Apple Trying To Delay Streaming Music Releases

According to Billboard, Apple is in talks with major labels to delay music albums from hitting streaming services until after they’ve been available for download for a certain period of time.

In the meetings during Grammy Week, Apple’s iTunes contingent, led by Kondrk, even suggested the albums don’t even have to be exclusive to iTunes, and that labels could give albums to other stores as well – but not streaming services.

I actually agree with this strategy, but only when it’s voluntarily implemented. Beyoncé’s newest album was released exclusively on iTunes for its first week after it remained secret up until release.

The album didn’t leak ahead of time. No one heard it before the moment they could buy it, so of course it sold well.

If you are going to do a windowed approach, it needs to cater towards the fans and artists instead of record labels–though if you cater to fans and artists labels will also benefit. Release music early to those paying more, include other early benefits, things like that.

Still, no one likes windowed releases, especially if it’s the norm practiced industry wide. This type of thing would work, in part, because it’s voluntary for artists to implement. If it’s mandated it fails.

Nobody likes that new movies are delayed from Netflix streaming, no one. It’s the butt of jokes and is probably the dividing line that keeps a majority of the service’s holdouts from signing up.

Then again, I think consumers paying for music is a dying fad. Soon it’ll be corporations and other entities footing the bill for access to music.