Post: Sony holding up Apple streaming deal

GET OFF MY CLOUD: As you undoubtedly read in the latest dispatch from I.B. Bad, Doug Morris and team at Sony continue to push back at Apple's proposed terms for its new streaming service, largely due to ad-revenue issues, and it's unclear if "iTunes guru Eddy Cue will choose to launch iRadio without Sony Music" or wait for a breakthrough in the talks. Now The New York Post claims that UMG (which has already signed on) and WMG (which is close) "are increasingly frustrated with Sony's slow-motion negotiating tactics." Post reporter Claire Atkinson cites "one senior music executive" who argues that “'[The Apple streaming service] is a net positive for the business. Apple is offering a 50/50 ad revenue share, minimum guarantees and royalties and the most successful ecosystem that’s ever been created. Unlike Pandora, the up-sell opportunity is enormous.'" Farther down in the piece, though, Atkinson admits that songwriter revenues are especially paltry under current streaming terms, with "Beautiful" author Linda Perry allegedly earning just $349 for 12 million streams. The correspondent notes Morris and Sony/ATV pubco ruler Marty Bandier believe rights holders are entitled to a bigger piece of the streaming market--which grew 59% to $571m in 2012, per the RIAA--and quotes red-hot artist Pharrell Williams (also discussed by I.B.), who says Bandier is "fighting for the fair value and rights of songwriters, and that’s essential in the digital world that we live in." (5/23p)