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

[50548]

iTunes MS better start focusing on video or they'll start loosing marketshare. Microsoft announced that XBOX Live now offers full-length movie downloads in full HD. iTunes has YET to manage to do this. Why? What's even stranger to me is that Microsoft closed this deal with Disney...a big partner.
It's been shown that people doen't care enough about HD optical media to risk loosing their gamble in a format war, and HD downloaded internet content is the perfect compromise for consumers. Others are doing it, now Microsoft is doing it....when will iTunes get it in gear?

Putting aside crappy music genres, I have to say that it's kinda worrying to see Apple fording too many rivers at the same time...as I said above, the late 90s showed Apple that a company can't spread itself THAT thin without a clear focus.

I am sure SJ is not anymore the mercurial boy, but nobody is perfect. They hit several homeruns, but now it IS time to sit down and check how things are going.

This means:

1 - Updating Macs as much as the market so requests, without creating a thousand different lines or models; this implies a limited set of updates such as REALLY NEW iMacs and only ONE smaller MBP;

2 - Updating iPods to keep their wide lead in the music player segment; in other words, widescreen iPods à la iPhone and bigger capacity overall;

3 - Sticking to ONE iPhone model for now and ensuring great inroads in the mobile market;

4 - Improving the content quality of the iTMS...many households have access to broadband now, and even my girlfriend (still with an anti-Mac/Apple bias) checks the QuickTime page for movie trailers now; meaning that too many stores have almost THE SAME offers in terms of music content...INVITE more indie/international musicians, PUT HD movies on the store, improve overall quality (bitrate and resolution for movies/shows).

This way Apple will secure its foothold on a big terrain for a while, before prepping new battlefields such as artist sign-ups and the like...I really hope they keep their minds focused on SUSTAINABLE business.

 

[SeaFox]

This was an interesting post.

The original user was making historical references and the replier seemed to be trying to change the comparisons to arcane or otherwise incorrect items. I would say the replier was woefully "oblivious" to the topics the original poster was referring to, but it feels like they were actually trying to muddy the conversation rather than address the actual comparison.

Popularity does not always equal quality or means is the right thing to do.

Well, it usually does mean there is some level of quality or reasonable explanation as to why it is so popular. Nothing is popular for NO reason whatsoever.

It's popular in the face of there being no alternative, folks choose the best music the radio has to offer. "The Radio has to offer" is the operative phrase here. If a good band can't get on the radio (due to lack of a major label contract and payola) people most often will not even know they exist, and therefore will choose another band of possible lesser talent instead.

MicroSoft products

As opposed to Commodore products? Me defending Microsoft... this is a rare occasion.

No, Windows versus Mac OS. I could also bring up the internet browsing public's "choice" of IE once Netscape was gone and what's been happening now that Firefox is available.

VHS

Should we have stuck with the home film projector? And since when is VHS popular anymore anyway?

No, VHS verses Betamax. VHS won due to heavier marketing and Beta not allowing porn. But Betamax had a higher quality picture (in the beginning at least).

cigarettes......

Well yeah, this isn't the right thing to do. But Cigarettes do have qualities that people like (flavor, relaxation, addiction appeasement, etc...)

I though that was just a bad example.

Also, using nails instead of screws to build houses can be an example.

 

[darklyt]

It's popular in the face of there being no alternative, folks choose the best music the radio has to offer. "The Radio has to offer" is the operative phrase here. If a good band can't get on the radio (due to lack of a major label contract and payola) people most often will not even know they exist, and therefore will choose another band of possible lesser talent instead.

Jay-Z started his own label and didn't get distributed by a major recording label in the beginning, he made himself. "Reasonable Doubt" was distributed by Priority Records, at least according to the copy that I own.

 

[brepublican]

I fully expect to catch sight of at least a couple pigs flying as I go out for my usual walk in the park next door.

I mean, honestly. wtf? I dont even know what to say... except that this is utter nonsense! Not only are Beyoné and Jay-Z both god-awful musicians, it just doesnt even begin to make any sense.

Ugh!

 

[Project]

Hardware
iPhone hardware
Server hardware
iPod hardware
Mac hardware
Displays
Apple TV
Peripherals

Operating systems
Mac OS / Apple TV
iPhone OS
iPod OS (soon to become iPhone OS)

Software
Mac
Windows
Mobile

Ops / Web
iTunes
.Mac
Apple.com
Developer Connection

Support
Retail
Marketing
Sales

As you can see, there is a lot of shared resource in this product matrix. Apple arent really stretching themselves too thin. Its all about good management and good recruitment. From a product perspective Apple still has a relatively narrow focus.

 

[applekid]

I think a line from Jay-Z applies well to where this thread has been going:

A wise man told me don't argue with fools...

