Apple is in talks with record companies to give iTunes customers easier access to music they've purchased across multiple devices, said three people with knowledge of the plans.

The unnamed sources said Apple is negotiating with music companies including Vivendi's Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI. An agreement may be announced by midyear, two of the people said.

The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading amid rising popularity for internet services such as Pandora, which don't sell tracks and instead let users stream songs from the web, whatever the device.

A deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost, said the people.

The service also would allow downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTunes account, they said. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the internet.

Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr declined to comment.

Bloomberg