AppleInsider Staff
As Apple prepares to relaunch a revamped version of its free-to-stream iTunes Radio service, the company is looking to bring on musicians Drake, Pharrell Williams and David Guetta as guest DJs, a report said Sunday.
Music industry sources told The New York Post that Apple is negotiating a $19 million deal to have Drake serve as a guest DJ for iTunes Radio. The rapper may also assume other roles as part of the agreement, but it was not immediately clear what those extra duties would entail.
Along with Drake, Apple is reportedly in similar discussions with Pharrell and Guetta, though financial estimates of their arrangements were not provided.
Perhaps unrelated to the iTunes Radio proposition, Drake and Pharrell were among the first celebrities to don pre-release Apple Watch Editions in April. Drake was seen wearing a yellow gold version at Coachella just days after Pharrell showed up on his TV show "The Voice" sporting an identical model with Sport Band.
As for Apple's broader streaming strategy, the report said the company wants to offer a free three-month trial period for a separate subscription product widely thought to be based on Beats Music. Apple doesn't want to foot the bill for licensing rights, however, and is thus requesting labels waive fees for customer trials. The company is also asking for free lyrics, the report said.
Rumors of an iTunes Radio revamp came earlier this year alongside word of that Apple was working on a branded subscription service. It was later learned that Apple poached Grammy-nominated DJ Zane Lowe from the BBC to spearhead work on the renewed iTunes Radio effort. Most recently, reports in April said a handful of top producers from Radio 1, some of whom worked with Lowe, were also hired away.
Apple is expected to introduce iTunes Radio and its new subscription platform at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
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43 Comments
*cue complaints the current service is US only* (it's not) *cue complaints Apple shouldn't work with these people* (who do you suggest, more U2? Bob Dylan again?) *cue Spotify fans claiming they'll never switch* (they will in six months) I've come to enjoy iTunes Radio, though some playlists need more frequent refreshes (Classical Chill is a favorite but it seems to repeat a lot). Looking forward to the new service.
[quote name="TheWhiteFalcon" url="/t/186504/apple-reportedly-wooing-drake-pharrell-david-guetta-for-itunes-radio-guest-dj-spot#post_2729204"]*cue complaints Apple shouldn't work with these people* (who do you suggest, more U2? Bob Dylan again?)[/quote] My complaint would be that the people they've hired so far fit into a pretty narrow field of musical tastes. I hope Apple adds a LOT more talent to cover other musical genres. Someone like Alice Cooper for classic rock, for example. And I doubt anyone hired so far would be playing any country music (not a fan myself, but hugely popular).
Someone like Alice Cooper for classic rock, for example. And I doubt anyone hired so far would be playing any country music (not a fan myself, but hugely popular).
I'm sure they will. I was mainly heading off complaints of "Ugh, why did they pick these people, modern music is crap, blah blah blah"
Someone like Alice Cooper for classic rock, for example. And I doubt anyone hired so far would be playing any country music (not a fan myself, but hugely popular).
I would expect your comment from a few others on this site, but not you. I think you might be mistaken about your outlook. Who can say what these people listen to when they are not on stage or have listened to when they were learning to do what they do today? I know it is your opinion, but give Apple a chance to have you listen to what they have to present before you express critical judgement. Alice Cooper might not be a DJ for classic rock, but something else he knows about. Would you be disappointed because of this? Remember, Apple sees people very differently than how "ordinary" people see them and how they might see themselves. If I remember correctly, AI reported Apple hired a musician to help it research blood flow in an effort to detect heart attacks. I bet that guy did not think his musical talents would be considered for that field of work!
I would expect your comment from a few others on this site, but not you. I think you might be mistaken about your outlook. Who can say what these people listen to when they are not on stage or have listened to when they were learning to do what they do today? I know it is your opinion, but give Apple a chance to have you listen to what they have to present before you express critical judgement. Alice Cooper might not be a DJ for classic rock, but something else he knows about. Would you be disappointed because of this? Remember, Apple sees people very differently than how "ordinary" people see them and how they might see themselves. If I remember correctly, AI reported Apple hired a musician to help it research blood flow in an effort to detect heart attacks. I bet that guy did not think his musical talents would be considered for that field of work!
Well, seeing as AC already hosts a radio show with classic rock as the subject, he might not want to do anything else.