 

[kalisphoenix]

This is idiotic. Two of the highest-selling musicians are apparently going to start a music label with Apple, and people do nothing but bitch.

I dislike commercial hip-hop too, but what else would Apple start a label with? Sigur Ros? Brian Eno? Plastikman? The Brian Jonestown Massacre? Sorry, but they don't sell all that many albums these days.

If Apple can change the music label business model, where instead of:

Jay-Z and Beyoncé enabling the existence of lesser-selling (but more subjectively pleasant) artists

we can get:

Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Plastikman, the Dandy Warhols, etc all making money for the label as well as themselves

I would be an extremely happy person.

Digital distribution has the potential to do this. Wal-Mart and physical methods don't have this potential. Right now, if you listen to the RIAA, a tiny percentage of artists are effectively taxed to permit the existence of the otherwise-doomed 90+%. It's unnecessary, senseless, and profoundly symptomatic of a chronically ill business model.

If Jay-Z and Beyoncé can help make it possible for less-profitable artists to receive exposure, distribution, and profit, then I'll be first in line to shake their hands and kiss their cheeks. Ordinarily, I don't care.

Turning this into a thread about the merits of rap is utterly brain-damaged.

 

[50548]

I think a line from Jay-Z applies well to where this thread has been going:

So such a line means he is a genius whose ideas can't ever be countered? Go figure...

 

[netdoc66]

It's funny being on these forums in 2007 to think back to 1977 when I was living in the heartland of of racism in the south. In 30 years it seems things are worst online then they ever where growing up. Some of these posters here have so much pent up hatred of Black culture they resort to the negative whenever something involves Black culture. This is on any message board not just this one. STAY ANGRY. Every year we grow bigger and more powerful and you can't stop it. Think Different.

 

[netdoc66]

Oh yeah I think this is a great idea for Apple. This has world changing implications on how music will be sold and distributed for the next century. When the first iPod came out and the industry was up in arms about the evils of mp3 music i was thinking "it would be so lovely if Apple became the label and stole the majors thunder." I eagerly wait to see if this is true. These are exciting times to live in.

 

[Peace]

It's funny being on these forums in 2007 to think back to 1977 when I was living in the heartland of of racism in the south. In 30 years it seems things are worst online then they ever where growing up. Some of these posters here have so much pent up hatred of Black culture they resort to the negative whenever something involves Black culture. This is on any message board not just this one. STAY ANGRY. Every year we grow bigger and more powerful and you can't stop it. Think Different.

And this has what to do with Apple starting a label

 

[tom5304]

It's funny being on these forums in 2007 to think back to 1977 when I was living in the heartland of of racism in the south.

Please avoid the use of narrow-minded stereotypes like the ones you used against southerners. It makes you look bigoted.

 

[Porchland]

Look, friend. The fact of the matter is that computers are NO LONGER s "core mission" as you call it. Sorry, but it's true. Didn't the fact that they changed their name from Apple Computer to just Apple (i.e. intentionally dropping the "computer" from their name) sort of clue you in?

You missed the sarcasm. The iPod is unquestionably driving the ship.

 

[Peace]

I don't like The Dandy Warhols.Does this make me anti-white?
I don't like Beyonce' ( or however it's spelled.sorry) Does this make me bigoted?
I don't like Rap,R&B,,New Wave and a few other genres'.What politically correct label does it make me?

I DO like melodic,well written songs and music that is pleasant to my personal ears.


According to some here I hate everybody except The Beatles and Grateful Dead.


Apple can do this right.Get some bands that want a change and voila!! A good label is born.

 

[netdoc66]

Please avoid the use of narrow-minded stereotypes like the ones you used against southerners. It makes you look bigoted.

I'm from the south. I know you people well.

 

[netdoc66]

And this has what to do with Apple starting a label

Well, that's called making an observation. If you would have looked I followed up by saying "Oh yeah blah blah blah..." because I forgot to include it in the prior post. Calm down I'm not calling you a racist.

 

[Peace]

I forgot one..

This really makes me a bigot..

I like Prince.


Oh and I forgot..I was born in Louisiana.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

Not only are Beyoné and Jay-Z both god-awful musicians, it just doesnt even begin to make any sense.

Ugh!

Here's where you should stop talking. Just because Jay-Z's music may not appeal to you doesn't mean he's a god-awful musician. Maybe you don't like rap. Maybe his frequent cussing puts you off to the real things he has to say, but if you actually listened to some of his songs, his lyrical and artistic genius would not be questioned. Point blank, Jay-Z is incredible at what he does.

 

[netdoc66]

I forgot one..

This really makes me a bigot..

I like Prince.

Fantastic! Prince is a smart dude. By giving away his albums at his concerts he has increased his live performance money ten-fold I believe. However, the label dosen't like it. There are some brilliant "African-American" artist out there.

