Apple talks to labels about unlimited music access

A new deal between Apple and the music industry may make entire music libraries of record labels accessible for a flat-rate fee. In the “all you can eat” models proposed to the music industry, users would pay either a one-time or a monthly fee to access every song by a major-label artist through the iTunes Store.

According to music industry executives, this deal hinges on the price Apple will charge for access to the labels’ libraries. While Nokia offers a one-time fee program with their cellphones at about $80 per handset for unlimited access, two industry executives said Apple has so far only offered $20 per unit. “It’s who blinks first, and whether or not anyone does blink,” one executive said.

Even if the price were settled, distribution of the music may become another issue. The store will find it difficult to limit the music library to paying users unless Apple either develops a device that directly streams the music—such as in Nokia's “comes with music” plan—or institutes a file format similar to DRM.

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