Beats Co-Founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine Expected to Take on Senior Roles at Apple Following Acquisition

[Zerilos]

If you are saying that this Iovine character will be able to deliver other digital content to Apple in some way, then sure that may make the deal more appealable. Do we know that yet? To be honest, never even heard of the guy before a few days ago. We're pretty much saying though aren't we that we are in good shape so long as Iovine was the brains of the brand, and if it was Dre strictly the deal wouldn't be as appealing? I have no idea how this is going to play out or what the plans are for this company if the deal goes down.

purchasing Beats Music gives Apple control of a company that already has the music licences signed and ready to stream on multiple platforms. This puts Apple on Android and Windows Phone overnight. Huge win and practically free if you include the sizable income being brought in by the headphones business.
Cook is a moron if he doesn't pull the trigger.

 

[fermat-au]

One one brand of Android phones, HTC, was associated with Beats and Dr Dre.
... soon, 100% of iOS phones will be associated with Beats and Dr Dre.

 

[subsonix]

One one brand of Android phones, HTC, was associated with Beats and Dr Dre.
... soon, 100% of iOS phones will be associated with Beats and Dr Dre.

The bate is too big, you scare the fish away.

 

[Zerilos]

So the only safe bet is to agree with the rumor no questions asked even though the information is at best incomplete and at worst false.

To be honest, it doesn't matter what any of us believe regarding this rumor. Cook won't be calling either of us for our opinions.

 

[subsonix]

To be honest, it doesn't matter what any of us believe regarding this rumor. Cook won't be calling either of us for our opinions.

It's good that you are honest, but I sort of figured that out myself.

 

[Reds622]

Iovine was a close confidant, colleage and friend of none other Steven Paul Jobs, founder of Apple Computer. Maybe you have heard of him. Iovine was key in helping Steve pen a lot of the initial content deals for Apple.

But of course he is associated with that "black" rapper Dr. Dre, so of course we can't take him seriously.

That was the point of my post, I think you missed it. I don't know anything about this guy. Obviously you do. Guess I'll just take your word for it. I am sure I am not in the minority, however, on how many people knew of Mr. Iovine either before two days ago.

 

[bungiefan89]

If this does all go ahead - I presume (and am hoping) that Apple is buying the company purely for it's subscription service (and in turn licensing rights) along with other assets in terms of R&D and personnel. And NOT the brand, believe it or not.

However if Apple does pull a HTC and decides to slap the Beats logo on everything, which for the record again I can't see happening, as Apple already is the biggest brand in digital music through iPod and iTunes. But if they do, and that's a big but, then I can guarantee you that I'll never buy another Apple product again.

Couldn't agree more. My loyalty to Apple is based in a childhood-established comfort with their desktop OS and my respect for them as a premium company. Slapping the beats logo on their hardware would KILL the latter of those two reasons for sticking with them.

But I want to think they WOULDN'T do something ass-faced like slap a beats logo on the new Macbook Pros or whatever... because if this news story has taught us anything, it's that Apple is a bigger and more powerful brand than Beats ever will be or ever could have been. And if Apple really were all about pandering to the more stupid members of the millennial generation (of which I am a member, for better or for worse) they would have just bought the flat-brim hat industry.

Ugh... just so much frustration with this whole thing. Glad to see so many people are opposed to this stupidity, at least!

 

[Zerilos]

Maybe cause that's the products they sell!?!?

And that is the relevant information here. Do you associate the iPhone with Apple ? Guess what, think beats and people think headphones.

It is speculation that Apple did it for the other reasons discussed here,fine, though it's not fact at this point in time. Though read the news everywhere and people first reaction will be , why on earth did apple pay so much for a company that produces very average headphones and is all about marketing

For me, if Apple were serious about music hardware, beats is the worst choice. If they want to get into the music industry via beats and thier contacts.....lazy lazy way to do it, but hey they got so much money, and I guess unlike Jobs, cook just cannot negotiate with the music industry, so this is probably a viable option for apple.

Though I hate the phrase used on here, but jobs would have never associated apple with beats. While jobs viewed apple products like the Leica of the
photography world, beats is near the opposite scale to this.....

Again, this deal is not about the headphones. It's about Acquiring Beats Music. The headphones a merely an extremely profitable side note in all of this. Also, I doubt you have any idea what Jobs would or would not have done.

 

[Agathon]

The amount of covert racism in this thread is amazing. Why don't some of you just admit that you don't want Apple associated with Beats because black people like Beats?

This is a good buy for numerous reasons.

My guess is that Beats headphones will still be sold under the Beats brand, and a series of more neutral sounding cans will be developed for those who don't want the bass heavy sound of beats. Not sure if Beats branded headphones will be bundled with iPods, but who knows.

