Another sign that Apple will reveal details about its much-anticipated iRadio service at its Worldwide Developers Conference 6/10 in San Francisco: Sony Music Entertainment has signed on to Apple’s iRadio service, according to an AllThingsD story.
Apple now has agreements with all three major music labels—including Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. However, Apple has officially not yet signed Sony/ATV, Sony’s music publishing arm. Negotiations with BMG Rights management are ongoing.
While Apple signed with UMG for its recorded music rights, it still hasn’t signed for music publishing. Apple’s deal with Warner Music Group includes both.
But the gaps between Sony/ATV and Apple were supposedly smaller than the ones Sony Music and Apple were looking at a few days ago, noted AllThingsD.
One of the hurdles with Sony was that it wanted to get paid for any of its songs Apple served up to listeners, even if they didn’t end up hearing the whole thing.
See the AllThingsD story here.
