A couple months back we posted about Apple’s extremely low offer on royalty rates to record labels.  Well, the saga continues, according to the Financial Times as reported by Hypebot, “Universal Music Group has agreed to license it’s catalog to Apple’s iRadio streaming music services, according to reports. Apple has apparently dropped requests that it be charged a lower rate in exchange for a share of ad revenue, and opted for the .125 cent rate that Pandora pays.”

Although Universal Music Groups is on board sources are saying Sony is not exactly anxious to sign any deals for iRadio just yet.  That being said, Apple’s signing with Universal Music Group will most likely heat up the seat for negotiations with other labels.

There’s big competition in the world of music streaming.  There’s the new music streamers just entering the game from Apple, Google and Amazon while there are the OG’s of music streaming who are just as competitive with Spotify and it’s $10 million ad campaign, Rhapsody’s new features, Rdio adding partners like Shazam; and Slacker reconfiguring itself by pushing for more mobile partners.  Sounds like it’s game on.

Source: Hypebot