An Apple spokesperson claims that the company will not remove artists who decline to sign up for Apple Music from the iTunes Store.
This is the latest development in the tense negotiations leading up to the streaming service’s launch on June 30, with indie musicians and labels claiming that Apple is trying to bully and coerce them into putting their music on the new platform.
Apple made the statement to Rolling Stone in response to indie musician Anton Newcombe’s claims on Twitter that the company threatened to pull his work from its online store if he didn’t sign on for Apple Music.
So @APPLEOFFIClAL has a new deal they offered me: they said we want to stream your music free for 3 months..I said what if I say no,and they
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
(@APPLEOFFIClAL ) said "we'll take your music off itunes. hard ball? fuck these satanic corporations
— anton newcombe (@antonnewcombe) June 17, 2015
(Note: The account Newcombe is addressing is not affiliated with Apple.)
Indies are reluctant to join Apple Music due to a section of the 250-page licensing agreement that says that they will not receive royalties for the first three months of the service. That is the period during which Apple Music will be free to all users. After that, an individual subscription will cost $9.99 a month, and a plan for a family of up to six members will be $14.99.
