iRadio

Apple to sign Universal on iRadio next week, agrees to rates ‘neck and neck’ with Pandora

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 11, 2013

Another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place as a new report sourced from multiple people familiar with the matter claims that an agreement between Apple and Universal Music on iRadio is "imminent." History teaches us it only takes one major record until others others eventually back Apple's rumored Pandora-like streaming music service. Besides, Universal Music is the largest record label in the world. Warner Music is "right behind," though negotiations with Sony reportedly are not as far along...

Apple nearing deal with record labels, iRadio on track for summer release

Cody Lee ∙ April 5, 2013

From what we've been hearing, Apple's been having major problems with its so-called iRadio project. The music service was expected to launch earlier this year, but a recent report claimed things were delayed due to a dispute with record labels over royalty terms.

It appears, however, that there's finally light at the end of the tunnel. According to a new scoop from CNET, Apple is very close to signing a deal with both Warner Music and Universal Music Group, and it's planning to rollout the Pandora-like service this summer...

Apple reportedly pushing hard for summer iRadio release

Cody Lee ∙ March 29, 2013

There's been a lot of speculation over the last several months regarding Apple's streaming music service. Rumors of the company working on a Pandora-like service have been bouncing around for years, but late-2012 reports have rekindled the story.

It was initially believed that Apple's iRadio project would launch sometime in early 2013, but that plan was reportedly derailed by conflicts with record labels over pricing. There's a new report out today, though, that says the new goal is this summer...

Lowball royalty offers said to be causing delay in Apple’s streaming music service

Cody Lee ∙ March 7, 2013

Multiple reports are out this morning, claiming that the reason we haven't seen Apple's streaming music service—which was expected to launch as early as Q1 of this year—yet is due to negotiation woes with record labels.

As usual, the problem stems from money. Apparently Apple is only offering the labels half of the royalty rate that they are receiving from Pandora. And the service could be delayed until the summer, or possibly longer...

Tim Cook and Eddy Cue met with Beats CEO last month over music service

Cody Lee ∙ March 6, 2013

Earlier this year, an interesting story surfaced alleging that Interscope-Geffen-A&M chairman and Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine spent years trying to convince Steve Jobs to do a subscription-based music service. Obviously, Jobs never succumbed.

But the conversation wasn't over. Fast forward to today, a new report says that Iovine met with Tim Cook and Apple's internet software and service guru Eddy Cue last month to discuss—surprise!—his new subscription-based music service...

Bloomberg: Google’s music streaming service launching worldwide in Q3

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2013

Piggy-backing on last week's reports by The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times asserting Google's been looking to enhance its Music service with streaming features akin to those of Spotify, Bloomberg today learned from its own sources that the service is likely targeted for a third quarter start. What's more, Google is reportedly planning to release this as a worldwide offering from the get-go.

One of the people familiar with Google's thinking told Bloomberg the service would work on both Android and non-Android devices, without explicitly referring to the iPhone...

Google said to be working on streaming music service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

This is pretty interesting. Hot on the heels of rumors that Apple is looking to get into the streaming music space, a new report popped up late last night alleging that Google too is working on a service of its own.

Citing 'people familiar with the matter,' The Wall Street Journal is claiming that the search giant's Android unit has been negotiating with music companies to start a paid subscription music streaming service...

Hidden radio buttons discovered in iPad Music app

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2013

At the end of last year, there was a lot of talk about Apple building an internet radio service similar to Pandora. But the last we heard, it was having trouble getting the big record labels on board with the project. And the chatter has since quieted down.

But the speculation has been rekindled today, with a new discovery in iOS 6.1 thanks to the recently-released jailbreak. It appears that the iPad's Music app contains some hidden 'Radio Buttons,' suggesting that there may be something to the rumors...

Beats CEO spent years trying to convince Steve Jobs to do a music service

Cody Lee ∙ January 11, 2013

This is pretty interesting. Former chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M and Beats Audio CEO Jimmy Iovine recently sat down for an interview to discuss the popular headphone-maker's upcoming streaming music service, Project Daisy.

During the conversation, Iovine talked about his relationship with Apple, and more specifically Steve Jobs. And he said that he spent at least three years trying to convince the then-CEO to do a subscription-based streaming music service...

Apple again said to be in talks with labels over ‘iRadio’ service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

It's 2013 now, meaning we could be seeing Apple's rumored Pandora-like streaming music service popup anytime now. The last we heard, the Cupertino company was having trouble getting record labels on board. But according to a new report, the negotiations are back on and rolling at full speed...

No major labels onboard yet for Apple’s radio service

Cody Lee ∙ December 5, 2012

Rumors have been floating around since September that Apple is working on a new Pandora-like streaming radio service. In fact, the word is that it's almost finished, and it should be ready for launch by early 2013.

But according to a new report, that expectation may fall flat, as Apple continues to struggle with securing the proper licenses for such a service. Apparently the record labels aren't too happy with its licensing terms...

BTIG Research: iTunes 11 feature could hint at future streaming service

Cody Lee ∙ November 30, 2012

As far back as I can remember, iTunes has always given users access to web radio stations. It comes pre-installed with hundreds of them, from practically every genre, from all around the world.

I've never really used the feature, and frankly I'm surprised that it hasn't been eliminated yet. But according to BTIG Research, its presence in iTunes 11 could be the sign of something bigger...