Music
Universal Music Group of Vivendi has ended a long-term licence deal with Apple iTunes amid negotiations over their future relationship.
The world's biggest record label has previously allowed iTunes to exclusively sell its catalogue, which includes many of the most popular artists, with annual deals.
However, the two firms have been renegotiating the deal and New York Times sources say Universal is now offering its music on a short term basis.
This gives it the flexibility to move to other methods of sale or withdraw its tracks.
It has been suggested the record industry is unhappy about Apple's domination of the digital sales market, which is one of few current areas of growth in the business.
The world's biggest record label has previously allowed iTunes to exclusively sell its catalogue, which includes many of the most popular artists, with annual deals.
However, the two firms have been renegotiating the deal and New York Times sources say Universal is now offering its music on a short term basis.
This gives it the flexibility to move to other methods of sale or withdraw its tracks.
It has been suggested the record industry is unhappy about Apple's domination of the digital sales market, which is one of few current areas of growth in the business.
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