Apple Music launches in 12 days, on June 30, but some labels still haven’t signed up to have their music available via the music streaming service.
Many of those labels are independent in nature, both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. Recently, it was reported that Apple simply hadn’t even contact indie labels in the U.S to discuss terms or get artists’ music in Apple Music. Then, on June 17, a report surfaced that pointed out indie labels in the United Kingdom were flat-out turning down Apple’s attempts to get their music included, citing the three-month trial period as a major point of contention for the labels.
Now, via a press release and surfaced by Apple Insider, Beggars Group, a company that owns indie labels such as XL Recordings, The Young Turks, Rough Trade, Matador and 4ad, confirmed that it has yet to reach an agreement with Apple regarding Apple Music and including the company’s indie label music. As many UK labels have stated, Beggars points out Apple’s extended trial period, and that Apple does not want to pay royalties to labels during that time.Beggars is also worried about rights issues when it comes to Connect, Apple’s channel that lets artists and groups share whatever they want, including songs, behind-the-scenes videos and more, right within the Music app.
“At the moment we do not have an agreement with Apple Music that would allow us to participate in the new service,” Beggars wrote. “However, we very much hope that the obstacles to agreement can be removed, for us and for independent Merlin-member labels as a whole, and that we will be able to fully support this potentially exciting new service in the coming days.“Interestingly enough is Apple’s decision to use many artists that are under Beggar’s umbrella as part of one of the aforementioned labels within their advertising for Apple Music. XL Recordings is the home of FKA Twigs, for example, an up-and-coming British artist, and who is prominently displayed within the marketing materials for Apple Music, including a huge backdrop on the main Apple Music page on Apple’s site. FKA Twigs is present within the Connect microsite as well.
Add to that, Alabama Shakes, a Southern rock group, who is also utilized within the marketing for Apple Music, is signed to Rough Trade in the United Kingdom. However, it’s worth noting that the band is also signed to ATO Records in the United States, which could very well have a working relationship with Apple and its upcoming Apple Music.
It’s certainly an interesting detail within Apple’s marketing for Music, and it will be interesting to see if Apple can work out a deal amongst these many labels that seem hesitant to sign up.
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