Apple iTunes iCloud Music Service Might Not Launch At WWDC?

Apple's much anticipated cloud-based iTunes music service, possibly dubbed iCloud, is ramping up for an imminent reveal, but will it be during next month's WWDC developer conference? Just this morning, reports seemed optimistic with Sony joining EMI and Warner Music in reaching agreeable licensing terms with Apple. It seemed like Universal Music Group would be the last piece of the puzzle, but this may not be the case.

Despite now having three of the four major labels on board with Apple's iTunes cloud music service, simply signing on that last record label may not be enough to get the service ready to launch by next month. According to Peter Kafka of AllThingsDigital, the company has yet to secure terms with the big music publishers, who own a separate set of rights. Publishers own the rights to compositions, while record labels own the rights to the recordings of those compositions.

So, if Apple wants to fully launch a music service that goes beyond the basic music lockers dished out by Amazon and Google, they will have to ensure that both record labels and publishers jump on board. Once deals are inked with all the labels, the publishers will usually follow, but negotiations may still take longer than the time that's left leading up to WWDC.

[via Cult of Mac]