Disney have licensed popular soundtracks to Apple’s iTunes service – but they’ll only be exclusively available there until the end of September. Short licensing deals are a popular tactic with online music retailers: they allow flexibility in an evolving market, allow labels to pick and chose the most popular download service and permit licensors to distribute music from their own stores once the agreement has expired.
Amongst the music that will be available will be the soundtracks from Disney classics such as The Lion King, Snow White and the Little Mermaid. More recent films will also feature with music from hits like Toy Story and Finding Nemo.
Apart from this compelling content being licensed to a download service for the first time, the deal is interesting because of Apple’s connection with Disney: Steve Jobs runs iTunes and Pixar, and Pixar recently broke off their deal with Disney.
Jobs said in a statement “Now iTunes users can add these timeless Disney songs to their music libraries and enjoy them wherever they go with their iPods.”