Apple Pushing Hard for iRadio Summer Launch

Reports show that Apple are pushing hard to launch the suspected iRadio as soon as June, this year. iRadio will be a streaming music app, which will take on Spotify and Pandora. Apple are said to be making "significant progress" in talks with Universal and Warner. As the iPhone 5S is rumoured for a June 20th launch, it would make sense if Apple wanted to release the iRadio app then. "iRadio is coming. There's no doubt about it anymore," an unnamed source states.

Apple is currently said to be negotiating with different record labels. The initial offer from Apple is said to have been as low as 6 cents per 100 songs streamed when the Copyright Royalty Board's fair rate for non-broadcast companies is 21 cents per 100 songs. To give some perspective, Pandora pays 12 cents per 100 songs streamed, while Spotify pays 35 cents per 100 songs streamed. Whether or not Apple secures a much better deal than all of the other music streaming services out there, the unprofitable Pandora and Spotify are going to be seeking reduced licensing fees. This will especially be the case if Apple's iRadio app takes on the internet radio spectrum. Will it be the leader of the pack?