Apple signs major Indie music labels to iTMS Europe

Apple today announced that it has signed licensing agreements with three of the largest European independent music labels, Beggars Group, Sanctuary Records Group and V2, adding tens of thousands of additional independent tracks from leading artists to the iTunes Music Store in the UK, France and Germany. With three of the most influential independent record labels on board, iTunes Music Store customers in Europe now have access to an impressive catalog of independent artists including Basement Jaxx, The Crystal Method, Interpol, The Libertines, Morrissey, the Pixies, Prodigy, Stereophonics, Paul Weller and The White Stripes.

"We're thrilled to add three of Europe's largest indie labels to our iTunes Music Store in the UK, France and Germany," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We welcome Beggars, Sanctuary and V2 to the iTunes family, and plan to add many more independent labels soon."

"Apple has revolutionized the music industry, and iTunes and iPod are changing the listening habits of music fans at an incredible pace," said Martin Mills, chairman of Beggars Group. "In the US, some of our key individual tracks are selling in quantities that have been inconceivable for years. We're delighted that we and other independent music labels are now joining iTunes in Europe."

"We see this as an opportunity to bring our extensive repertoire to a very active community of music fans," said Joe Cokell, CEO of Sanctuary Records Group. "With this agreement, iTunes users will have immediate access to contemporary new releases from Morrissey and The Libertines as well as vintage catalogues from classic artists, including Bob Marley, Black Sabbath and the Sex Pistols."

"After experiencing tremendous success with the iTunes Music Store in the US we are thrilled to be taking our relationship to Europe," said Tony Harlow, CEO of V2. "Now music lovers in the UK, France and Germany will be able to download great music from the likes of Paul Weller, Stereophonics and The Datsuns."

The iTunes Music Store in the US, UK, France and Germany offers an extensive music library of over 700,000 songs in each country. With Apple's legendary ease-of-use, pioneering features, personal use rights and breakthrough pricing of just $0.99, â‚¬0.99 and Â£0.79, the iTunes Music Store is the best way for PC and Mac users in each country to legally discover, purchase and download music online. The iTunes Music Store gives users the ability to play songs on up to five personal computers, burn a song onto CDs an unlimited number of times, burn the same playlist up to seven times and listen to their music on an unlimited number of iPods.