Apple has made deals with the independent label’s digital rights organization Merlin and with Martin Mills’ indie powerhouse Beggars Group, reports Billboard (http://bit.ly/1Rw1nhW).
In a letter sent to Merlin members, CEO Charles Caldas writes, “I am pleased to say that Apple has made a decision to pay for all usage of Apple Music under the free trials on a per-play basis, as well as to modify a number of other terms that members had been communicating directly with Apple about. With these changes, we are happy to support the deal.”
On Tuesday Apple reversed course and said it will pay artists during the free three-month trial of its new Apple Music service. This happened after pop star Taylor Swift threatened to hold back her latest album “1989” from Apple Music. Apple’s streaming music service launches June 30 for iOS and Mac OS X devices. Android is next, and Apple anticipates attracting 100 million paying subscribers.