...why the 'indys' are inexplicably slow to airtime? I could see Apple cutting out the majors in a win-win distribution situation for the artists, but they also need the current libraries to draw an audience...?

chicken or egg, perhaps...? i say go with the egg...!

This is the biggest reason Apple has to step carefully when considering opening iTunes tracks to other, non-iPod portable players, and the one people usually forget about.

It's easy to sit back in the armchair and say that if Apple doesn't open its format to more players, that the iTMS will suffer from increased competition, and AAC will lose market share. But it's not that simple, especially if the profit margin on the iTMS is minescule compared to the sale of iPods.

I'm not saying Apple SHOULDN'T look into opening their formats, but I think it's a move that should be considered carefully, and I trust that's how Jobs and his posse are approaching it. I think that's why we've seen partnerships like the ones with HP and Motorola, and will see more of those as time goes on ... just my $.02.

Is that Apple should sell off it's software and hardward divisions, change it's name to iTunes, and just focus on selling music. Soon it'll be raking in big profits in the future when the digitial music scene explode.
(In case I didn't pull it off so you all got it, I'm being sarcastic)

There are two ways Apple could open things up. They could allow iTunes songs to work on other players-- This would just cut off the only way they can make music profitable. Alternatively, they could make it so songs from other stores work on the iPod. If this sells iPods, I think they should do it.

What I learned from this article is:

1. Apple earned roughly 4 million $ for the 100 million songs sold.

2. 62 cents + 8 cents + 4 cents = 99 cents

pfft

M$ can lose money on each sale for years just to put everybody else out of business.

Where does Sony end up in this? Yes, the current Walkman is JUNK, but they have even more potential as Sony Music Group owns so many labels (wonder if they could legally keep certain songs on their lables "out" of iTunes)... Seems like Sony could buy up more labels making iTunes music selection smaller at some point.... I

They don't mention credit card fees, bandwidth fees, and other expenses.

It does say, "generally the record labels, who own copyright in the song's recording - take 62 cents or more." Or more meaning 62 cents is a moving target.

that's what us dealers make off most of the Apple product, so why should it be any different with Apple