The Latest in IT Security

Pleased with the results of Decembers surprise Beyoncé album — which quickly became the fastest-selling iTunes album ever — Apple is reportedly on the hunt for more hits. Citing sources, The Los Angeles Times says Apple executives have recently begun pressuring record labels and artists for more exclusive titles. The Times says Apple is specifically trying to negotiate a special window of exclusivity on iTunes (like it does with movies) to make it the only place to get that music, long before others. The companys pushed music labels for exclusives since it launched the iTunes Store more than a decade ago, but now faces threats from myriad streaming services like Spotify, Rdio, Beats, and others, that are doing the same thing. Each of those services has apps on Apples platform, though represents a potential threat to Apples own streaming radio service, as well as paid music downloads.