Apple to host music event next week

Apple on Monday announced that it will hold a media event on September 9 in San Francisco, where the company is expected to make a number of music-themed announcements, possibly including a new line of iPods and the availability of the Beatles’ catalogue of records through the iTunes store.

September 9 also marks the date that Electronic Arts will release The Beatles: Rock Band, the highly anticipated video game. Apple-watchers see the timing as more than coincidental. Apple has traditionally made its September announcements on a Tuesday, but this one is being held on Wednesday.

Apple has previously used September media events to introduce a refreshed line of iPods. Analysts expect a new line of iPod Touches that include video cameras, which would put the
device in more direct competition with the Flip, the popular pocket-sized camcorder.

Sales of iPods have slowed in the past two years as Apple has begun selling more iPhones, which include all the functionality of iPods. But the iPod product line is still important for Apple, appealing to customers who do not have an iPhone.

The company’s rumoured touch-screen tablet is not expected to be unveiled at next week’s event. Analysts now expect the tablet to be unveiled in January.

What could be announced is Apple’s partnership with the four largest record labels, which the Financial Times first reported in July.

The partnership, codenamed “Cocktail”, will reportedly include the debut of new interactive album material to supplement online music sales from the iTunes store.

The notoriously secretive company provided few details on the event, and declined to say which products would be announced. It is also unclear whether Steve Jobs, chief executive, will appear at the event.