Apple iRadio Hits Snag with Music Publishers, Too

IT TECHS TWO TO TANGO: With negotiations ongoing between Apple and Sony Music for their proposed iRadio streaming service over payments from listening to fragments of songs, among other items, Sony/ATV and BMG Rights Management have now emerged as roadblocks as well. Both music publishers are holding out for better terms from the tech giant, as download sales slow in favor of streaming. Pandora was able to obtain recorded music and publishing clearances through blanket licenses from the labels and performing rights organizations, respectively, which the industry is currently trying to renegotiate. According to figures, music publishers get approximately 12% from Amazon, Google and iTunes for their scan-and-match cloud services, while the labels pull in 58%. If Apple continues to come to an agreement, it might force them to drop plans to debut the service at next month’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference. Speaking of Pandora, the Internet radio service just introduced a simple one-click method of publishing music listening activity on your Facebook Timeline via its website, iPhone or Android apps...which now allows the world to know you've been listening to Psy when you're supposed to be working. (5/22p)