Apple's iAd Staff Preparing to Handle iRadio Advertising Duties

[MacRumors]

Apple's iAd engineers and sales personnel are preparing to handle new advertising duties to support Apple's new streaming music service nicknamed iRadio, Bloomberg reports. Apple hopes to launch the major new advertising-supported initiative next week at WWDC.

In an extensive report, citing 'people familiar with the changes', Bloomberg reports that the company has been negotiating with major advertising companies to line up exclusive launch advertisers, similar to when it launched iAd in 2010.

Apple intends to make its new radio service free to users and supported by advertising, similar to how Pandora's mobile app works, people familiar with the plans said. The new service will be different from Apple's iTunes in that the songs played won't be limited to what a user has purchased, and listeners won't own the songs they stream for free.

The shift in iAd's focus to buttress the music service is being made by Eddy Cue, the senior vice president who oversees iTunes, App Store and iAd, as well as Todd Teresi, whom Apple hired last year from Adobe Systems Inc. to lead the company's advertising business.

When iAd launched, it was envisioned mainly as a way to help developers earn money on the iOS platform. With the expansion to audio ads for iRadio, iAd is going into new territory for the company. As it stands, iAd revenue remains a drop in the bucket for the company.

Bloomberg says that Apple has enticed advertisers to iAd by mentioning the data it holds for targeting users, including purchased movies, music, apps, books and more.

The site also says the iRadio service will launch later this year alongside the public release of iOS 7, much the same way that iTunes Match was announced at WWDC but was released months later.

Article Link: Apple's iAd Staff Preparing to Handle iRadio Advertising Duties

 

[theheadguy]

Out of curiosity, why is everyone excited about iRadio? I guess it better be vastly improved being that it's years behind other HQ music streaming options.

iTunes Match? I was glad to cancel it. Luckily, the Apple rep said there wasn't a good reception and offered a refund.

 

[Borinthas]

Hmm no thanks, had enough with iTunes Match experience. There are very good companies whose job is to only focus on it and doing it very well.

 

[bbeagle]

Out of curiosity, why is everyone excited about iRadio? I guess it better be vastly improved being that it's years behind other HQ music streaming options.

We have no clue what it is yet. We are hoping that it is better than existing solutions. If it is, I'll use iRadio, if not, I'll continue to use pandora, spotify, etc.

I have an open mind, do you?

 

[Peace]

If you could stream music based on your iTunes library that would be cool.

But to get random "genre'" music like Pandora is a no go.

 

[AppleMark]

Apple intends to make its new radio service free to users and supported by advertising

But that is why I do not listen to conventional commercial radio...

 

[Krazy Bill]

Make sure those ads have plenty of "nag" popups after I buy something please. Can never get enough of those.

 

[komodrone]

bloomberg? aren't they a bad source of information now?

 

[OllyW]

If you could stream music based on your iTunes library that would be cool.

But to get random "genre'" music like Pandora is a no go.

Plus it will have adverts.

But that is why I do not listen to conventional commercial radio...

Same here, BBC 5 Live and 6 Music are the only radio stations I listen to.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Here's hoping this means iAds will be able to serve up audio ads in other apps - I might actually return to making free, ad supported apps, as my understanding is automatically playing audio ads generate a lot more revenue than banner ads like iAds (plus I imagine a lot more people are willing to pay to remove them.)

 

[ValSalva]

But that is why I do not listen to conventional commercial radio...

Exactly, ads are a killer. What's the advantage here? I suppose it would be easier to buy a random song one heard on iRadio from iTunes.

Of course these are just rumors and its not announced yet but it feels like Apple is late to the game and is playing catch up.

 

[Nalmond92]

If it has ads I don't think it will last long! They should make it ad free for match subscribers. Then match might be worth my £21.99

 

[Fresh1]

Unless it's something that can compete with Spotify or Google's new ridiculously unnecessary long app title, then no thank you, Apple.

 

[Feltzem]

I really don't see how this is better than something like Google or Microsoft's screaming services.

