Apple plans to expand iTunes Radio to English-speaking countries outside the U.S. by early 2014, beating Pandora to the U.K. and Canada, says a Bloomberg story. iTunes Radio is also set to start early next year in Australia and New Zealand, where Pandora already operates. Nordic countries are also being targeted in the same time frame, the story said.
Apple is moving faster than Pandora because it forged agreements for international rights with Vivendi SA (VIV)’s Universal Music Group and other record companies, said one of the people. Pandora, which doesn’t have such deals, relies on rights granted by government entities, limiting service to the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.
