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Digital
Is Apple music locker launch imminent? Probably not
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 22 March 2011
There’s speculation doing the rounds that Apple will launch its digital music locker service next month, and that it is pressuring the majors to sign up ahead of the launch, though some say such rumours are somewhat wide of the mark.
As previously reported, it is thought both Apple and Google are developing so called digital locker services whereby people can upload their digital music collections to a central server and stream that music via any net-connected device using a user-friendly music player.
There is much debate as to whether such a service needs a new license from content owners, assuming users have legitimately purchased all their MP3s, though the record labels reckon they do. It is thought Apple will overcome this by initially making it so only music bought via iTunes can be played via the locker, and having existing iTunes licensing deals with the majors rewritten to allow such a thing.
Rumours of an imminent announcement on the Apple music locker are seemingly based on the fact the IT giant is expected to announce a step up of its MobileMe service next month, and some reckon Apple will use an expansion of music functionality on that platform as a stepping stone towards entering the digital music locker market place.
