Apple's music service gets 'industry approval'


Apple's music service gets 'industry approval'

The LA Times reports that Apple has not only developed a new pay-to-play music service, it has won the approval of four of the five big records.

"This is exactly what the music industry has been waiting for," one person familiar with the negotiations between the mothership and the music labels is quoted by the Times as saying. "It's hip. It's quick. It's easy. If people on the Internet are actually interested in buying music, not just stealing it, this is the answer."

According to the report, the new service offers users of Macs and iPods many of the same capabilities that already are available from services previously endorsed by the labels. However, Apple's offering, which was reportedly pitched by his Steveness himself to industry executives, won over the labels because "it makes buying and downloading music as simple and non-technical as buying a book from Amazon.com."

The success of other so-called "legitimate music services" have been hobbled by cumbersome technology and pricing plans, which makes them less attractive than P2P file-sharing networks like LimeWire and Direct Connect.

Citing unnamed sources, the LA Times states that Apple will make music available for sale through a new version of iTunes. Users will reportedly be able to buy and download songs with a single click and transfer them automatically to any iPod they've registered with Apple.

Though pricing information isn't available, one source is quoted as saying that Apple's service will be "competitive." Also, it is anticipated that Apple could go live as early as next month.

Editor's note: There you have it. A new version of iTunes, though that could in reality mean a dot-update that activates hidden features already built-in. iPods have been expected for months and apparently will play a role in this rumored pay-to-play music offering.

Further, one-click buying, which Apple licensed from Amazon, will likely be the mothership's way to collect the "micro payments" associated with buying tunes online. The statement in the report that 'it's as easy as buying a book from Amazon' would appear to be a dead give away.

So, will you pony up for Apple's new music service? Even if it means laying down for a new iPod?