'Industry Scuttlebutt' Hints Apple May Be Planning February Revamp for Beats Music

[MacRumors]

Apple might be planning to unveil both its revamped music subscription service and its new branding alongside the upcoming 2015 Grammy Awards, reports Re/code, citing some "industry scuttlebutt."

When will Apple show off the new version of its subscription service and its new brand? Here's a guess backed up by some industry scuttlebutt: February -- presumably timed to the Grammy Awards, which will be held Feb. 8.

News of an upcoming rebrand first surfaced yesterday, after TechCrunch reported that Apple would be shutting down Beats Music. An Apple representative quickly refuted the claim saying it was "not true." Re/code went on to suggest that while Apple won't be shuttering Beats Music, the company may have plans to "modify it over time," changing the brand name.

Apple first acquired Beats Music back in May, and at the time, announced plans to leave the service untouched. There were no plans to integrate Beats Music into iTunes, with the company suggesting the streaming music service would remain as a standalone product. Beats Music was largely seen as Apple's answer to popular services like Spotify, aimed at improving declining music sales.

In recent weeks, Apple has made quite an effort to promote Beats Music, adding it to the list of "Apps Made by Apple" and recommending the app to new iOS users. Apple also added a Beats Music channel to the Apple TV last week alongside the release of iOS 8.

Thus far, there is no word on what Apple is planning for Beats Music, but a source at TechCrunch has suggested that Apple might roll the streaming music functionality into iTunes.

Article Link: 'Industry Scuttlebutt' Hints Apple May Be Planning February Revamp for Beats Music

 

[iLoveiTunes]

Just BEAT it

 

[Crosscreek]

U2ens

 

[camnchar]

"Industry scuttlebutt" -- my favorite source.

 

[Naimfan]

Apple certainly had plans for Beats - they could have hired the talent they wanted for a fraction of the purchase price.

What those plans are remains to be seen . . .

 

[Quu]

If it was available in the UK I'd sign up.

 

[teslo]

if they can bring anything about beats music into itunes, it's a win. bono is actually right: "why does it look like a spreadsheet?"

 

[Patriot24]

My thoughts from yesterday still apply.

Apple PR can say what they want, Beats will be integrated eventually. They confirmed that it won't be shut down, but integrated is another story. Nuance.

 

[longofest]

Yesterday they were killing it. Today they are going to revamp it. Gotta love it.

 

[ValSalva]

Will we get another free U2 album?

 

[gadgetguy03]

Yesterday they were killing it. Today they are going to revamp it. Gotta love it.

Yesterday there were assumptions they were killing it. That was proved untrue by a public statement. Now there are assumptions they are revamping it.

 

[johncocktosen]

thinking out loud that it would be good to rebrand it "Beats Music by apple". Not Apple Beats or anything stupid like that, Apple is not "cool" enough to pull that off yet.

 

[Aluminum213]

This is what I've been waiting for, spotify and it's pathetic iPad app has been begging me to find a new service

 

[Patriot24]

Will we get another free U2 album?

People are joking about this, but it is a very real possibility.

"There are rumors that U2 has made an album in the last 5 years. That is untrue. We have made several, we just haven't released them..." - Bono

 

[gugy]

Scuttlebutt

Learning something new everyday.

 

[Orlandoech]

If it was available in the UK I'd sign up.

Only for the trial period, then you'd delete the app. #JustSaying #lol

 

[brewno]

Apple Beatles vs Apple Beats

 

[3282868]

Apple's "beats" acquisition, today's "Hockey Puck" mouse

 

[CaTOAGU]

I'd settle for iTunes Radio in the U.K. at the moment.

 

[mrgraff]

"news and scuttlebutt you care about"

 

[jfischer]

Not scuttlebutt again! Ruining everything!

You're thinking of Scuzzlebutt.

Scuzzlebutt is a basket-weaving monster who lives on top of a mountain in South Park. He has a piece of celery as an arm and Patrick Duffy as a leg.

 

[MacGeek1987]

If it was available in the UK I'd sign up.

Only for the trial period, then you'd delete the app. #JustSaying #lol

Or you could actually enjoy the service and subscribe. I've been a subscriber from day one

 

[stridemat]

I'd settle for iTunes Radio in the U.K. at the moment.

My bet is has been canned for whatever plans Apple have in store for Beats. No point having to negotiate terms twice!

 

[iPhil]

Some people will love the "revamp" while other people will hate the revamp...

 

[PatriotInvasion]

Anyone else notice that the Apple Watch OS home screen looks strikingly similar to the Beats Music setup layout?