Led Zeppelin are in negotiations with a number of online subscription services for the right to stream the band’s classic catalog.
The New York Times reports that if Zeppelin does reach a deal, the band — one of the biggest-selling acts in history — could help legitimize the subscription market, which has been slow to build a large customer base.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Led Zeppelin to activate streaming rights for their catalog,” a spokesman for the Warner Music Group, the band’s longtime record label, said in a statement. “We’re supportive of the band’s discussions with W.M.G.’s streaming service partners to create a window of exclusivity to maximize the impact of this launch.”
Among the companies in potential competition for the exclusive rights are Spotify, Rhapsody and Rdio, along with Deezer, which began in France and is interested in the American market. Depending on which service gets the deal, the band’s presence could tip the competitive scales between them, putting a leader like Spotify far ahead or giving a needed boost to a smaller company like Rdio.
Because their catalogs are largely the same, the major subscription services compete on features like playlists and social integration, and also for exclusive content
Read more at the New York Times here.
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