Amazon to Sell Music Without Copy Protection - New York Times

Stimulus/response... 

Amazon’s service could lead to a shift in the record labels’ relationship with Apple. Four years after the iTunes service established the market for paid downloads, the music corporations have become unsettled by the company’s clout in determining pricing and other terms.

Many label executives say a successful entrance by Amazon could provide them with needed leverage in their current talks with Apple over renewing their contracts. Of course, even if the iTunes service faces new competition, Apple retains great power thanks to the popularity of the iPod, which has 70 percent of the music player market and works smoothly with the iTunes store.

Source: Amazon to Sell Music Without Copy Protection - New York Times