Mike Wuerthele
As Apple continues to drive forward with its media ambitions, music labels are starting to again chafe at the iPhone maker's growing power.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple is discussing terms of a all-encompassing bundle for users, placing all of Apple's services like Apple Music and Apple TV+ under one payment. But, a long-time partner and foe, sometimes simultaneously, is reportedly having some issues with Apple's terms.
Some music executives from companies that Apple has had a tumultuous relationship since the dawn of the iTunes Music Store are said to be concerned about margins, should Apple bundle its services in one offering. As is typical with Apple's dealings with the music industry over the years, Apple's plan isn't being universally panned — some executives are reportedly on-board with an omnibus offer.
Talks are allegedly at an "early stage," according to the report from the Financial Times on Monday.
Reports that Apple was considering a large bundle started surfacing in June 2018. At the time, it was disclosed that Apple was evaluating delivering a comprehensive subscription service that would rival similar plans marketed by Amazon and, to some extent, Netflix.
Apple's revenue from Services is becoming a more important source of revenue for Apple. The company presently makes money from media with Apple Music at $9.99 per month for a individual subscription, Apple News also for $9.99 a month, and Apple Arcade at $4.99 per month.
Another part of what would be included in an "all-Apple" subscriptions bundle is Apple TV+. Apple's streaming video service consists of all-unique content, and will launch on November 1for $4.99 a month. Purchasers of new Apple hardware releases after September 10 will get a year of Apple TV+ service for free.
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25 Comments
Amazon offer bundles with their music, tv and prime shipping, so Apple should also be able to bundle this way too. They must both have contracts with the same music labels.
My guess on bundles and pricing:
$30 for Music, arcade, news, tv and 200gb cloud storage.
$40 for family plan with above and 2tb storage.
What do you think it would bundle and cost?
I’ll never subscribe. If Apple want to keep missing the point of their own business, that’s on them.
At some point they have to push back IMHO. Otherwise they lose any semblance of control over a media they've created. Music, news and games descend into throwaway with little value, and contents end up driven by what the big techs would like to see and promote.