“Michal Ephraim, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, spoke with Australia’s The Age about the impending launch of its Music Unlimited service in that country,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider. “Music Unlimited debuted in late 2010, and Sony hopes the streaming subscription product will take on Apple’s iTunes by offering a different approach to digital music sales.”
“But in the future, Ephraim hopes that iTunes isn’t even part of the equation. He questioned whether Sony would need to partner with Apple and sell music through iTunes if its new service gains enough traction,” Marsal reports. “‘If we do [get mass take-up], then does Sony Music need to provide content to iTunes?’ he said. ‘Currently we do. We have to provide it to iTunes as that’s the format right now.’ He continued: ‘Publishers are being held ransom by Apple and they are looking for other delivery systems, and we are waiting to see what the next three to five years will hold.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Whatever they’re dispensing to Sony execs, it has to be some really strong stuff.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jax44” for the heads up.]
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From a consumer standpoint, I sure as hell don’t need yet another login to yet another site with yet another password and yet another ongoing bill to my overworked credit card. Nor do I need yet another online account to update when my credit card expires, my email address changes, etc. Spare me!
Actually, if they hit the price point right they could be very competitive to iTunes, look at how Netflix has caught on… $7.99 a month for streaming content, I watch it every day. I never buy or rent movies. Their content IS limited at present but from what I understand they’re working on getting more for their streaming service. If a record company could create a similar service with music then iTunes would be in trouble. Only thing that would stop that is that I’d bet dollars to donuts Apple wouldn’t let them on iPod, and that’s the key. People want to take their music with them on the go.
Scottm, I don’t think you’re seeing it properly. If subscription services catch on, no one is in a better position to capitalize on it than Apple. They haven’t done it yet because obviously, the demand hasn’t been there.
This is tantamount to sticking your foot in your mouth before you shoot your foot off. Or storming off the court with your ball and going home.
I sure am getting quite irritated with Sony. This and then the stupid Geohot lawsuit. 8 year are more mature than them!
All of you guys realize that the only reason sony wants to pull its music is cause itunes is only available on apple products and windows because of that the walkman is dead and ipod is now the most popular way to listen to music sony could have said no to apple in the beginning but didn’t why cause it saves them and gives em more money good then apple is like only our products and windows get itunes what happens people sell their music listening device and get an ipod then sony is like can our products get itunes too NO so then sony is like WTF you bastards used us to sell your products and then what happens sony loses money cause nobody buys a walkman this really pisses em off then they realize that since some of the music is theirs they can start their own music store is a good idea no but at least walkman ressurects if you guys were smart you would know that its not sony that’s bad its apple why they use music just so you can buy a ipod if itunes was more multiplatform sales for idevices would plummit