APPLE-MAJOR DEALS THISCLOSE
Despite the slant of the Bloomberg story referenced below, the fact that Apple’s deals with the majors are not yet in place is much ado about nothing. These deals are all getting done as we speak and will be in place shortly. At this point, the process is down to dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s as the respective legal teams argue about the use of words far more than the effect of those words.
Sony, Universal and Warner have been partners with Apple since the iTunes Store opened in 2003, and Apple remains the world’s biggest retailer. In short, those partnerships are solid.
It’s worth noting that Apple has never used its huge leverage to go back and try to take a bigger percentage than the 70/30 split agreed upon by Cupertino and the rights holders in the first place.