There is a massive opportunity in the premium headphone market. The people who would have bought hi fi in the past (like I did) have moved to digital music. There is money to be made selling gear to those people, and most of them have different musical tastes than Dr Dre. Whatever the quality of the gear, Beats is the biggest brand in premium headphones - they made the market.

And Apple gets a release ready streaming service, which looks pretty sharp.

 

[Serelus]

Can someone explain why apple would purchase beats?

Did you even read the article, it's pointed out several times how this could benefit Apple. Why is everyone pretending to be a business expert, knowing what the right and wrong choices are for apple.

 

[Zerilos]

The amount of covert racism in this thread is amazing. Why don't some of you just admit that you don't want Apple associated with Beats because black people like Beats?

I suspect this accounts for a good deal of the "outrage" we're seeing here. Then again, I remember the "horror" people on MR felt when the rumors of a gold 5s came out, so maybe it's not racism and just pretension. Commenters on MR have a long history of grossly overreacting to minor issues.

 

[subsonix]

The amount of covert racism in this thread is amazing. Why don't some of you just admit that you don't want Apple associated with Beats because black people like Beats?

At least it would be easier to disagree.

Whatever the quality of the gear, Beats is the biggest brand in premium headphones - they made the market.

And that market is "headphones as a fashion accessory", they hardly made the premium headphones market.

 

[Zerilos]

It's good that you are honest, but I sort of figured that out myself.

Well, you were worried about taking the safest route in all of this.

 

[Agathon]

Again, this deal is not about the headphones. It's about Acquiring Beats Music. The headphones a merely an extremely profitable side note in all of this. Also, I doubt you have any idea what Jobs would or would not have done.

I don't know. People are paying a lot of money for the headphones. I have to admit that I spend much more time listening to digital music than to CDs on my separates system (although I can't really listen to most classical stuff on headphones). I have plenty of hip hop music, but I don't want cans that are only good for hip hop.

I paid thousands of dollars for my separates. A few hundred bucks for premium headphones is nothing. I can see Beats introducing new models for people who have tastes that venture outside hip-hop and dance.

Enough people have fast broadband now that an audiophile streaming service isn't that far away as well. There's good stuff to be done for people who love music.

 

[subsonix]

Well, you were worried about taking the safest route in all of this.

It was a sarcastic reply to roland.g, the safest route is to basically agree with the rumor.

 

[Arndroid]

If this does all go ahead - I presume (and am hoping) that Apple is buying the company purely for it's subscription service (and in turn licensing rights) along with other assets in terms of R&D and personnel. And NOT the brand, believe it or not.

However if Apple does pull a HTC and decides to slap the Beats logo on everything, which for the record again I can't see happening, as Apple already is the biggest brand in digital music through iPod and iTunes. But if they do, and that's a big but, then I can guarantee you that I'll never buy another Apple product again.

The brand is where 90% of the value is.

It is good to see tech interests and business knowledge don't have much Venn diagram crossover. Multiple tech sites I have read are filled with dumbfounded comments from people confused about very basic business concepts and raging from the rafters.

----------

I would add that macrumors is reporting on stories from the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal

 

[RebornProphet]

The amount of covert racism in this thread is amazing. Why don't some of you just admit that you don't want Apple associated with Beats because black people like Beats?

This is a good buy for numerous reasons.

My guess is that Beats headphones will still be sold under the Beats brand, and a series of more neutral sounding cans will be developed for those who don't want the bass heavy sound of beats. Not sure if Beats branded headphones will be bundled with iPods, but who knows.

There is a massive opportunity in the premium headphone market. The people who would have bought hi fi in the past (like I did) have moved to digital music. There is money to be made selling gear to those people, and most of them have different musical tastes than Dr Dre. Whatever the quality of the gear, Beats is the biggest brand in premium headphones - they made the market.

And Apple gets a release ready streaming service, which looks pretty sharp.

"Covert Racism"?

I'm a Beats customer and I'm white. The way the racism card is thrown around at the very slightest perceived insinuation is embarrassing.

I can see why Iovine is an asset, his contacts in the industry, etc. Dre however is a certain demographic, and by that I mean Rap/Hip-Hop NOT just black. I enjoy some Rap/Hip-Hop artists but there is no denying that the genre is viewed as racist, homophobic, sexist, by some due to some more extreme lyrics.

Dre worked with Eminem on the Eminem Show which has some "questionable" lyrics (again I'm not among the offended, it's a great album) but Dre could be seen as a link to that type of music by many others who don't listen to his genre.

 

[Zerilos]

The fact I've not mentioned Iovine should tell you that I know who he is and acknowledge his role in the music industry.

It's handing Dre a senior position that I don't understand. He doesn't come across as a guy who can keep his trap shut and could be a disruptive influence.

