Apple has invited what MTV says is hundreds of independent label reps to a meeting and demonstration of the iTunes Music Store (iMS). The music networkis online news outlet says that Apple wants to bring the independent labels, or indies, onboard, and that many of the labels are very interested.

Apple currently offers music from what the industry often calls the Big Five, Sony, Universal, EMI, Warner Brothers, and the Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG). These labels control almost all of todayis major acts, as well as back catalogs of what could be millions of songs. Independent labels are smaller labels with a greater or lesser degree of influence, but with tens of thousands of bands signed up. Music produced by independent labels is often outside the mainstream, representing a much wider array of styles, tastes, talent, and sounds than the majors tend to offer.

From the MTV article:

"The plan was to go out of the gate with the five major labels, but thereis always been an interest in expanding the store beyond that," an Apple spokesperson said.

Senior iTunes music store staffers will show the label reps how the store runs and theyill perform some hands-on demos, though it is unclear whether Apple boss Steve Jobs will attend. The spokesperson declined to specify which, or how many, labels were invited to the meeting.

One label president who has already booked his flight is Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Poneman. "Iim very interested in this as the owner of a label," Poneman said. "The Apple store is accessible, well organized and attractive. I wouldnit miss this for the world."

There is additional information about the meeting, and about industry, in the full story at MTV.