Will iRadio be missing from WWDC?
Apple is still thrashing out details, according to reports, meaning that iRadio is unlikely to appear at WWDC in June.
Google's Play Music All Access app, which was launched at Google I/O on Wednesday, may enjoy a longer grace period before an Apple rival arrives on the scene according to reports on Friday.
The Verge's sources claim that Apple's long-rumoured iRadio streaming service will be absent from the WWDC conference next month as Cupertino is yet to make deals with the major music publishers.
The sources say that Sony/ATV and BGM Rights Management have both rejected the terms that Apple has offered so far and is holding out for more cash for their artists.
All this, the report claims, is despite the "market momentum" behind Apple's forthcoming service, which suggests the record labels themselves are keen for the service to roll out as soon as possible.
Universal, The Verge claims, was the first label to jump on board. and want to see it launch this summer.
The sources said Google's service may have been able to reach market sooner due to Apple's dominant position in the industry, which led to the labels and publishers driving a harder bargain.
One source told the site: "Of course [Apple's] negotiations were going to take longer."
Google, on the other hand, didn't struggle when obtaining licenses because copyright owners will receive advance payments. The report claims Apple refuses to do so.
Google Play Music All Access' similarity to existing services like Spotify, Rdio and Pandora also made it easier for the company to beat Apple to the punch, the site claimed.
Apple, on the other hand, is planning a "hybrid" service that combines those already on offer, meaning new agreement perimeters had to be created.
Should Apple fail to launch iRadio at WWDC it would give Google more time to establish its service before the Apple juggernaut muddies the waters.
It may also limit Apple's ability to show off iOS 7 in full, as one can only assume that such a service would be a centrepiece of a new mobile operating system.
