Apple Adding Original Art From Iconic Artists to Thousands of Apple Music Playlists

[MacRumors]

For the last few weeks, Apple has been updating the artwork on playlists within Apple Music, and today, The Verge has shed some light on the reason why with input from Apple's global director of editorial, Rachel Newman.

Apple is using original artwork from well-known artists like the creator of the AC/DC logo for playlists in an effort to bring instant recognition to its content and to better connect with different communities.

New art for the Hip Hop Hits playlist, designed by the artist who created Migos' Culture album cover​

According to Newman, the custom art for playlists is meant to be a "visual representation of the music that you will find inside the playlist."

That rootedness in specific cultures was something that Apple wanted to emphasize when it was commissioning art. "Suddenly there is really no strong definition of a genre anymore like there used to [be], you know, in the olden days," said Newman, the editorial director. Genre is now, in her words, a melting pot.

For each genre, Apple is choosing "huge name" artists that fit well and have worked within the genre before. Stole "Moab" Stojmenov, who designed the cover for Migos' album "Culture," created the art for Apple's "Hip Hop Hits" playlist, for example.

Carlos Perez, who directed the video for hit song "Despacito," created artwork for several playlists, including "Dale Reggaetón." Perez said that with Apple's freedom, he aimed for authenticity when creating the artwork, which seems to be Apple's goal with the project.

Apple plans to redesign "many thousands" of Apple Music playlists, with new artwork rolling out over the course of the next few months.

Article Link: Apple Adding Original Art From Iconic Artists to Thousands of Apple Music Playlists

 

[Marcus PM]

Simple visual recognition, right up Apples alley.

 

[autrefois]

According to Newman, the custom art for playlists is meant to be a "visual representation of the music that you will find inside the playlist."

The artwork in the OP is my favorite genre: Scorpion Flower.

 

[orbital~debris]

A great idea!
Love this: it's definitely very 'Apple' - celebrating creativity.

 

[AngerDanger]

The artwork in the OP is my favorite genre: Scorpion Flower.

I’m more a Shovel Protractor fan myself, but to each their own.

 

[Naraxus]

A shame they don’t put this effort into their Mac line....

 

[cmaier]

I’m more a Shovel Protractor fan myself, but to each their own.

Dude, we know they’ve hired you to do some of these due to your fascinating artistic sensibility.

 

[KazKam]

These may be "creative" in a bourgeois-coffee-house sense of the word, but not really very helpful for visually identifying a genre... because nothing says "Hip Hop Hits" like a chrome scorpion and a flower? Stick a boombox on it and call it a day!

 

[bendodson]

Well this is convenient as I literally launched a free tool 2 days ago that lets you download Apple Music playlist artwork: https://bendodson.com/projects/apple-music-artwork-finder/

 

[jonnyb098]

Was wondering what was behind the sudden shift from generic art to much more iconic art for the playlists. A welcome change for sure!

 

[Analog Kid]

It's worth noting they are specifically using well known artists in this case, in contrast to the Shot on iPhone contest. They know the difference and understand the marketing impact of each. It was never a matter of trying to rip off professional photographers, it was about the message-- appeal to everyman, versus bringing in the star power.

Maybe we should start a Twirade about how Apple is trying to hold back up and coming artists with this move. They should have a contest! I'm sure there are some unknown artists who are just as good as the scorpion-flower guy!

 

[JGIGS]

Great now if I can figure out why my AP won't play over cellular that would be great! And yes cellular data access in the settings is on.

 

[allapple]

wonder if the artists are getting paid? If so, please just stop it all and just lower you prices!! This new move is un-needed and stupid! Fix Itunes!!!

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Wait, they're paying for art? The shareholders arent going to like this. Artists are supposed to work for free, and starve under bridges, and die in their twenties. Because art school is fluff, and art has no real value. ...until we can trade their works for hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars once they're dead.

 

[DEXTERITY]

I dont associate lobsters, I mean scorpians with hip hop playlist...odd

 

[jonnyb098]

wonder if the artists are getting paid? If so, please just stop it all and just lower you prices!! This new move is un-needed and stupid! Fix Itunes!!!

Everyone work for free so you can save a couple bucks right?

The fact you still use iTunes says it all. They don't fix it because its dead. Its barely used by anyone.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

Apple spending money all over the place. Example of lack of focus? What value does this add to anything? I thought they had a massive internal team of creatives all working on stuff like this?

 

[mooreaa]

Is this why my iphone costs more? Apple is a big company. I am sure they have people focused on different things, but honestly... It would be nice to hear "Apple Music" did this... but if Apple as a whole moves slow and from point to point like this, well, they are disappointing not only their fans, but they are losing market share.

I love innovation, i love good product design, but sometimes, I just need regular updates, regular intervals, in a predictable, reliable fashion. I also need them to NOT make a piece of engineering marvel that no one can afford. Why a phone costs 2x as much as a mac mini used to... why an imac can be 5 figures.... why their macpro line got ignored...

I love my apple stuff, but Samsung... while they are building phones, they are also releasing TVs, laptops, massive boats, tanks, and jet engines. So... cool art Apple.

 

[dan110]

Keep trying Apple. Just keep trying.

You're doing everything except what actually NEEDS to be done like fixing iTunes.

 

[Tech198]

What the hell is this thing .. Looks like some 8-leged unique design

Where is the head?

 

[zulkiflim]

Will this new artwork make me enjoy the music more ?

Haiz...Apple pls .... MUSIC not artwork / album cover !

Apple pls go lossless

 

[verymac]

Another textbook-example why Apple lacks so much these days.

It is so useless and worsening the user experience aka "Is this an album or a playlist?" - really something I want to cope with, when in gym, sweating and quickly looking for a right tune (?) ... eh nope.

I have had Apple music for a while, and this has been one of many many issues of this service.

Spotify is so much better.

 

[YaBe]

This is like Emoji 2.0


It's like Emoji, but for cover art!

 

[TrentS]

Big whoop........

 

[joltball]

I dont associate lobsters, I mean scorpians with hip hop playlist...odd

This.
That artwork looks really lame. As some one suggested, Boom box would have been a better choice.