Apple Music Licensing Deals Include Permissions for Additional Beats Radio Stations

[MacRumors]

Apple's licensing terms with record labels give the company permission to create up to five additional radio stations like Beats 1, reports The Verge, citing sources with knowledge of Apple's deals. Without needing to negotiate new terms, Apple could potentially launch additional Beats stations around the world, adding DJs in other countries or launching stations with a specific focus.

As part of the deal it struck with the major labels for Apple Music Radio, Apple has licenses for up to five additional stations like Beats 1, without having to renegotiate with the labels. That means Apple could launch a Beats 2 station headquartered in Australia or Asia, allowing it to provide live radio around the clock (Beats 1 is only live 12 hours a day).

It seems Apple is indeed considering and preparing for a potential expansion Beats 1 with new Beats radio stations, as the company has registered domains like beats2.com.cn, beats2.hk, and beats4.com.ru in various countries around the world. Beats 1 is broadcast worldwide, but in the future, Apple may wish to offer stations that cater to different languages and music tastes around the world.

Labels may have given Apple permission to create additional radio stations due to the fact that Apple is allegedly paying more per-play than Pandora for music that is streamed on Beats 1.

The Verge's sources also commented on the status of Apple Music, stating that labels are "pretty pleased" with Apple Music's performance thus far and that the service has gained a "substantial" number of users since it launched on June 30. Of course, all Apple Music subscribers right now have free access to the service until October, so it's still impossible to gauge how Apple Music measures up to competing services like Spotify.

As of this month, Apple has initiated a major advertising campaign for Apple Music, with billboards and signage popping up in cities around the world like San Francisco, Tokyo, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, which should bump up subscriber numbers.

Apple has also maintained momentum with its Beats 1 radio station through a series of exclusive song releases and interviews with artists. Most recently, Beats 1 scored an exclusive with MTV, with the network using the platform to announce the 2015 Video Music Award nominees.

Article Link: Apple Music Licensing Deals Include Permissions for Additional Beats Radio Stations

 

[TMRJIJ]

I was wondering why it was called "Beats 1"

 

[thekeyring]

Why name it Beats 1 when there's no Beats 2?

When I was younger (around 13) I phoned Virgin Media and asked them why they named a channel Virgin 1 when there was no Virgin 2. Thank goodness I met my girlfriend and she made me somewhat less nerdy.

 

[Mike MA]

Hopefully it'll include one station not playing that much hip-hop.

 

[ghostface147]

This is what beats 1 needs, more stations. Most of the stuff played isn't my kind of music. Classic rock, metal, alternative....that's more my type.

 

[PJWilkin]

Hmm ,,, Beats 1 to 5 ... BBC Radio 1 .. 6 ... I wonder if we'll get Beats 1xtra soon
Beats only needs 5 channels as BBC Radio 5 is live stuff like sports and news

I just Hope Beats 2 -> 5 are each different Genres including classical, rock etc
I however suspect some will be Language specific, e.g. Beats 2 China, Beats 3 Russia, not sure how big the music catalogues will be for those channels. Probably best if they stick to Genres

 

[PJWilkin]

I was wondering why it was called "Beats 1"

Probably because Zane was last at BBC Radio 1

 

[Diaz72]

I get the feeling we are going to see this turn into a SiriusXM type platform where they will start having stations for particular genres. I would love to see them have a talk format on there which could feature either live shows or podcasts from the community. There are so many great ones out there that need to be heard!

 

[bpeeps]

When I was younger (around 13) I phoned Virgin Media and asked them why they named a channel Virgin 1 when there was no Virgin 2. Thank goodness I met my girlfriend and she made me somewhat less nerdy.

There might be something to debate here.

But anyway, as I'm sure most know, a numerical name doesn't necessarily need to equate to a sequence.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

How about merging iTunes Radio and Internet Radio for starters.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

I get the feeling we are going to see this turn into a SiriusXM type platform where they will start having stations for particular genres. I would love to see them have a talk format on there which could feature either live shows or podcasts from the community. There are so many great ones out there that need to be heard!

They have this in iTunes. Its called Internet Radio. Should really be merged with iTunes Radio.

 

[Rogifan]

Good that they're thinking about it. Fix iTunes Match/iCloud Music Library first.

 

[jlseattle]

I'm worried that Apple bordering on becoming maker of many things but master of none. I hope that doesn't happen. They have a great computer market and phone market. But at some point they can't keep all the plates spinning in the sky and move it all forward. Or maybe they can..

 

[TechZeke]

This is what beats 1 needs, more stations. Most of the stuff played isn't my kind of music. Classic rock, metal, alternative....that's more my type.

I saw this happening from day one. There's no way they are going to play something like Matt and Kim after they've been playing Nicki Minaj and Drake all day.

 

[Thunderhawks]

That entire thing Beats Me!
Maybe it's my age, but there are so many offerings in music , where, when and how to listen that I don't see what makes Apple different or worthwhile.
On top of that Apple can't do services.
As an Apple user since 1984, they lost me in that area since iDisk, dot mac and .me and I cringed when Steve was trying to sell ping. Can't do iCloud either.
SirusXM has plenty to offer and I agree with a previous poster that Beats will eventually turn into a SiriusXM line up. Maybe they'll buy SirusXM?

