Slowly but surely the iTunes Radio giant is waking.
Billboard reports that the Blue Note will have a label-branded station on iTunes radio. That’s important for a few reasons.
First, they are beginning to grow beyond being a record shuffler. One of the problems on the consumer end is knowing what to listen to. When offered too many choices it actually becomes overwhelming. I personally love the iTunes radio Alt Top 50 station. I can be cool without knowing what to look for. Otherwise I’m just typing some band name into an engine….but what if I don’t even know the first band to type in to get the genome started.
Second, it’s a label station. Streaming royalties are all kinds of complicated, but there is something you can do called a direct license which can keep your costs down. I don’t know the financial arrangements of this deal but it would not surprise me if there is some sort of direct agreement here along those lines.
Also remember that iTunes is a record store and can help Blue Note move product by creating awareness via promotion and placement.
Now apply that logic to bigger labels, bigger artists. Yep, there’s a business here that could be good for Apple, labels and consumers. A win for all.
I keep wondering when iTunes Radio is going to go all-in. Should be very interesting.