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Apple to Start Record Label with Jay-Z and Beyonce?

the ceos of the big four are in a sauna laughing very hard right now

  • vertical monoply
  • crappy music
  • its about COMPUTERS!
  • would stretch apple way to thin
  • would dissuade other labels from embracing itunes.
  • I'm still waiting for the difference in business model.
  • artist's saccharine-of-rap brand does not match apples bs minimalist elitist zen brand.
  • yet another non-innovative move from apple
  • I personally hate this multimedia empire image. it's so little of what computers can do for people.
I could go on.. but well... who cares really.

the only good thing about this is that apple is speeding up the demise of the large record labels. they are now actually in competition again.( a tiny bit)
 
I realize that Apple Inc and Apple Corps settled, but given that settlement would Apple Inc actually be allowed to become/start a record label themselves?
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No way. Apple Corps would fight this tooth and nail, unless Apple Inc's brand had a completely different name. That wouldn't be very Jobs-like at all.
 
Jay-Z - Switcher

Maybe we will see Jay-Z do a "Switcher" ad...

Afterall, he has done ads in the past for HP...

After watching the ad again, he is using multi-touch... (New Jay-Z multi-touch Powerbook G5 next Tuesday?)
 
A lot of haterz around here. I'm not particularly fond of certain types of music, but you don't hear me dismissing its appeal. I don't see how anyone can have anything against Beyonce and R & B. Jay-Z and the world of hard rap, maybe... but to each their own. If Apple made a big deal of making peace with Eminem (enough to use his music in a commercial), I don't see why Jay-Z is much different (unless its not necessarily the style of music that actually bothers you). :rolleyes:

Just like Puff Daddy, Timbaland, or even Dr. Dre, these guys are all business and don't necessarily exist as ONLY artists... but have significant production and networking connections as well. A friend of mine has long said Apple needs to start representing artists, and not simply putting their music out there. Interestingly, outlets like Amazon and Netflix have even gotten involved in Independant movie production. I think Netflix uses the "Red Envelope Entertainment" name. Were this to turn out to be true, I'd see people like Beyonce & Jay-Z coming in alongside people like keynote artist John Legend along with his cousin Kanye West.

It's certainly a HUGE conflict of interest, but nothing says they can't do it. Unless they've somewhere agreed they wouldn't.

~ CB
 
Of course, if it is true, my guess is this would be a new, revamped record biz, one based on digital distribution, not boring old physical products.

Am I the only who who thinks "old physical product" is FAR more interesting than digital downloads? Quality, packaging, no limitations. Is this person whacked?
 
nefarious said:
It is not important who the artists are, what is important is a Label run by Apple Inc. The reason this is good for the artists is several fold.

It would enable Apple to pay the Artists in a more honest and straightfoward way based on sales and results. Imagine a model where Artists make 80% of all sales, and there success is based on sales of their own efforts.

The current crop of labels get an incentive to keep selling on iTunes as they do not with to lose there artists to Apple directly by seeing how a new age label could operate, would open them up to creating new deals for there artists that are far more fair then the current Label Practices.

Apple gets a new set of music and talent that they can use in future promotions, motion pictures, commercials, etc... creating a better bottom line to Apple while increasing exposure to the artists themselves.

I see no downside at all for Apple doing this in a way only Apple can do, This would be better yet if Apple refuses any ties to the RIAA or Sound Exchange. It would leech the major labels from there current power play and lessen DRM on some A Tier talents (I hate Jay Z and Beyonce but you can't argue with there success rates)
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Well said. If this turns out to be true, IMHO this would be Apple's wisest move to date. Period.
 
HA. I've had the strong feeling in the past 6 months that Apple was going to turn itself into a huge media content provider and put the whole pc computer business on the back burner if not jettison it all in the long run.
 
Could Be Meat, Could Be Cake

This could either go really good or really bad, either way I think Apple can afford a loss (they've had winner-winner-winner for a long time now).

