US: Apple says it will pay Taylor Swift for streams

Apple’s new music streaming service, Apple Music, has taken Taylor Swift’s criticism to heart. Hours after the global pop music star said she would pull her latest album from Apple Music, the company reversed course, and promised to pay artists during a three-month trial period that is free to consumers.

This morning, Swift wrote an open letter to Apple — on Tumblr — complaining about the company’s policy of not paying music owners when people try its upcoming Apple Music service for a three-month trial period.

Tonight, Apple media boss Eddy Cue appears to have capitulated. “#AppleMusic will pay artist for streaming, even during customer’s free trial period,” Cue wrote on Twitter, without elaborating about who Apple would pay, or how much, or any other detail.

Apple Music has seen some antitrust issues lately, attorneys general in New York and Connecticut are investigating whether the deals that Apple has struck with music companies for its new streaming service violate antitrust laws.

Spokesmen for both offices confirmed to Reuters that the music streaming industry was being investigated for anticompetitive behavior, but would not confirm that Apple was being singled out.

Full content: Wired

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.