According to a report from The Verge, Apple is pushing hard for a summer launch of its long-awaited iRadio service.
The music streaming app would take on the likes of Spotify and Pandora, however it has been hit my delays as the Drum reported earlier this month.
Apple has been in talks with record companies who are contesting the low rate for streaming songs, apparently 6 cents per 100 songs, offered. Considerably less than the Copyright Royalty Board's fair rate for non-broadcast companies which stands at 21 cents per 100 songs, Pandora’s 12 cents per 100 songs streamed and Spotify’s 35 cents per 100 songs streamed.
However, a music industry source told The Verge: "iRadio is coming. There's no doubt about it anymore," adding that it is making “significant progress” in negotiations with Universal and Warner music.