Apple OKs terms with Europe indie labels

Apple Computer Inc. clinched licensing deals with a trio of Europe's independent music labels to bring acts such as The White Stripes and Basement Jaxx to iTunes Europe customers for downloading, the company said Wednesday.

The deals, struck this week with Beggars Group, Sanctuary Records Group and V2, pave the way for further signings from other European independent labels in the near future, Apple and music industry officials said.

"We now have a standard agreement. It's a deal that all UK and European independent labels can get from Apple," said Sam Sheptob, a spokesman for the Association of Independent Music, a UK trade body representing an assortment of independent labels. Independent labels are smaller music companies not affiliated with any major media conglomerate.

Apple last month launched iTunes in Germany, the United Kingdom and France. It sold 800,000 tracks in its first week in Europe and has sold over 100 million since its U.S. launch 15 months ago.

But to the disappointment of Europe's music fans, iTunes made its debut with some significant roster omissions. Apple failed to sign a single independent act as negotiations between the computer maker and their labels repeatedly fell apart.

The breakdown in negotiations proved frustrating for iTunes' European customers who took to the online store to wage small protests by naming their song collections things like "iTunes needs more indies."

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCBP leaders cut out of Trump ad buy decision

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAmerican passenger drafted goodbye texts to her family as Flydubai plane plummeted

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

The labels too were anxious to get a deal done as iTunes has become the runaway hit in the still small market for music downloads.

For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCBP leaders cut out of Trump ad buy decision

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAmerican passenger drafted goodbye texts to her family as Flydubai plane plummeted

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

"In the U.S., iTunes represents up to 5 percent of certain of our album sales already, and key tracks are selling in quantities that simply were inconceivable before," said Martin Mills, Beggars Group chairman.

Apple said the first three signings add tens of thousands of songs to iTunes Europe's 700,000 track library.

Europe's collection of independent music labels account for just over 20 percent of recorded music sales in Europe and include popular acts ranging from Morrissey to Paul Weller.