Apple Plays Tough with Itunes Hanging in the Balance

From Wired, it appears Apple is playing tough with the newly created Copyright Royalty Board.  The three member board (James Sledge, Stanley Wisniewski, William Roberts), have proposed a $.06 increase in the royalty for digital songs.

“If the [iTunes music store] was forced to absorb any increase in the… royalty rate, the result would be to significantly increase the likelihood of the store operating at a financial loss which is no alternative at all,” wrote Apple iTunes vice president Eddy Cue in a statement filed with the board last year, according to Fortune. “Apple has repeatedly made it clear that it is in this business to make money, and most likely would not continue to operate [the iTunes music store] if it were no longer possible to do so profitably.”

I doubt Apple would shut down Itunes, but it certainly does raise some concerns if you are sitting on that board.<-->