Becoming the second outlet to report that Apple has signed a cloud music deal with Universal, giving it deals with all four of the major labels, the Los Angeles Times has provided additional details on Apple’s upcoming iCloud service. Citing sources familiar with the negotiations, the report claims that the service will initially be offered for free to customers who purchase music from the iTunes Store, but will eventually cost roughly $25 a year.
The report also states that Apple plans to sell advertising around the iCloud service—specifics, including if the ads would appear for paid subscribers, were not offered—and that the company’s agreements with the labels call for it to share 30 percent of any revenue from the service with the labels, as well as 12 percent with music publishers. In line with recent reports, it also notes that although the service is initially focused on music, Apple eventually plans for the service to be used for movies, TV shows, and other digital content sold through iTunes.
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