Apple’s plans for its relaunched Beats Music streaming music service, rumored to be revealed at next week’s WWDC, took another step forward this weekend.
A new report suggests that Apple is currently in talks with Drake, Pharrell Williams and David Guetta for them to come on board as guest DJs for iTunes Radio. As three of the biggest names in music, having these artists on its roster would give Apple a massive selling point in its upcoming streaming music war with rivals like Spotify.
Apple previously hired well-known BBC Radio 1 DJ personality Zane Lowe for a similar role, while the presence of on-staff names like Trent Reznor, Dr. Dre, and friends of Apple such as U2 give the company an already enviable range of music talent to draw on to entice fans.
In all, it’s an incredibly smart move on Apple’s part.
Much as it did in smartphones, where Apple sits pretty with high profit margins, while everyone else competes in a race to the bottom with cheaper and cheaper handsets, by pushing exclusivity as its selling point for the rebranded Beats Music, Apple can differentiate itself by pulling off deals that nobody else can.
We’ve already seen Jay Z’s botched attempt at an artist-driven music streaming platform. And while Spotify may have first mover advantage when it comes to streaming music, its lack of royalty payments have also angered major artists like Taylor Swift.
Apple, on the other hand, has cultivated a reputation as an artist’s tech company since the early 1980s — years before Apple considered entering the music business. By combining top-name guest DJs with exclusive albums, Apple all but nullifies any advantages held by rival companies. It’s the only company with the size and reputation to make a move like this.
This weekend’s new report also adds a few more interesting tidbits about Apple’s streaming plans, such as the fact that the company will offer a 3-month free trial period for its $10-a-month subscription service. It also plans to offer lyrics as part of Apple Music, along with a YouTube-style page called Apple Connect.
Source: New York Post
