There's no deal yet, but
Bloomberg and
All Things Digital are reporting "confirmed" buyouts talks between Apple and music-streaming service Lala. If it goes down, the deal would potentially bring free music streaming to Apple's iTunes empire, but we're assuming Steve's less interested in integrating Lala's current service than he is in its talent, back-end technology, and content licensing deals. We'll see where this all goes -- or if it even happens.
Update: The New York Times and Wall Street Journal are now saying
this is a done deal.
posted December 4th 2009 5:40PM
I prefer LaLa the way it is. Apple will destroy it 999 times out of 1000.
@Evan
Or you could say theres a 99% chance.
@furquanatique
That would be a 99.9% chance actually.
@Evan
Just like they destroyed the mp3 and phone market huh?
@Derrik Through Evan's context, then yes.
@Derrik
Well, Lala syncs with iTunes as well as other software. Apple will prbly kill that.
Lala is working on an iPhone app as well as an Android app. Apple will prbly kill the Android app.
Yeah, I don't know if this is necessarily a good thing for consumers. Good for Lala, true, but consumer choice? Maybe not.
@Evan I agree. they will turn that website into a cash cow. Anytime a major corporation takes over a small corporation, they destroy. Myspace is proof.
@Evan "I prefer LaLa the way it is."
I said the same thing when they dropped CD trading for streaming music. ;P
@skaterdude
I don't know if that's a good example. Myspace was well on the way to becoming a cesspool of spam and sexual predators long before Rupert Murdoch entered the picture.
I hope it'll stay DRM free, but they really need to standardize their downloads.
@zintinio since iTMS is DRM free, not sure there's any reason to think otherwise.
@leftride
Is iTunes music *completely* DRM-free, though? I tried to convert a song that I didn't buy from iTunes Store to a ringtone and it told me that the only ones I can convert are ones that were purchased from them. (I think I may have gotten it to work by doing some Garageband work-around, hopefully.)
They are restricting what can be done with the music I've purchased legally, but not from iTunes. Smells like DRM to me!
@Tubular
Well you can't slightly be DRM-free, it's either there or not. However, I'm pretty sure the file can contain data saying who the song was encoded by. Was your music file MP3 or ACC because iTunes music is ACC, perhaps the converter will only convert ACC songs. It's also possible for iTunes to check your purchase history to see if you bought the song before it attempts to convert.
@Tubular Yes there is some DRM in the store still (movies, apps), but music is DRM free.
Not being able to use iTunes to make ringtones is not the same thing. Apple is trying to actually follow the law, while actually make the ringtone market slightly better. Legal ringtones from the major labels cost around $2 and songs from them cost about $1. So Apple added the ability to make a song into a ringtone for an extra $1.
Honestly the entire ringtone market is a scam, but Apple isn't doing anything wrong.
Umm, I think buying and downloading is better, you know, so we can listen to them on our iPods and in the car... But does this mean that we can "subscribe" to iTunes and get unlimited music streaming for a set period of time? Kind of like radio on demand
I think some people might like this, but maybe not me, we'll see where this goes
@MSM LaLa isn't s subscription service. You can buy tracks for download and/or online listening. Besides, if you want music in your car you can do that without downloading songs using Slacker, Pandora, etc. Maybe not if you gave in and bought an iPhone but on other smart phones you can.
What?
Why are you being a troll? EVERY engadget reader knows the iPhone has pandora... Pandora is one of the biggest reasons everyone complains the iPhone can't multi- task!
Would it be any different if I said "the iPhone van play games, maybe not if you gave in and bought ANY other phone out there on the market"?
Go up stairs and have your mom change your diaper
Actually, I was assuming that Apple was engaging in a blocking maneuver directed at Google. Is that crazy?
Yes
I don't think so. It makes a lot of sense to me.
@(Unverified) That is exactly what I was thinking. I hadn't heard of Lala until headlines a little while ago were saying "Google getting into music business." This isn't about streaming... its about Google.
awesome. I really hope they make this mobile for my iPhone
@PATRICKmcnicholl before all this news the iphone app was supposed to come out next month. With an apple purchase, who knows.
noooooooooooooooo. I don't want ANYONE to buy Lala.
I don't know, but I immediately signed up for a Lala account.
@webran61 So did I sir, so did I ;)
It would make my day if Apple had a music subscription service that i can put on my iPhone like the Zune has, in addition to streaming and regular downloads.
I certainly hope that Apple doesn't buy LaLa. These guys offer a great service at fantastic prices, services and prices that I highly doubt Apple would continue.
Stupid question, what exactly is Lala?
@Jay A really good music streaming site. It's like Napster but with less suck. you can stream any song by any artist from any of their albums (most you can find). Then if you want to buy those tracks or the album, you can then select and purchase. The site also has a very active community where you can rate and discuss the artists. you can also connect through facebook.
@Processing
or, its just another streaming site, that's not available outside the US.
@fladele
Your just jealous :P
(I know it sucks, I feel for you guys)
the only time ive experienced lala was when i noticed the "experience new music" link under googles search bar last week. in all honestly i figured it was something google was about to purchase, to get into the music selling industry (now that it has android)
this is kind of a shock to me. but i dont know a lot about the company.
Doesn't their deal with Myspace kind out as online streaming?
I just started using lala to stream the music i own. Basically something similar to Simply Media, but hosted and not running off my computer. I'd see Apple using this functionality as a way to stream your music from anywhere.
@yerand dumbass.
I think Apple should have bought Pandora back when they were desperate last year.
When Google launched their music search about a month ago, I was under the impression that Lala was theirs or they had some relationship with them.
That was the first time I heard of Lala.
Oh plees no apple not lala PLEASE!!!
I'd like to make myself believe, that planet earth...turns....slowly.
apple will just turn it into a site where you stream 30 seconds of audio, and then purchase. I dont want that. I want my free music!
Who thinks this might be a play for more market share given Lala's rise to the top hit on Google when you Google lyrics?
Lala has $0.89 per song DRM free how can you believe Apple is let it continue like that if itunes is selling the same songs for $0.99 and $1.29. this is about a big company buying a rival and shutting it down.
@(Unverified) iTunes also has DRM free songs for $0.89. It's the record companies settings the price.
Funny these big companies are taking interest on these smaller well established services: Microsoft, Last.fm; Apple Lala; MySpace, iLike.
Personally, I would like to see MS take over Last.fm if they can convert and integrate it with Zune while still preserving what Last.fm currently does. I haven't used Lala really but it could be useful for Apple if they plan to go into the streaming business to combat Zune. Not that they really need to I'm sure their relationship with distributors is a lot better that Microsoft's.
UPDATE: Apple Bought Lala...staff that is.
Just signed up for Lala. Cool service.
@(Unverified)
Don't mean to make you feel stupid but....
You do know that the 'Im a PC' in the commercial is ...a computer, right? Not a person?
Cool.
I'm not a Mac. I own a Mac.
@(Unverified)
Maybe he's actually just a bot?
Zune Already does streaming online of music so Apple is just trying to compete