iTunes Radio To Expand To UK, Canada Ahead Of Pandora

iTunes Radio will launch in the UK, Canada and other international markets early in 2014, ahead of Pandora. iTunes Radio will also launch on Australia and new Zealand, two markets where Pandora is already established, early next year.

Apple is able to roll out iTunes Radio ahead of Pandora in many markets because of direct deals with Universal, the other major labels and indie aggregators.  Pandora relies on rights granted by performing rights organizations and governments.

Eddy Cue, the Apple SVP, recently said that the company wants to bring iTunes Radio to more than 100 countries, according to Bloomberg.