Apple Reverses Course, Will Pay Artists During Apple Music Free Trial

[k1121j]

it's good to see they have the apples to change course ;-). even though i think they artists should offer something seeing how they stand to benefit too but thats just me

 

[johngordon]

Apple apologist perhaps?

You forgot to say which part you disagreed with.

 

[definitive]

Don't say, that Apple don't respond to public opinion.

It was an influential person in the music indurstry. They still don't listen to general public opinion though...

 

[62tele]

It's kinda hard for me to feel sorry for Taylor Swift who still charges 200+ per head for her concerts, does she share that with Apple? Artist/ Record label greed is what created the first wave of unbridled piracy and it will, IMHO, be the reason for the second. If these artists think that they are safe from being pirated, they are sadly mistaken.

Swift actually said that she could handle the missed revenue opportunity but indies and new artists could not. She was standing up for the little guy.

 

[Cronowerx]

Reverses course? What if they did that from the beginning?

In September when everyone will be asking for free iCloud storage increase Apple will say... "Sorry, instead of spending billions of dollars on increasing the online storage we gave it to Taylor Swift and her friends"

I CANNOT BELIVE APPLE WAS BITCH-SLAPPED BY TAYLOR SWIFT !!!
STEVE WOULD NEVER ALLOW THIS!

now if you excuse me, I'll be torrenting "1989"

 

[darcyf]

This is awesome. I wonder if we can all pressure Apple into paying the phone bills we receive from using our iPhones next? They can totally afford it, so...

 

[johngordon]

Is Spotify's app pre-installed on hundreds of millions of iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches? The fact that Apple Music is so accessible with minimal/no effort does make a difference here.

Well, if the argument is that Apple Music will likely prove more popular than Spotify, then it must follow that the long term benefit for artists will also be better.

 

[darcyf]

How has anyone not mentioned this yet? Spotify gives away 30 and 60 day trial's all the time, and still pays the same. Or, we're at least assuming they do.

And Spotify is still losing money.

 

[leroypants]

I can't even fathom why Apple would have thought it was fair to steal content for three months.

i wonder if Apple would let me use a full version of a Final Cut for three months without paying a single penny?

 

[Luis Mazza]

Partnership should be about sharing revenues and... free trials.
This is ridiculous... But it seems ignorance wins once again.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

I can't even fathom why Apple would have thought it was fair to steal content for three months.

i wonder if Apple would let me use a full version of a Final Cut for three months without paying a single penny?

How exactly were they stealing?
The artists signed up for Apple music. If an artist had a problem with the 3 month deal then don't sign up for it.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

I'd assume they know what they are doing, in regards to streaming, though i suspect the presentation has left a bad taste in our mouths, it was that bad, I think the service could actually be very good.

No doubt about it - the service is probably really good. But everything around the service was a fiasco. This is probably the worst launch of an Apple products since mobileme.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

But Im a 36 year old dude...

Lack of taste has no age limit.

 

[CFreymarc]

Swift owns and manages her own label with her parents.

That is the PR. The reality is she has a team of industry vets way beyond her parents experience and reach working in her space.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Then obviously you can't like Taylor Swift.

Seriously though, I hate when people stereotype music audiences. I really enjoy Yoko Shimomura's work (she was the composer for Kingdom Hearts among others). When I tell people that so many assume I love anime or something. Sadly, I doubt that kind of music will be offered on Music.

There are Final Fantasy soundtracks that have been recently added to the UK store, so have hope.

 

[numlock]

is one supposed to think apple was so clueless it didnt foresee this backlash or are they so timid that they change their mind if they face some backlash?

 

[Arran]

...I would think the BOD would need to have input before a deal of this magnitude is changed.

Yep. And a few 'phone calls would do it. They had all day!

I'd imagine the numbers for several viable business models were thrashed out and reviewed months ago. Yesterday's discussions would be about swapping from plan "A" that costs Apple "$X" to plan "D" that costs Apple "$Y", but avoids bad publicity.

 

[darcyf]

Swift actually said that she could handle the missed revenue opportunity but indies and new artists could not. She was standing up for the little guy.

I'm sorry but no. When Taylor Swift charges $100+ dollars for a concert ticket, that's four to eight indy artists who's concert tickets could have been paid for but she swallowed up those funds...

Which is a ridiculous argument to make, but you can make an argument for anything if all you're trying to do is "stand up for the little guy".

This is all a business. Swift conducts hers in the way that best benefits her and her alone.

Apple was actually trying to do something that benefited every artist, big or small, in a way they felt was still fair to them and their business needs -- not having the pay the bill for every artist while they generate a paying customer base for them. That was what felt fair to them so they went ahead with that because that's how business works.

But because of the PR nightmare people like Swift stirred up over it, business sense is being thrown out the window and the squeaky wheel is getting its grease. It's BS.

 

[Arran]

is one supposed to think apple was so clueless it didnt foresee this backlash or are they so timid that they change their mind if they face some backlash?

Neither. They took a gamble. Which is what businesses do.

 

[numlock]

Neither. They took a gamble. Which is what businesses do.

no business the size of apple (all of them obviously should) make very calculated decision. there was no chance this would not lead to intense criticism and namely from taylor swift.

im dumfounded that you think companies just take gambles.

 

[hagar]

funny, first all the Apple fans say that Apple was right in not compensating artists, and now they say Apple is right in changing course. And then you wonder why we're called Apple sheep??

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Well,that was fast...

It was. It was speedy, quick, zippy, rapid.

There's another good word beginning with 'sw' on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't think what it is. Perhaps it'll come to me in due course.

Swe...swa...no, lost it.

 

[peterdevries]

funny, first all the Apple fans say that Apple was right in not compensating artists, and now they say Apple is right in changing course. And then you wonder why we're called Apple sheep??

So I guess you checked that these were all the same people saying these things? Impressive!

Edit: can you provide some examples of people that reversed their opinion? Genuinely interested. I guess I know the answer though.

 

[jcmeyer5]

I'm sure the indie artists will appreciate it, but the Taylor Swifts, and Metallicas of the music world, let's not pretend it's for them.

Which makes Taylor speaking out even more impressive.

 

[Popeye206]

I can't even fathom why Apple would have thought it was fair to steal content for three months.

i wonder if Apple would let me use a full version of a Final Cut for three months without paying a single penny?

They weren't stealing it. I would imagine the record labels agreed to this too, however, the artists had different views and at least Apple listened and changed their plans to accommodate the artist and not just the labels.

BTW... Apple gives lots of software away and they do offer a free trial for 30 days... so your point seems pointless.