Microsoft announced that it has struck a deal with Universal Music Group in which Universal will receive a small payment for every Zune player sold, with Microsoft getting more access to Artists and music rights out of the deal. A part of the deal aims to have the record label share a portion of Microsoft’s payments with its artists. Microsoft is also aiming to make similar deals with other large record labels.
Apple on the other hand does not pass any of its sales of its iPod series to record labels. Interestingly, if Microsoft does succeed in making deals with other records to make similar deals, it will be interesting to see just how much of the sales price one pays for a Zune media player is actually passed to the labels. Despite this deal and potentially further deals, the player is still set to retail for US$249.99, with individual tracks costing around 99c a song and an unlimited download subscription service of $14.99, in which tracks expire if the subscription is stopped.
Further info can be read here at chron.com.
