NARM Buzz II

NARM BUZZ II: Another hot NARM topic, stemming from the recent headlines generated by Spotify, Rhapsody and Lala, has to do with the potential viability of next-gen subscription services, as speculation increases about the possible launch of an iTunes service employing an update of Lala’s streaming technology. While the majors reportedly have yet to discuss the matter with Steve Jobs, suggesting that such a scenario is a long way from becoming a reality, these rumors have caused retail mavens to ponder the impact of the launch of an appealing sub service on the digital download market. (5/13p)