Apple finally adds Indie tracks to iTunes Europe

21 July 2004 20:58 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Its taken them a couple of weeks, but Apple has finally come to an agreement with the Association of Indie Music (Aim) over offering independent tracks on the iTunes Music Store in the UK.

Artists that will now be available to iTunes customers will include The White Stripes, The Pixies, Morrissey and Mercury Prize Nominees Franz Ferdinand.

Up until now the labels complained that the deal being offered by Apple where unreasonable. The new deal that Aim has secured is believed to be “on par with those agreed by the majors”.

Aim chairman Alison Wenham said: "The industry's future is wedded to the success of iTunes and similar services.

Aim said it could not reveal details of the deal, but there was now a standard contract for independent labels to use.

“We're thrilled to add three of Europe's largest indie labels to our iTunes Music Store in the UK, France and Germany”, said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. “We welcome Beggars, Sanctuary and V2 to the iTunes family, and plan to add many more independent labels soon”.

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