Los Angeles
– Apple (NASD: AAPL) has begun urging record labels not to participate in a discounted MP3
promotion offered by rival Amazon.com (NASD: AMZN), and withdrawing iTunes Store marketing
support for some releases featured as Amazon "Daily Deals," Billboard
reported, citing sources.
Amazon debuted its Daily Deal feature in June 2008,
and has more recently been asking labels for a one-day exclusive on sales
before an album’s official release date, as well as label marketing support for
the Daily Deal on an artist’s website and social media pages, the head of sales
at a major label told Billboard.
"When that happened, iTunes said, ‘Enough
of that shit,’" the executive said.
Due to Apple’s pressure, sources told
Billboard that label executives had decided not to promote recent releases from
Lady Antebellum and Ke$ha as Amazon Daily Deals.
Related Links:
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(Billboard)
