Google Sticks It To Record Labels
Category: Music & Recording Created on Friday - 05.20.11 @ 12:19 AM Written by Wayne Rosso
Billboard Magazine reported last night that Google would be finally be launching its long anticipated music locker service today—without major label licenses.
As you probably know, the news of Google’s intentions to follow Amazon’s lead and bypass the typical music industry tsuris was first reported here a few weeks ago.
The Billboard story cites sources that say Sony and Universal were the problem children whose demands pushed Google down this path. In my previous story, I identified Sony as the sticking point for Google’s plans and I am slightly surprised to hear that Universal was that problematic as well. I’ve always been very candid in my opinion that UMG’s digital maven Rob Wells is the best in the business, but I’m starting to hear rumblings that UMG CEO Lucian Grainge is starting to gum up the works on some important digital deals. Google just may have been one of them. There’s a feeling out there that Steve Jobs may have gotten to Grainge in much the same way he got to Doug Morris and has “impressed” upon him the importance that iTunes get favored nations–plus one.