDNet)
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Does Apple’s iTunes store need U2?

That’s the crux of a game of chicken being played between Apple and Universal Music Group, which counts U2 and other big name artists in its stable. Who’s going to blink?

The New York Times and others are reporting that Universal Music Group told Apple that it will not renew its annual contract to sell music through iTunes. The reports, which cite unnamed sources, indicate that Universal Music is looking to market its music at will. The bottom line there is that Universal can pull its music at any time if there’s a spat.

dj_stick

this will be interesting, if the big lables decide to market their music online directly, stores like itunes are doomed