Given the tendency of those lovable iTunes people to not return phone calls to any record label that could be in any way accused of being independent, this should provide some festive cheer.
Independent distributors Vital:Pias have done a deal with iTunes in Europe on par with its deal with the Apple music platform in the US, meaning any label for whom they distribute physical product will now be able to flog their wares via the flagship download platform. Some of the bigger independents already sell tracks via Apple of course, but the Vital:Pias deal will be good news for the smaller indies who have been struggling to get their product onto iTunes.