Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 8:56:20 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Universal's iTunes Deal Hits Sour Note

Posted Jul 2, 07 7:53 AM CDT in US,  Business,  Technology 

(Newser) – In the latest volley in the escalating war between the music industry and Apple's iTunes, Universal Music Group will not renew its contract with the online music seller, the New York Times reports. The digital retailer will still feature artists signed by Universal, the largest music company in the world, but the label can pull out at any time.

The move gives Universal, home to artists including U2, Mariah Carey, and 50 Cent, some leverage over the digital giant, but the numbers spell trouble for both parties. Although Universal's brands control one-third of new American releases, digital-music sales represented 15% of Universal's worldwide first-quarter revenue. Reuters reports that a month-to-month deal will replace the agreement that expired in June.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • MySpace Elbows iTunes With New Music Service

    Sep 25, 08 3:50 AM CDT
    MySpace Elbows iTunes With New Music Service Apple’s iTunes meets its first serious challenge today with the launch of MySpace Music, CNET reports. The second-largest online social network has joined forces with Amazon and the world’s four biggest record labels to offer free streaming and paid downloads. The move also pitches media mogul and MySpace owner Rupert Murdoch against Apple CEO Steve Jobs.
    More »

  • Zune's Music Discovery System Tops iTunes

    Sep 17, 08 3:38 PM CDT
    Zune's Music Discovery System Tops iTunes In test-driving new software from Apple and Microsoft designed to facilitate music discovery for users of their respective media players, Walter Mossberg gives the edge to Zune’s system over rival iTunes’ upgrades. “Though I didn't happen to have as much time to use Zune's software as I did Apple's Genius, I got more out of my Zune experience,” he writes in the Wall Street Journal.
    More »

  • China Blocks iTunes Over Pro-Tibet Album

    Aug 21, 08 5:10 PM CDT
    China Blocks iTunes Over Pro-Tibet Album The Chinese government has blocked access to Apple’s iTunes music store for providing free downloads of a pro-Tibet compilation to Olympic athletes, the Telegraph reports. Users reported a blackout Monday, shortly after the Campaign for Tibet notes that 40 Olympians had downloaded the record. Only the Chinese iTunes store is blocked, however—people in China can access other countries' stores with foreign credit cards. More »

  • Dell Looks to Muscle In on iPod

    Jul 30, 08 9:42 AM CDT
    Dell Looks to Muscle In on iPod Dell has decided it’s time for a rematch with Apple’s iconic iPod, and the company is planning to introduce a new digital music player and online download service as early at September, the Wall Street Journal reports. Dell failed in its bid to gain a seat at the online music table with a stable of MP3 players it introduced in 2003.
    More »

  • Apple Server Meltdown Foils Launch of iPhone 3G

    Jul 11, 08 3:56 PM CDT
    Apple Server Meltdown Foils Launch of iPhone 3G The launch of Apple's hotly anticipated iPhone 3G turned into an IT meltdown today, as customers were unable to get their new phones working. A global problem with Apple's iTunes servers prevented the phones from being activated in-store, as planned. Employees implored buyers to perform the last step on their own computers, but  iTunes servers were equally hard to reach from home, leaving the phones unusable except for emergency calls. More »

(FILES) A pedestrian passes a wall covered with Apple iPod advertisements...   (Getty Images)
Apple CEO Steve Jobs plays a Beatles Song from a Beatles album playing on iTunes as he introduces the new iPhone at the MacWorld in San Francisco, in this Jan. 9, 2007 file photo. The launch of Apple...   (Associated Press)
A file photo shows Apple Computers Inc. iPod Nano on display in front of a giant Apple poster during in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005. The recent rollout of songs without copy protection...   (Associated Press)
An Apple Nano and ITunes music card on a computer keyboard 07...   (Getty Images (by Event))
(FILES) Photo dated 20 April 2006 in Par   (Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO: Vivendi Universal To Sell Hollywood Holdings   (Getty Images)
(FILES) Apple's iTunes website is reflected in an iPod in London...   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Threads (
1
 of 3)

Tags

Apple • iTunes • Universal Music Group • Vivendi


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Home Stories