Emmis/iTunes deal

Emmis Communications has announced a new affiliate deal signed with Apple, under which its Interactive division's Storefront technology will be tied to the iTunes Store, and in turn sold to other companies. Storefront lets radio stations -- mainly those owned by Emmis -- create custom online shops, particularly for the purpose of selling tracks as they are played live on air. The company claims that many alternatives only direct listeners to separate sites, instead of letting them pull music straight into local software.

Emmis has actually been partnered with Apple since 2006, and the company says it is "among the top five" affiliates directing people to the iTunes Store. The new deal simply cements this relationship, as Storefront has to this point been used only for Emmis stations. Examples of the iTunes Storefront include Power 106 FM and 105.7 FM The Point.