What I'd like to see is Apple partner up with leaders from each of the genres and along with enterprising new music and new bands, they can perhaps start to bring over artists from other labels - artists who may be dissatisfied with their label experience.

While it's true that the current model for distribution of recorded material is flawed and open to criticism, the model for earnings from tours has never been stronger and as we all know, that's where the real money is made.
 
steve_hill4 said:
Just don't diversify too much and become as unfocused as other companies like Microsoft. I'm already not entirely convinced Leopard is as big a leap forward as it should/could have been, please don't fall further behind the opposition in other areas. You could start by updating those iMacs next week.
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yup yup. That's the downside of this rumor. Talking about whether you like jay z and beyonce's music is totally missing the point. The point is that apple has already seemingly abandoned its desktop lines (all 10+ months old) and delayed its OS for a phone (which I love, don't get me wrong). More diversification is a bad thing, IMO. Focus on your core business.
 
arn said:
disregarding whether you believe its true or not... would it really surprise people?

What better way to promote iTunes (and therefore iPod, iPhone) then digital only distribution of popular artists.
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Not only that, but Apple could theoretically charge less for Apple label tracks on itunes.

They have to watch out though, they have a monopoly on online downloads and if they leverage that against the recording industry, they could be in line for an anti-trust violation.

They'd have to advertise their artists on the itunes pages less than they do ones from other companies, otherwise they'll get their butts sued off.
 
Don't really care whether Apple starts its own record label. If Apple Corps starts something, Apple Inc. can probably just buy them out and put them into the new label. But I feel Apple needs to get back to its roots: computers. Remember those? They have keyboards and monitors and can do cool things.
 
You guys that are COMPLAINING about this are CRAZY!!!

I'm serious, stop being such "Mac zealots".

If Apple did nothing but make Macs, they wouldn't be the 116 BILLION dollar company that they are right now.

When Apple made the iPod, the same people were scared that "Apple would lose focus on computers"...yet they've still been pushing things. Same thing with ANYTHING that ventures slighting outside of the realm of "Mac".

I guess Google had better quit EVERYTHING that they are doing and just STICK WITH SEARCH. Sony had better stop EVERYTHING that they are doing and just think about a new Walkman and Bravias. Lord knows that the PS1 and PS2 were just TOTAL flops that did NOTHING for the video game industry selling over 100 million units EACH.

Apple is NOT Microsoft. Microsoft "makes" new things to protect Windows and Office, not to do anything well or really innovative.

I hope that Apple gets in the music business. Look at what they did with Pixar! This is great news. For all those that doesn't like it, go home and clutch your Wallstreet PowerBook and pray that they Sun doesn't rise.

Remember, the Apple of today isn't the "old Apple". Hell, the Apple of today is the darn reason why they are so successful. They make products and services and link with everything that they do. Apple IS NOT A SMALL COMPANY. Stop acting like they are a "mom and pop's" shop. They are a $116 billion dollar company that's doing things...and doing them well. They are still innovating, even if you are too blind or scared to see that.

Why would Apple quit making computers? They make a TON of money from it! And do you think that Steve Jobs would really quit making Macs?!! You guys are crazy. Like you're going to see him using a Windows machine for the rest of his life.

GO APPLE!!!

:apple:
 
I certainly hope nothing comes of this. I think it will be damaging to Apple. Not because of the crap quality of the artists involved, but because of the big picture here. Apple just entered a new market with the iPhone, it would be dangerous to enter another market so soon. Plus, I'm sure many record labels will not be very pleased over this move. Universal will most certainly pull out of the iTunes Store, and the improving relationship between Apple Inc. and Apple Records will completely tank.

Bad Apple, bad. :mad:
 
ghall said:
I certainly hope nothing comes of this. I think it will be damaging to Apple. Not because of the crap quality of the artists involved, but because of the big picture here. Apple just entered a new market with the iPhone, it would be dangerous to enter another market so soon. Plus, I'm sure many record labels will not be very pleased over this move. Universal will most certainly pull out of the iTunes Store, and the improving relationship between Apple Inc. and Apple Records will completely tank.

