APPLE OPENS SOME WINDOWS

The latest word is that iTunes advance teams are making the rounds trying to strike deals with artists for windows of exclusivity and are paying big bucks to those who can deliver exclusive audio and video content. Apple has a gargantuan budget for the launch of the subscription streaming service, and Spotify is said to be nervous.

As our own I.B. Bad reported, the iTunes/Beats service is expected to be multi-tiered, with the basic tier at $9.99 a month, while the high-profile marketing that has been a Beats signature since the company’s inception will be a crucial part of the upcoming iTunes/Beats play.