This week there were all kinds of encouraging news that assured us that Apple has signed agreements with the big American record companies, so the launch of iCloud is imminent. Well, the situation is a little different because the big record companies are not the only piece of the copyright puzzle for the songs because Apple has to conclude agreements with publishers multimedia content. Record companies have a certain set of rights for digital audio works and publishers another set of rights, so Apple has to conclude agreements with both parties to ensure that it will not have problems when it launches the new online streaming service.
While Apple came to terms with Warner Music and EMI Music weeks ago, and has now struck a deal with Sony Music, industry sources tell me the company doesn't have agreements with labels' associated publishing companies — Warner/Chappell, EMI Music Publishing and Sony/ATV. The deal Apple is about to sign with Universal, also won't include publishing, I'm told.
Music industry sources I talk to think Apple wants to launch, or at least announce, the cloud service at its developers' conference in early June. And if the hang-up is truly just about money, then that still gives dealmakers time to hammer things out. But remember that this is the music business, and simple things always take longer than they should.
The problem is that Apple has not concluded the agreements with the publishers and until it manages to convince them too it cannot launch the new online streaming service without assuming a very big risk. Of course, the publishers will reach an agreement with Apple in the end, but in the meantime, negotiations will be made, a period of time will pass and everything could exceed the remaining period until WWDC. It is possible that Apple will announce the new service at WWDC but launch it at a later date to ensure that it will have time to sign contracts with all parties involved and "secure its back". It remains to be seen how Apple will think about the whole problem, but it is very possible that the new streaming service will be available after WWDC.
