Apple Music Scores Exclusive Playlist Deal With Ministry of Sound Label

[threesixty360]

Unless I misunderstand the article, all Apple has the exclusive rights to is this human curated playlist. The tracks within the playlist are still available on Spotify, and I'm sure somebody will write a bot that looks at the playlist on Apple Music and produces it on Spotify each week, so you could just follow that new copy-bot playlist instead, if you cared.

I'm guessing that for this to really work there must be some exclusivity in terms of songs on that list. Ministry will own a lot of the licenses for these songs so maybe they will stagger releases between Spotify and Apple. That way, if you really want the complete list of new music as curated by Ministry you will have to be on Apple.

Also, doesn't this tie in with law suit that Ministry were pushing where they were upset that people were copying their compilations track lists as Spotify playlists? I don't even think they won that one.

 

[bumbo]

I'm guessing that for this to really work there must be some exclusivity in terms of songs on that list. Ministry will own a lot of the licenses for these songs so maybe they will stagger releases between Spotify and Apple. That way, if you really want the complete list of new music as curated by Ministry you will have to be on Apple.

Also, doesn't this tie in with law suit that Ministry were pushing where they were upset that people were copying their compilations track lists as Spotify playlists? I don't even think they won that one.

Now MoS is part of Sony, I'm sure Spotify would kick up a stink if that happened - their deal with Sony would over-ride an MoS exclusivity on tracks surely?

Yeah there was one a while back and you're correct, MoS didn't win it.

 

[threesixty360]

Now MoS is part of Sony, I'm sure Spotify would kick up a stink if that happened - their deal with Sony would over-ride an MoS exclusivity on tracks surely?

The problem with playlists is that they can be copied. Its just a list. Whats to stop someone setting up a Ministry X playlist which is just a bot that copies the Apple exclusive playlist every time its updated? Can you even copyright a playlist name? What are Apple getting out of it apart from just basic brand recognition? (i.e. Ministry is a big dance brand and its with us).

Also, controlling playlists is more about being able to make whatever tracks you want to be popular. But halving the reach of those tracks by only being on 1 streaming service is a bit nuts if thats what you want to do.

Unless Apple are throwing RIDICULOUS amounts of money at MOS for this. (which I bet they are).
I suppose its one of those things where it doesn't really make sense until you see the size of the cheque...