Play Music All Access:

• Stream any song in the Google Play music library
• Match your existing library of up to 20,000 songs for free
• Also creates radio playlists

Whereas with the features we've heard about iRadio, plus the existing features of iTunes:

• Only creates radio playlists with music it thinks you might like
• Matches your exisiting library for $25 a year

It's interesting that Google's able to get much better deals now, whereas Apple is having difficulty trying to get deals for a service that's already inferior to what Google is offering.

 

[Wayfarer]

So much for doubling down on secrecy

 

[iGrip]

to line up exclusive launch advertisers, similar to when it launched iAd in 2010.

Let's hope that they do NOT do it simoilar to when it launched iAd in 2010.

That was a disaster.

 

[Glideslope]

We have no clue what it is yet. We are hoping that it is better than existing solutions. If it is, I'll use iRadio, if not, I'll continue to use pandora, spotify, etc.

I have an open mind, do you?

Don't you just love it. There are many Open Minds in here. It's just sometimes, well, it's so open it falls out.

 

[SockRolid]

With the expansion to audio ads for iRadio, iAd is going into new territory for the company.[/url]

iRadio today, iTV (aka "the Apple television solution") tomorrow.
The first time I saw an iAd, I thought "That would be perfect for interactive TV."
I doubt that iAd's full potential will be realized until Apple rolls out their television solution.

As it stands, iAd revenue remains a drop in the bucket for the company.

Again, iAd on iRadio + apps today, iAd on the Apple television solution tomorrow.

 

[iMikeT]

I hope they don't bring back the "traditional" radio model with this where we got 5 songs then 5 minutes of commercials.

 

[JoEw]

I really don't see how this is better than something like Google or Microsoft's screaming services.

Play Music All Access:

• Stream any song in the Google Play music library
• Match your existing library of up to 20,000 songs for free
• Also creates radio playlists

Whereas with the features we've heard about iRadio, plus the existing features of iTunes:

• Only creates radio playlists with music it thinks you might like
• Matches your exisiting library for $25 a year

It's interesting that Google's able to get much better deals now, whereas Apple is having difficulty trying to get deals for a service that's already inferior to what Google is offering.

I believe Apples angle is that because most people already have huge libraries of music inside iTunes that the radio service is merly an extension of that to help users discover more songs they would like to buy for it.
A lot of people (including myself) like actually owning the music they listen to.
Movies and TV Shows, not so much, because I only watch them once or twice a year so streaming is perfect. Music could be multiple times in a given week, while I enjoy the idea of being able to stream any song, the service could be raised in price, could be shut down or could loose music from certain labels sometime in the future.

I do enjoy spotify when I wanna listen to song fully a few times, however when I decide I like enough I spend a dollar or so just so I own it.

But then again maybe I am old fashion.

 

[LordQ]

Two words: TuneIn Radio.

 

[samcraig]

I'd like to get excited by this. But as presented so far (and obviously the details are yet to be known) - there's nothing new or of value here.

Personally - I'd rather shell out 7.99 a month for Google's service and have access to my entire library + their library anywhere and everywhere COMMERCIAL FREE.

If not Google's service - then Spotify.

But I really find audio ads such as Pandora's model (and Spotify free) a nuisance when I just want to listen to music.

If Apple isn't going to offer a paid option with no ads - they might get me to try it. Otherwise... zzzzz

 

[TC400]

There should be no ads.

 

[captain kaos]

"Bloomberg says that Apple has enticed advertisers to iAd by mentioning the data it holds for targeting users, including purchased movies, music, apps, books and more."

Selling your info to "target users" was always something i considered google did, and one reason i liked Apple. "At least they weren't selling your data to people".

Well, here we are.

 

[samcraig]

"Bloomberg says that Apple has enticed advertisers to iAd by mentioning the data it holds for targeting users, including purchased movies, music, apps, books and more."

Selling your info to "target users" was always something i considered google did, and one reason i liked Apple. "At least they weren't selling your data to people".

Well, here we are.

iAds was always like that. But iAds was pretty much a complete failure. This is very symbiotic though. A way to revive iAds and generate potentially serious income AND provide a new service.

But again - see my thoughts above...