Talks of Google
Citing industry sources, New York Post has reported that Google's Vice President Andy Rubin, the man behind Android OS, is in hurried talks with Harry Fox Agency to be able to launch Google Music Store by the year's end.
Harry Fox Agency is the largest owner of mechanical music licenses in the U.S., acts as a conduit for music publishers, and currently owns rights to around 27,000 songs.
A mechanical license grants the holder the right to copy recorded songs for which they do not hold a copyright. It's an agreement with the composition copyright holder, to reproduce the composition -- recording, printed sheet music, and lyrics.
Currently, Google sells much of its music through Amazon.com
The slated launch is due to coincide with its launch of Android 3 in winter. Google's Cloud music service floored audience last month when it demonstrated how one could purchase music through an Android web page and download it to Android phones immediately at the push of a button.
The timing to push for such a strategy seems perfect as Android has emerged as a formidable opponent to iPhone. Presently, Apple's iTunes owns a 28 percent of market share, with Amazon and Wal-Mart
However, much depends upon the pricing of the product, and one waits to see how it would impact Apple's pricing of iTunes services.
International Business Times, The Global Business News Leader