 

[2457282]

That entire thing Beats Me!
Maybe it's my age, but there are so many offerings in music , where, when and how to listen that I don't see what makes Apple different or worthwhile.
On top of that Apple can't do services.
As an Apple user since 1984, they lost me in that area since iDisk, dot mac and .me and I cringed when Steve was trying to sell ping. Can't do iCloud either.
SirusXM has plenty to offer and I agree with a previous poster that Beats will eventually turn into a SiriusXM line up. Maybe they'll buy SirusXM?

My first was an Apple II back in the late 70's. So it is my age too.

I am still the owning type versus the renting type. I like something, I buy it, and I don't ever have to pay again - music, software, whatever.

As for the future, it is unfortunate that Apple wasn't able to change the industry. The reality is that it still has so many layers between the artist and the customer that the artist does not see much of the revenue generated by the music they created. What is needed is something like the app store where an artist can post their songs and sell directly with only apple to collect their required 30%. No Agents. No Labels. No Promoters. Eventually, they will need someone to book gigs and other stuff, but it would allow for new artist a way to get out there and get noticed.

Right now, Apple gets the money and then pays the labels, and money disappears from that point onwards.

 

[QquegChristian]

The biggest thing I took away from this article is that Beats 1 is only live 12 hours a day?! They launch ONE station and can't even hire overnight DJs? They made a pretty big deal about it being the first 24 hour internet station. I don't get it.

 

[HiVolt]

Hopefully it'll include one station not playing that much hip-hop.

Amen to that. I tried to listen to Beats 1 on a number of occasions, and there's definitely too much hip hop/gangsta rap type of "music" that I detest.

I'm honestly surprised that Apple, which is fairly conservative in its public image, is choosing to play that much stuff like that.

 

[ZacNicholson]

Hopefully they hire howard stern since his deal at sirius is up this year.

 

[Thunderhawks]

My first was an Apple II back in the late 70's. So it is my age too.

I am still the owning type versus the renting type. I like something, I buy it, and I don't ever have to pay again - music, software, whatever.

As for the future, it is unfortunate that Apple wasn't able to change the industry. The reality is that it still has so many layers between the artist and the customer that the artist does not see much of the revenue generated by the music they created. What is needed is something like the app store where an artist can post their songs and sell directly with only apple to collect their required 30%. No Agents. No Labels. No Promoters. Eventually, they will need someone to book gigs and other stuff, but it would allow for new artist a way to get out there and get noticed.

Right now, Apple gets the money and then pays the labels, and money disappears from that point onwards.

After converting my albums (about 600 plus, actually not the biggest collection) by buying the CD versions of them and paying again for that and having moved the boxes I keep them in soooooo many times, I am now trying to get rid of everything one has to carry
Probably another age thing.
Kids grown up and out of the house I can now do with just some clothes, internet, iPhone, iPad and my MBP and a large size TV.
Food and a car, done.
My music on the iPhone or Spotify (free subscription) and Pandora. I'll live with the ads.
SiriusXM for Howard (except he is almost never there any more and probably won't renew)

Many people realize very late that accumulating stuff is not the way to go as one gets older.
Getting rid of stuff is actually harder. LOL.

 

[Karma*Police]

This is what beats 1 needs, more stations. Most of the stuff played isn't my kind of music. Classic rock, metal, alternative....that's more my type.

I've heard my fair share of those genres. Beats1 is meant to be an eclectic mix to expose listeners to all kinds of music, and in that regard, I think it has done a pretty good job.

That said, if your musical taste is limited to a few genres (nothing wrong with that, btw), I think you're better off creating and listening to your own radio stations because it looks like Beats 2-5 will be localized versions of Beats1.

 

[Alenore]

My first was an Apple II back in the late 70's. So it is my age too.

I am still the owning type versus the renting type. I like something, I buy it, and I don't ever have to pay again - music, software, whatever.

As for the future, it is unfortunate that Apple wasn't able to change the industry. The reality is that it still has so many layers between the artist and the customer that the artist does not see much of the revenue generated by the music they created. What is needed is something like the app store where an artist can post their songs and sell directly with only apple to collect their required 30%. No Agents. No Labels. No Promoters. Eventually, they will need someone to book gigs and other stuff, but it would allow for new artist a way to get out there and get noticed.

Right now, Apple gets the money and then pays the labels, and money disappears from that point onwards.

They already can.
https://www.apple.com/itunes/working-itunes/sell-content/music-faq.html

 

[doug in albq]

You can tell by the number of replies in this thread that people are quite excited about this!

 

[danielagos]

What is needed is something like the app store where an artist can post their songs and sell directly with only apple to collect their required 30%. No Agents. No Labels. No Promoters. Eventually, they will need someone to book gigs and other stuff, but it would allow for new artist a way to get out there and get noticed.

Actually, that was one of the things Apple advertised about Apple Music. You can put your songs on the service by creating an independent artist profile and you could receive money ur work. I don't know how is that going right now, tough.

 

[Karma*Police]

That entire thing Beats Me!
Maybe it's my age, but there are so many offerings in music , where, when and how to listen that I don't see what makes Apple different or worthwhile.
On top of that Apple can't do services.
As an Apple user since 1984, they lost me in that area since iDisk, dot mac and .me and I cringed when Steve was trying to sell ping. Can't do iCloud either.
SirusXM has plenty to offer and I agree with a previous poster that Beats will eventually turn into a SiriusXM line up. Maybe they'll buy SirusXM?

There's nothing that really differentiates Apple Music from the other services from a features standpoint. For me, it's about convenience. You essentially have free streaming, on-demand streaming, your own collection and the iTunes Store all in one app and tightly integrated into the overall iOS/Mac experience.