Bad Apple, bad. :mad:
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You guys are making me laugh.

Sony can do it...have movies, music, video games, music players, PDAs, computers, hand-held consoles, and all kinds of stuff...BUT APPLE IS SPREAD TOO THIN IF THEY DO IT? Apple is worth about twice what Sony is worth.

I think we have two problems on this thread.

1) Too many people still view Apple as the old Wallstreet PowerBook company. I guess it's the older folks here that are scared to realize that Apple is growing and evolving...and they are making others grow and evolve. Too bad that some of the older Apple fans didn't grow and evolve.

2) That the rumor mentions Jay Z and Beyonce. I'm not a huge fan of either, but for some reason, some people have already taken that as negative? WHY? Because they are black? Or because you simply don't like their music? That's a matter of opinion, but you can't deny that they are very popular and sell a lot of music. Maybe if you realize that it's not 1984, you'd be able to take these rumors a bit easier.

Don't take this wrong, but some of you are worse than raving Windows people. At least they support Microsoft when they try something new, even if they fail everytime. Apple tries new things and does a GREAT job, yet you still think it's a bad idea. Need I remind some of you when Apple was launching the iPod and SO many Apple people were mad because it "wasn't a Mac". HAHAHAHA, 6 years later, look how Apple is doing. They have money, leverage, mindshare, and more ideas coming while they help push and innovate EVERY INDUSTRY that they get into.

There's enough "wine" in Italy, don't need it in these forums.

:apple:
 
this is completely impossible

Apple can't have a music label.

Unless they buy out apple records. People have short memories.
 
ghall said:
I certainly hope nothing comes of this. I think it will be damaging to Apple. Not because of the crap quality of the artists involved, but because of the big picture here.
Bad Apple, bad. :mad:
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Such small minded people. Those of you who only like one genre and bad mouth rap or hip hop. Jeeeez, you sound like my parents...And I am 52!!! I grew up with the Beatles and they turned many on to more than just rock and roll. They played country, folk, Indian (sort of introduced World music to the masses) and much more. Avant garde art and so on. Radio rarely only played one genre. Even top 40 played rock, soul, pop, folk, blues and much more.

There was alot of great music in the 60s and 70s and also alot of crap that sort of dissappeared.

Same thing now. Some wonderful rap and crap rap. The same goes for each and every type of music. If Apple did hook up with Jay Z, that would only be a start. Look at McCartney and Starbucks. The old Record distribution system is failing but I still love the psysical format of records-CDs. I love the total artisitic package. Yeah maybe because I am 52! There is room for it all!!!
 
I'd welcome Hova with open arms to Apple, but this rumor really makes no sense besides being a stab at Universal.

I hate the ignorance on this board towards hip hop and rap. Sometimes, you Mac users are disgraceful. You like to play on the stereotypes and probably haven't even heard a complete song by any rap artist, yet you're quick to say they're "criminals." Amazing...

Get high and go listen to your trash music from Radiohead, please. Now that's glorified crap you listen to.
 
Spanky Deluxe said:
Eugh, I would hate this if it were true. Apple should be a reseller not a record label. If it *did* want to go the record label route, it should start out as a record label for new bands who want to sell their stuff on iTunes and then if they're successful, sell them in physical form. NOT get a Shakira-wannabe and Jay-Z on the team because they're 'big'.
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Shakira wannabe? lol Beyonce was around LONG before Shakira started singing in English. Shakira was busy singing in Spanish and marketed only to the latin community. Shakira crossed over because she wanted to be a Beyonce. Marketed to the masses not just one group.
 
Wow the ignorance level towards hip hop on this thread is at an all time high.
well it is to be expected with some mac users.

It sounds like if green day or some other "white band" where in the title
apple would go from being stupid and dumb move to apple is great i love them so much GREAT MOVE APPLE.

Do i see the ignorance and racism or is it just me?

Theres crap rock and theres crap rap.
period stop being double standerd and accept the truth.
 
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