Is Streaming Finally Coming To iTunes?

The rumors have been running rampant over the web the last few days regarding the upcoming changes to iTunes, which seem to have been leaked out of Cupertino.

According to the leaks, Apple will overhaul its iTunes music store by the end of the year. The revamp will reported include more integration with the company's iCloud storage service, and its ill-conceived Ping music social network will get the axe. In Ping's place will come closer integration of Facebook via the upcoming iOS6.


Apparently Apple has also been in talks with all the major labels. While some say it's over the ability for iTunes users to increase song sharing via iCloud, others say that it might be over the long-awaited subscription service that could be built into iTunes.


Whatever Apple is planning, it appears to be a key in iTunes expansion into Asia, which just added 12 new countries (Brunai, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam).


Another quiet release was the new stand-alone iTunes Podcast app, which includes a host of new features dedicated to creating and listening to podcasts.


As I've said all along, an iTunes subscription service would set the music business on its ear and completely change the playing field for how labels, artists and publishers get paid. Let's see if it comes sooner than later.

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