Sony hints it could pull its music from iTunes in ongoing war with Apple

Sony hints it could pull its music from iTunes in ongoing war with Apple
AppleInsider | Sony hints it could pull its music from iTunes in ongoing war with Apple

After Apple rejected a Sony e-reader application for the iPad from its App Store for not complying with the rules, Sony has fired back and suggested it is hoping to be able to exit Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Click to expand...

War looms as Sony hints that it will abandon iTunes - in Australia
iTunes: Sony May Withdraw Artists From Apple's iTunes Store

It seems Sony Australia is at war with Apple. But if they pull their music from itunes here, they'd better their digital distribution method works. Cause if it does not then that's a lot of lost revenues. It's a big gamble. And right now Apple is one you don't want as an enemy. Sony forgets that without Apple there'd be no mass digital music industry. It'd still be the drive to the store and pick up a cd (ie. the 90's) still. Sony need Apple too I think. Sure there is Apple's 30%. But I dunno. What do you all think?

Yeah... It seems Sony is playing a losing hand here. I can just imagine Apple's reaction - "Okay? Go on then.". It seems to me, if it's really just over a e-reader app... It's pointless for Sony to press the issue. Sony "needs" Apple in this situation, Apple does not "need" Sony...

The Compact Disc's days are numbered. That is a fact. We just don't know when. And exactly as the above poster said. When the CD dies you'll need to already be have a good good digital distribution method. And if you run from the biggest (ie. itunes) it does not pose well when the inevitable CD death comes.

The merger (or buy out) of BMG by Sony made them one of the top distributors of music, but it was really the iTunes store and Apple that brought in the big $ for them.

This is just a lot of noise by Sony and saber rattling. It would be foolish for them to pull out of the iTunes store. Sometimes Apple plays hard ball with the rules but it is after all their "ball".

+1 for that, I think anyone in the entertainment business would be a little foolish to pull out of what is coming to be the biggest and fastest growing entertainment access program around.

- Simon

The Sony execs aren't the brightest in the industry, I've actually seen first hand accounts of this because of my wife's job. So none of this is surprising news. But if they actually went ahead with this shallow threat, it would be nothing short of shooting themselves dead in the digital media distribution market. Their name doesn't hold the same weight as Apple's, (in this market) and most people are already fairly leery of the big record companies because of the image they represent.

I'd like to see them try, really I would. I just think it's a case of wittle doggie making big noise. Yeah, I said wittle.

Doug

That article sounds more like Sony just wants to build its own little walled garden. The fact that they "are not sure" if they will allow competitors devices access pretty much says it all. Sadly for Sony, they suck at this sort of thing.

has no one remembered the super charged Apple TV that Sony have?

the PS3. how easy would it be to whack a download service into the XMB of the playstation?

this would reach out to people that dont neccassarily use computers a whole lot, but that like video games and TV.

It seems like Sony are acting like kids in a playground. Sour grapes IMO. It says it in the 1st paragraph

After Apple rejected a Sony e-reader application for the iPad from its App Store for not complying with the rules, Sony has fired back and suggested it is hoping to be able to exit Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Click to expand...

What bc they have there Music in the iTunes Store that they are exempt from conforming to the App Store rules ?

There chucking a tantrum i reckon bc they didnt get here own way

And who are there sales team if they dont want to put there games for the iOS devices. Love them or hate them, if the craziness of Angry Birds is anything to go on, they only need 1 good game. But if they choose not too then it is there bad luck

Cheers

Wonder how long the artists would stay with their record label when it can't be in iTunes.
Also Sony had a chance to rule the portable world when the walkman was big they just
sat on their name and did not innovate.

Well considering how hard it is to get a recoding contract for the majority of singers, they just might stay. But the big singers would move. And some of the smaller ones would go indie for itunes I think.

Let's assume for a second that Sony withdrew it's catalog from the iTMS. Yes, it would be bad for Sony but it would also be terrible for Apple. Losing the second largest label in the world would be a huge loss. And, whether or not you like some of these artists, you have to acknowledge the popularity of many of the artists on this list. I think we should take a step back and reflect on how this would be detrimental to both as opposed to focusing solely on how this will affect Sony negatively. Whether or not you like Sony, it's hard not to acknowledge the role they play in the music industry.

vansmith said:

Let's assume for a second that Sony withdrew it's catalog from the iTMS. Yes, it would be bad for Sony but it would also be terrible for Apple. Losing the second largest label in the world would be a huge loss. And, whether or not you like some of these artists, you have to acknowledge the popularity of many of the artists on this list. I think we should take a step back and reflect on how this would be detrimental to both as opposed to focusing solely on how this will affect Sony negatively. Whether or not you like Sony, it's hard not to acknowledge the role they play in the music industry.

