Apple and Universal Statement

[BaghdadBob]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Music Service

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
I really have no clue exactly what you have against Eminem. Is it that he was made by a record company? Because he wasn't. Is it because he's a white usurper? Then why the collaborations with black artists? Is it because he's white? That's a personal problem. Is it the mere fact that he's popular? There have been many talented artists who were popular. Is it that he doesn't follow certain conventions of the genre? That's how music evolves. Or, is it because he just isn't that good? I don't listen to much hip-hop, so I wouldn't be able to objectively compare, but that would greatly be a matter of personal taste anyway.

Well, I don't think he was saying he necessarily "has something against" Eminem, he's just trying to point out a couple of artists he thinks need to be heard because they are talented too, if not more talented (I'm assuming).

Isn't this great? This is the true beauty of such a service. This isn't even a music forum and in the space of a couple of posts you have someone sharing some lesser-known artists. This is what excites me about this most.

This is the real importance of widespread internet music to the masses. The proliferation of undergraound music to a global stage -- with the possibilty of those artists actually making money. I love it.

 

[GeneR]

I was thinking the same thing.

Originally posted by slavey
Well, it seems that maybe it's a good time to pick up a few shares of Apple.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[type_r503]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Music Service

Originally posted by Phil Of Mac
Yes, they had to change their strategies. But the important difference is that movies had to adapt because of legitimate competition, not theft. Competing with theft is difficult. Who wants to buy a chair from a Baghdad furniture store when he can just grab what he wants with the help of his AK-47?

OK, this starting to get a little old, if you know it or not you are reenforcing what I a saying. It is extremely hard to compete with FREE. Apple will be charging $1 for something that can be had for FREE with little or no consequences to the offender. Regardless if it is stolen or not it is FREE. Sharing music or any file is a little different from looting a store in Bagdad.

The real talent of hip hop has moved underground. How can you claim Eminem is talented if you admit you don't listen to hip-hop? What I am telling you is that the music industry is capitalizing on this by promoting a dyed hair Jerry Springer. Someone who will say anything for money. The industry knows who buys records, white suburbanites, so who are they gonna market to them? Elvis, the Beatles and now Eminem.

Saying this, I will repeat, get MOS DEF and listen to "Rock 'n Roll" he will explain the whole thing to you. Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" is another example. The so called devil is stealling the soul. It happened with Jazz, Rock n Roll, and is happening with Hip Hop.

Just to spread the gospel, Jurrasic 5, Talib Kwali, Common, Planet Asia, Dialated Peoples (which has a white member), De La Soul are some of the leaders of the New School and real hip hop.

 

[BaghdadBob]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Music Service

Originally posted by type_r503
What I am telling you is that the music industry is capitalizing on this by promoting a dyed hair Jerry Springer. Someone who will say anything for money. The industry knows who buys records, white suburbanites, so who are they gonna market to them? Elvis, the Beatles and now Eminem.

Okay, I was wrong, Phil, he does have something against Eminem...Get 'im!

type_R, I've listened to my share of hip hop, and I too think Eminem is talented. On the other hand, I agree with you that if he didn't have strong backing he wouldn't be the success that he has been, just like many superbly talented and unappreciated artists. From what I understand Dr. Dre chose to work with him on Chronic 2000 just from hearing demos of him and claims he didn't even know he was white, but Dr. Dre too has become a symbol of corporate hip hop. I don't know if it's a fair accusation to say that he will "say anything for money" or if it is more fair to say that someone who will say anything is going to be highly successful in the hip hop business...so which is it, the chicken or the egg? Is he successful because he will say anything or will he say anything so he will be successful?

But I digress. It's really not important enough to me to argue, I just wanted to bring that into the conversation. I'm fairly split on Eminem myself, as I feel he is a really talented rapper, but I don't know if that speaks to any worth to his music. The singer from the Scorpions was pretty good, but does that make them worth listening to? Depends on what you want from your music. But I digress, again.

R, you should be happy, beacuse I believe artists such as rappers will benefit the most from this service, because independent recording of hip hop takes a hell of a lot less than rock, and since (assumably) more artists will have the opportunity to distribute their work than ever before, it will become a worthwhile process to make albums on a small budget.

 

[joker2]

On topic? impossible

http://www.macedition.com/nmr/nmr_20030416.php

Maybe Apple is only interested in buying the portion of Universal that worked on AAC? It would fit in with not having made an offer "for the company"

 

[Phil Of Mac]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Music Service

Originally posted by type_r503
OK, this starting to get a little old, if you know it or not you are reenforcing what I a saying. It is extremely hard to compete with FREE. Apple will be charging $1 for something that can be had for FREE with little or no consequences to the offender. Regardless if it is stolen or not it is FREE. Sharing music or any file is a little different from looting a store in Bagdad.

The industry knows who buys records, white suburbanites, so who are they gonna market to them? Elvis, the Beatles and now Eminem.

Actually, getting music from P2P networks *is* stealing. It's to a lesser extent than openly looting stores, but I consider it hyperbole.

I *am* reinforcing what you're saying about it being hard to compete with. In fact, you're reinforcing what I'm saying about it being hard to compete with. However, I will qualify my remarks by saying that looking through an Apple Music Service catalog would be more convienient than searching on LimeWire, not being able to connect to half the hosts, getting cut off in a download attempt, and not finding less common music.

Thanks for explaining what you meant about hip-hop. I might check out those artists as soon as the Apple Music Service starts (And to answer your question, I rated Eminem on the standard of whether or not I enjoy listening to him )

Although, in all fairness, I will have to say that the Beatles were one of the most talented and innovative music groups there has been. Not to mention that they started well after white artists began to perform rock on a large scale. Elvis is a slighly more fair comparison, however.

 

[The Reaper]

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL - News) has never made any offer to invest in or acquire a major music company

...and Apple probably never will.

i think that steve jobs will divert some funds from apple to 'restructure' Universal records, naming himself CEO. that is EXACTLY what he did when he purchased Pixar in the 80's. Steve Jobs isn't just the CEO of apple: he is apple. everything that apple does centres around HIS visions. so, if steve is CEO of universal, then universal is (effectively) a part of apple (at least it will serve whatever part of Apple's strategy that he wants). the advantage of this is that it is far cheaper than actually buying the company.

in any case, i think this is more about Steve. from what i have seen, he has a very big ego (as he should), and has some significant desire for power/control over the things he likes. so he has his own computer company because he likes computers. he has his own movie company because he likes movies. he (used to) have 'his own' clothing company (GAP) because he likes clothes. and now, he wants a music company. of course, this latest conquest will also play into Apple's strategic goals, but i think it is ultimately about Steve.

on a side note, i do think that Pixar will eventually play a greater part in apple if apple eventually decides to include movies in its strategy (the download service, not digital hub). Steve Jobs is getting s***ty with Disney because they screwed them over with the Toy story movies. currently, Pixar makes the movies and disney distributes/promotes them. this may soon change.

All of Steve Jobs current (and future) companies will, i think, have to be considered together when he shows us his master plan for them. i have a feeling that he has had a master plan for some time, probably since he was first ousted from apple in 1984, and the pieces are only now beginning to fall into place. apple is a large and important part of this, but it isn't the entire picture.