U.S. record labels are dragging their feet in negotiations to bring music streaming service Spotify to American shores, a move reportedly aimed at give Apple a first crack at a similar subscription plan.
To stall for time, recording labels are demanding too much for licensing, according to Eliot Van Buskirk at Evolver.fm, citing “a well-connected source.”
Earlier today, we reported Apple’s unannounced iCloud music streaming service would give labels a new subscription revenue stream to replace the aging CD and digital sales.
The service would upload your iTunes collection to Apple’s servers, replacing some tracks with better-quality versions, according to BusinessWeek.
Observers see iCloud taking on the shape of a more expansive cloud-based alternative to the already-existing digital lockers announced by Google and Amazon.
The iCloud framework appears to follow a similar service from Lala, a streaming music service the Cupertino, Calif. firm acquired in 2010.
What would be your choice for music streaming? Apple’s iCloud which mirrors your iTunes collection or Spotify’s subscription-based service allowing you to listen to anything you want?