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Sony joins EMI and Warner in Apple cloud music service

by Michael Grothaus May 20th 2011 at 9:00AM

Three down, one to go. Just a day after CNET suggested that EMI joined Warner Music Group in allowing Apple to distribute their music over a cloud-based service, now Bloomberg is claiming that Apple has also officially inked a deal with Sony Music. That leaves just one of the big four music labels -- Universal Music Group -- left to sign on with Apple. And as Bloomberg states, Universal is supposedly close to signing with the iPod maker soon.

As I mentioned yesterday, getting all four major music labels to sign on to a cloud-based service is seen as a serious win and another vote of confidence for Apple's rumored streaming media services. Both Google and Amazon launched their online music services without any major music label support. Apple's cloud music service, expected to be dubbed iCloud, may be unveiled at WWDC on June 6.



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Three down, one to go. Just a day after CNET suggested that EMI joined Warner Music Group in allowing Apple to distribute their music...
 

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kasaialma

Here's one of the articles that detail The patent I was referring to:

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/05/19/apples-cloud-music-service-could-address-buffering-with-local-f/#comments

You set the connection speed (3G, WiFi, LTE?), and you set the source (your home computer, or a secure licensed copy on Apple's Servers). Playback can begin immediately (due to the "partial file" sync, which also gives you access to your full library). No need to upload, and no iTunes purchase requirement.

I see it as a re-imagining of the "home sharing" feature, without the limitations of having to be in close proximity to you "home" network.

May 20 2011 at 3:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Andy Dahl

Substitute "streaming" with "syncing" and we have a winner!

May 20 2011 at 11:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
T.Mas

Am I the only one that doesn't like the idea of streaming music? I really don't like relying on cellular networks as it is for data let alone to play music I own. The networks are ok when they work but I have enough problems waiting for just my emails to load. What is wrong with local storage on the devices? Too convenient? I just don't see this taking off.

May 20 2011 at 9:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to T.Mas's comment
jonathan

dude this is just the beginning. you dont have to join up if you dont want to, but you can't say you dont see this taking off, when networks are getting better and faster every year. Once LTE Advanced finally hits the market in about 5 years or so, cable modems will be slower that cellular wireless data. and as the penetration increases it will be the new tech. if anything, this is just starting to take off!

May 20 2011 at 11:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
T.Mas

I most certainly can say i don't think this will take off. The networks still currently suck and are unreliable and in 5 years from now we may have 256 GB to 1TB of flash memory in our phones killing any need for this service. Local storage is just too easy and convenient. Why involve cellular carriers in playing music in your car. It just doesn't make sense. I curse AT&T enough as it is.

May 21 2011 at 4:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
PXT

Apple may think this is the most exciting thing since sliced bread, but I'm not convinced it's that great for me and my music collection which includes a lot of content bought from non-iTunes sources.

If this is the big thing of WWDC, I'll be a bit disappointed.

May 20 2011 at 9:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to PXT's comment
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