Quick news items and worthy reads from around the web:
Apple joining the fight against freemium? Peter Kafka at Re/code discussed the recent actions and critiques that major labels have taken against freemium streaming models. According to industry speculation, Apple’s reimagined Beats Music will not have a free tier, but will have a lower monthly subscription than the paid option at freemium services. “Sources say Apple would like to make a splash by getting high-profile artists to distribute their music with Apple before it makes its way to other services,” Kafka wrote.
The FCC has proposed closing some of its field offices: It’s causing concern among several industries regulated by that arm of the government. For broadcast radio, the agents at those Enforcement Bureaus can offer important assistance in solving issues of interference from cellular booster devices, blocking devices, and amplifiers. “Only they have the enforcement credentials to shut down interference we get into our wireless base stations,” an unnamed broadcaster told Radio World.