Thousands of independent record companies that rely on Apple as a source of income have agreed to licensing terms for the tech giant’s new music service. “We are now delighted to say that we are happy to endorse the deal with Apple Music as it now stands, and look forward to being a big part of a very exciting future,” said Martin Mills, founder of Beggars Group, whose acts include Vampire Weekend and Adele. Merlin, an organization that negotiates digital rights for small labels, also backs the agreement. “For independents, the negotiations with Apple are seen as a victory, allowing thousands of small labels to be part of Apple Music and earn money when people listen to their songs,” notes The New York Times.