Click to expand...

Very good point, but likewise those big artists would simply move to another record label. I'm putting myself quickly in the shoes of a major artist....

My manager just informs me "Sony has pulled out from the iTunes store...we're going to be losing X amount of dollars a year on this opportunity"


I would instantly move to a different record label, and if I'm a major person then someone will take me. Also, if I were a record label OTHER than Sony, I would be jumping right on top of every one of their clients to make them mine.
----------------------


Either way, Sony is at a loss.

Yeah... Granted Apple would lose out too. Due to contracts and other constraints, not every artist that would be angry with Sony for such a stupid move, would be able to leave Sony. So I'm sure there would be some loss for Apple. But the brunt of it, by a huge margin would be a loss to Sony, I would think.

Wouldn't be good for anybody, but it just seems to me that Sony would be on the short end if they took that action

ThePope43 said:

Very good point, but likewise those big artists would simply move to another record label.

Click to expand...

ClockworkWorld said:

Due to contracts and other constraints, not every artist that would be angry with Sony for such a stupid move, would be able to leave Sony.

Click to expand...

Second quote answers the first. You can't just leave a contract because the label makes a business decision that you don't like. If your contract ends though, you're free to do as you please.

ClockworkWorld said:

So I'm sure there would be some loss for Apple. But the brunt of it, by a huge margin would be a loss to Sony, I would think.

Click to expand...

You're making it sound as if iTunes is the only means through which a label can distribute it's music - "if you don't use iTunes, your label is screwed." Although it may be the largest, it is by no means the only one. There are various other channels through which they can distribute content. Apple would be smart to try and negotiate with Sony as opposed to being arrogant.

Oh no, I was by no means trying to make it sound like iTunes is the only way. Simply the largest. I don't know the specific numbers but I have no doubt iTunes is probably by far the largest distributor for any label that uses them. I was just trying to get at the fact, that it would hurt Sony more than Apple if push came to shove. Not that Apple wouldn't take a hit at all and Sony would go under. Or that Apple wouldn't negotiate.

I think the main question is are people who are happy in the Apple ecosystem going to want to fracture their content libraries? One of the things I love about iTunes is that everything is right there. Can you imagine having to remember which label your artists are with so you can open the right app to listen to/purchase their music. God forbid you want to make a playlist.

I think this is sour grapes on Sony's part. They might get some traction, but I don't see them getting popular enough to tell Apple where to stick it. Definitely saber rattling with all the ifs in that interview. We have a saying in the south: If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his butt when he jumps. Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter.

vansmith said:

Second quote answers the first. You can't just leave a contract because the label makes a business decision that you don't like. If your contract ends though, you're free to do as you please.

You're making it sound as if iTunes is the only means through which a label can distribute it's music - "if you don't use iTunes, your label is screwed." Although it may be the largest, it is by no means the only one. There are various other channels through which they can distribute content. Apple would be smart to try and negotiate with Sony as opposed to being arrogant.

Click to expand...

If im not mistaken, if an artist leaves a label, the label still has control of the distribution rights to all content prior to the artist leaving the label. im not 100% sure on that, but if its correct and Sony does pull out of iTunes, Apple will feel the sting pretty good. As those people who want music by an artist under the Sony/BMG label will get it with out iTunes.

Since 2001-ish, Sony has been in with Sumitomo Mitsui Bank's extended keiretsu. Among that diversified portfolio of companies it ends up feeding electronics to customers that are in the oil, automotive, chemical, electronics, food, heavy machinery, excavation, aerospace and alcohol industries. They also cross lines with impunity to the Tokai group. I'm sure Sony will be just fine long-term if their music is a loss leader for a year or two.

Right now it would just hurt the music industry and its already feeling losses and as for artists with contracts it will not be the first time they met their contractual agreements
with sub par material just to honor an agreement or less songs per album who knows this
might strengthen cd sales.