 

[Peace]

Prince is very talented.If Apple Records ( hehe ) could get him that would help because he has a wide demographic audience.

 

[nimbuscloud]

Fantastic! Prince is a smart dude. By giving away his albums at his concerts he has increased his live performance money ten-fold I believe. However, the label dosen't like it. There are some brilliant "African-American" artist out there.

Oh, and the rest are stupid? Just kidding.

Let's PLEASE not make this a black and white thing.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

It shouldn't be made into a black or white thing. But so far, I think a lot of people say they hate Jay-Z and that he's an untalented musician just because he happens to be a rapper. People haven't listened to what he has to say and the skill he has. It's a shame. People passing up a whole genre and arguable the genre's best artist ever just because of the view of rappers as untalented people who just scream obscenities with no real lyrics. Yes, a lot of that is true, but you guys are overlooking one of music's best kept secrets for the amount of talent he has...

 

[Olmecmystic]

What Does Steve Think???

Long time reader; 1st-time poster.

For those who wonder what Jobs himself thinks about the possibility of Apple being or becoming a record label, consider that he already spoke on the subject to Rolling Stone magazine in the 12/8/03 issue. The following is from the very end of the interview:

RS: Do you expect that Apple will start signing musicians - and, in effect, become a record label?

SJ: Well, it would be very easy for us to sign up a musician. It would be very hard for us to sign up a young musician who was successful. Because that's what the record companies do.

We think there are a lot of structural changes that are gonna happen in the record industry, though. We've talked to a large number of artists who don't like their record company, and I was curious about that. The general reason they don't like the record company is because they think they've been really successful, but they've only earned a little bit of money. They feel they've been ripped off. They feel that.

But then again, the music companies aren't making a lot of money right now...so where's the money going? Is it inefficiency? Is somebody going to Argentina with suitcases full of one hundred dollar bills? What's going on?

After talking to a lot of people, this is my conclusion: a young artist gets signed, and he or she gets a big advance - a million dollars, or more. And the theory is that the record company will earn back that advance when the artist is successful.

Except that even though they're really good at picking, only one or two out of the ten that they pick is successful. And so most of the artists never earn back that advance - so the record companies are out that money. Well, who pays for the ones that are the losers?

The winners pay. The winners pay for the losers, and the winners are not seeing rewards commensurate with their success. And they get upset. So what's the remedy?

The remedy is to stop paying advances. The remedy is to go to a gross-revenues deal and tell an artist, "We'll pay you twenty cents on every dollar we get, but we're not gonna pay you an advance. The accounting will be simple: We're gonna pay you not on profits - we're gonna pay you off revenues. It's very simple: the more successful you are, the more you'll earn. But if you're not successful, you will not earn a dime. We'll go ahead and risk some marketing money on you. But if you're not successful, you'll make no money. If you are, you'll make a lot more money." That's the way out. That's the way the rest of the world works.

RS: So you see the recording industry moving in that direction?

SJ: No. I said I think that's the remedy. Whether the patient will swallow the medicine is another question.

From that, it's easy to see that Steve had not only thought about it, but actually investigated it as of 3 1/2 years ago, pre-the Apple vs. Apple settlement.

My take is don't be surprised if it's true. Per his comments above, Steve would only do this with established artists to begin with...maybe Prince next? Then you'd be talking about two people at the record companies who are in a position to do something about it.

Peace.
Olmecmystic

 

[gnasher729]

ARE YOU ALL NUTS

have we forgotten the trouble apple got into over selling music over iTunes...the Apple recording label in england (ala beatles) has made sure apple computer can never be a label

Ahem I think you missed the settlement in the court case between then Apple Computer Inc and Apple Corps. For an undisclosed sum Apple Computer Inc. received _all_ the Apple related trademarks from Apple Corps, with Apple Corps having the right to use the name for their business. There is nothing whatsoever that could stop Apple from doing whatever they like in the music business.

 

[aaarrrgggh]

I agree with what steve_hill is saying it is soooo true! with that being said; when is Apple Inc's new campus schedule to open? And maybe I've fallen a sleep - but what did Apple ever do with that use data/call center they bought a year or more ago (the old building being built for WorldComm)??? makes you wonder a bit -- plus they have a nice amount of rainy day money sitting over in the Orchard

BUT this still seems like a big bite to me.

My understanding (from one of their neighbors) is that the Newark site is used for iTunes currently. Don't think it is at full capacity, but it isn't idle by any means. I understood that they bought that facility to replace their old Napa site that Kaiser bought a couple years ago. (It had been idle for a few years already though.)

But, back on topic, if Apple is smart they will try to make moves to encourage independent labels, not be a label unto themselves. They can do a lot on promotion online, but I can't picture them being a big event planner...