Spotify and Facebook partner up, send Europe a friend request?

Spotify may still be in tough negotiations with record labels to bring its streaming music service to the US, but the Swedish company has managed to score a powerful stateside ally, reportedly striking a partnership with Facebook. Neither party is dropping any cash on the deal -- set to be called either "Facebook Music" or "Spotify on Facebook," according to Forbes's anonymous sources -- which will let members of the social network stream songs at the same time as friends and share their listening habits with those in their social circle. The service is reportedly currently in testing and could be launched in a fortnight, but its arrival in the US still hinges on those ever important label deals. In the meantime, we'll all have to share our listening habits the old fashioned way: by posting on our friends' walls.

Forbes

Apple gets cozy with EMI, Universal, and Sony over cloud music licensing

Ah, so it's all coming together now. Following a report on Warner Music inking a cloud-streaming deal with Apple, CNET has followed up with fresh information that sees three more major record companies jumping on board. Citing "multiple music industry sources," we're told that EMI Music is the latest addition to Apple's cloud music portfolio, while Universal Music and Sony Music are close to sealing the deal to permit this rumored iCloud service. If true, such endorsement will no doubt add pressure on Google and Amazon over their cheeky, license-free cloud streaming offerings -- not a bad way to fend off competition, though it's not clear how much money's involved. Guess we'll know more at WWDC next month.

CNET