Rage against the iMachine

You might think the music industry would be grateful to Apple Inc. for creating and promoting the iTunes Store, one of the bright spots in music retailing during a decade of plunging sales. In June, the store passed another milestone, notching its 5 billionth song sold, either individually or in albums. If it keeps up the current pace, it could top 7 billion early next year. And yet numerous executives at the major record companies chafe at Apple's success, complaining that its dominance among online music stores has them hamstrung.

September 6, 2008