In a move seen as benefitting Apple’s goal of expanded markets for an upcoming tablet, music distributors reportedly have cleared the way for the Cupertino, Calif. based company to offer its iTunes service across Europe.
The agreement with PRS for Music should provide performing rights for all PRS members, as well as performing rights for content managed by Peer Music and Chrysalis Music. In October, Apple met with European regulators who had expressed concern. At the time, European officials said they hoped the meeting would improve online music sales. In 2009, Apple announced plans to extend the iTunes service into more European countries.
Although few details are available now, the pact could help smooth the path for a tablet in Europe. Apple will likely employ iTunes to distribute ebooks and other material.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
