Apple iTunes has been a hugely popular product, but users are not getting the best deal and the company has been known for a bit of restrictive practice…allegedly. I add that word ‘allegedly’ more readily than normally as I actually know of Apple sending out big legal documents to other publishers when they see someone impeaching their brands. However, with Google Music on the horizon there could be a shake up of the industry coming.
Now Apple has made a great product in iTunes, but last year many of our readers indicated they were annoyed with the lack of integration for third party products and a lack or variable pricing. There were also comments of people wanting a bigger rival in the market.
Sony tried to be that cometitior late last year, launching Music Unlimited. However, so far it hasn’t rivalled the Apple iTunes giant. Now a Sony exec has said this: ”Publishers are being held to 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..If we do [get lots of people taking up Sony's own music software] then does Sony Music need to provide content to iTunes?”
Brave words…so we thought we’d ask you:
For us, we’re putting our hopes in Google music.
