Investigation into Online Music Price Fixing?

MSNBC reports that the U.S. Justice Department has launched an inquiry into possible price fixing in online music download industry.

According to the article, the Justice Department has already issued two subpoenas with more in the works. A spokesperson for the Justice Department commented on their actions:

"The antitrust division is looking at the possibility of anticompetitive practices in the music download industry"

While details are scarce, the investigation may somehow be connected to Apple's re-negotiations with the record industry. Apple's previous terms with the record labels reportedly run out in "early 2006".