Microsoft to share Zune royalties

Microsoft apparently wants to pwn the iPod so badly that it is willing to go as far as to share revenue Vivendi Universal Music for each sale of the Zune portable media player in exchange for Universal licensing its recordings, and is currently in talks with other music labels as well as independent music companies to settle on a similar agreement. There were no percentage figures to play around with, although word on the corporate street indicated that the amount is definitely more than $1 for each Zune sale. Vivendi Universal Music has agreed to pay 50% of the money it receives through this symbiotic relationship to its artists. The Microsoft Zune retails for $250 and will be available very, very soon.