| Cult of Mac

Today in Apple history: Apple battles Eminem in court

By

Eminem sues Apple over digital music sales. Will the real rights holder please stand up!
Will the real rights holder please stand up!
Photo: Apple

September 24: Today in Apple history: Apple battles Eminem in court September 24, 2009: Apple lawyers head to court to defend the company against rapper Eminem’s music publisher, Eight Mile Style.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple unlawfully sold 93 of Eminem’s songs on the iTunes Music Store. This is the second time Apple finds itself on the opposite side of a courtroom from the Detroit rapper. (A previous lawsuit involved improper use of Eminem’s hit single “Lose Yourself” in an iTunes ad.)

Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are searching for the ‘next Steve Jobs’

By

Iovine
Jimmy Iovine on stage at an Apple event.
Photo: Apple

Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Drew, two of the high profile executives Apple brought in with its $3 billion purchase of Beats, are profiled in the new issue of GQ. While both have stepped back from their daily involvement with Apple, the article nonetheless briefly touches on Cupertino’s 2014 Beats purchase — and why Iovine says it made total sense for Apple.

Iovine, who stepped aside as head of Apple Music in 2018, said that he and Dre now spend their time searching for the next Steve Jobs, via a focus on education.

Beats become the official headphones of the NBA

By

Beats
2018 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons with his Beats.
Photo: Beats by Dre

NBA players have rocked Beats by Dre before games for years but now the company is about to have an even larger presence in the world of basketball.

Beats by Dre revealed today that it has struck a deal that will make it the official headphone, wireless speaker and audio partner of the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and USA Basketball starting when the preseason tips off in October.

Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine ordered to pay $25 million for Beats royalties

By

Jimmy Iovine, Tim Cook, Andre Young, and Eddie Cue. Photo: Apple
Dre and Jimmy can afford it.
Photo: Apple

Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre have been ordered by a court to pay over $25 million to their former business partner Steven Lamar.

The legal battle between the two parties has been going on since 2014 when Iovine and Dre first sued Lamar for falsely advertising that he was a co-founder of Beats. Now a jury has ruled in favor of Lamar’s claim that he should receive more royalties from the company’s headphone sales.

Jimmy Iovine will step back from Apple Music this summer

By

Iovine
Jimmy Iovine’s days at Apple are numbered.
Photo: Apple

Jimmy Iovine will step back from his role at Apple and transition into a consultancy position this August, according to a new report.

Sources say he will “support” Apple executive Eddy Cue while spending more time with his family. It’s the second time we’ve heard that the Beats co-founder will leave Apple this year, but Iovine has previously labeled the claims “fake news.

Jimmy Iovine might be leaving Apple

By

Beats Music's Jimmy Iovine, Tim Cook, Dr. Dre, and Eddy Cue at Apple HQ
Beats Music's Jimmy Iovine, Tim Cook, Dr. Dre, and Eddy Cue at Apple HQ

Music industry legend and Apple Music boss Jimmy Iovine is planning to leave Apple later this year.

According to reports, Iovine is set to leave Apple in August this year after joining the company in 2014 as part of Apple’s acquisition of Beats.

Rare photo shows Steve Jobs rocking Beats headphones

By

Photo: Beats
Did Steve Jobs like Beats headphones?
Photo: Beats

Apple acquired Beats a few years after co-founder Steve Jobs’ death, but a rare photo has surfaced showing the former Apple CEO rocking a pair of ugly Beats headphones.

Jobs had some familiarity with the Beats brand before Apple eventually bought it. As part of the new HBO documentary, “The Defiant Ones”, Beats co-founder Jimmy Iovine says he insisted all his friends test out the new headphones his company was developing. One of those friends was Steve Jobs, who was photographed wearing the headphones in a rarely seen picture:

Check out Jobs rocking the ugly headphones:

Apple hires YouTube vet to shape video strategy

By

Planet of the Apps
Not a high point for Apple.
Photo: Apple

In another sign that Apple is gearing up to make a big push into video, the company has hired former YouTube executive Shiva Rajaraman.

The hire comes as Apple is beginning to launch its own efforts to create original video content for Apple Music subscribers, but the addition of Rajaraman could mean Apple is looking to explore other avenues for its video content too.

Dr. Dre is leading Apple’s video charge

By

Dre's finally apologizing for his misogyny.
No, Apple hasn't forgot about Dre.
Photo: Beats

Dr. Dre is a major force in Apple’s push toward offering original video content, according to a new report from Variety.

“Dre’s purpose in life is to come up with something that moves the needle,” co-founder Jimmy Iovine says. “He’s done that really seriously a bunch of times. And now he’s experimenting with video. And what he does will be unique, and he will get there. My responsibility to Apple and to him is to put him in that position where he can.”