Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the “bigfour” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI.

Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the "big four" music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI.

Now before I get 10000 songs sent to me by all you would be songwriters, neither I nor my team will listen to, or even read a song, that you have not officially asserted ownership of.