And to those who think Apple could use Beats Audio to kill Spotify?

NEVER going to happen. Apple are way too late to that party.

You did actually mention Iovine.

I understand that it is your opinion that Spotify is unassailable and everyone else should just give up...I'm certain Spotify hopes the rest of the world takes your advice.

 

[Agathon]

And that market is "headphones as a fashion accessory", they hardly made the premium headphones market.

They are headphones designed for the sort of people who like listening to "urban" music. I don't like Beats, but there are people who like that sound. What Beats have done isn't new. If you look back at Reggae fans from 30-35 years ago, many would spend a lot of money to get what sounded to me like an odd bass sound, but which they liked. It's not hi fi per in the traditional sense, but it was trying to get a particular sound, and people would pay a lot of money for it.

Sure Beats are to some extent a fashion item, but so are iPhones.

It's not that much different from most hi fi snobbery. There are an awful lot of people with very expensive stereos who don't listen to the sort of music those systems are designed to reproduce, which is actually pretty funny when you think about it.

----------

"Covert Racism"?

I'm a Beats customer and I'm white. The way the racism card is thrown around at the very slightest perceived insinuation is embarrassing.

Look at some of the earlier posts in the thread. I saw the word "Ghetto" used pejoratively.

Dre however is a certain demographic, and by that I mean Rap/Hip-Hop NOT just black. I enjoy some Rap/Hip-Hop artists but there is no denying that the genre is viewed as racist, homophobic, sexist, by some due to some more extreme lyrics.

When I was a kid, the Sex Pistols were public enemy number one. John Lydon is now a national treasure in the UK. Things change. Dre is an extremely successful businessman. I guess it just sticks in some people's craw that a "gangsta rapper" can be a billionaire.

When Johnny Cash sings about shooting people, no-one bats an eyelid, but if Ice Cube sings about it, all hell breaks loose.

 

[RebornProphet]

You did actually mention Iovine.

I understand that it is your opinion that Spotify is unassailable and everyone else should just give up...I'm certain Spotify hopes the rest of the world takes your advice.

Your passive aggressive tone and woeful attempts at sarcasm aren't getting you anywhere.

Try to communicate like an adult.

----------

They are headphones designed for the sort of people who like listening to "urban" music. I don't like Beats, but there are people who like that sound. What Beats have done isn't new. If you look back at Reggae fans from 30-35 years ago, many would spend a lot of money to get what sounded to me like an odd bass sound, but which they liked. It's not hi fi per in the traditional sense, but it was trying to get a particular sound, and people would pay a lot of money for it.

Sure Beats are to some extent a fashion item, but so are iPhones.

It's not that much different from most hi fi snobbery. There are an awful lot of people with very expensive stereos who don't listen to the sort of music those systems are designed to reproduce, which is actually pretty funny when you think about it.

----------



Look at some of the earlier posts in the thread. I saw the word "Ghetto" used pejoratively.



When I was a kid, the Sex Pistols were public enemy number one. John Lydon is now a national treasure in the UK. Things change. Dre is an extremely successful businessman. I guess it just sticks in some people's craw that a "gangsta rapper" can be a billionaire.

When Johnny Cash sings about shooting people, no-one bats an eyelid, but if Ice Cube sings about it, all hell breaks loose.

All fair points. And I hadn't noticed "ghetto" being used, so my bad on that count.

 

[subsonix]

They are headphones designed for the sort of people who like listening to "urban" music. I don't like Beats, but there are people who like that sound. What Beats have done isn't new. If you look back at Reggae fans from 30-35 years ago, many would spend a lot of money to get what sounded to me like an odd bass sound, but which they liked. It's not hi fi per in the traditional sense, but it was trying to get a particular sound, and people would pay a lot of money for it.

Sure Beats are to some extent a fashion item, but so are iPhones.

It's not that much different from most hi fi snobbery. There are an awful lot of people with very expensive stereos who don't listen to the sort of music those systems are designed to reproduce, which is actually pretty funny when you think about it.

While I agree that is the target demographic, what they did was to market to that group. What did people listen to before there were Beats headphones around? There were a premium headphones market even before Beats, but not with the same marketing strategy and the same demographic bought other headphones, but I don't think that market was even remotely as big. And the headphones as a "fashion accessory" has been around for a good while as well, as De La Soul said: "everybody wants to be a DJ" what Beats did IMO was to see that and capitalize on it.

 

[roland.g]

It was a sarcastic reply to roland.g, the safest route is to basically agree with the rumor.

You can take a picture of yourself. But you will still never see you.

Have you ever heard anyone say that they didn't return from their out of body experience. No, of course not.

 

[RebornProphet]

On a sort of off topic note, I listened to Michael Jackson's Xscape last night, "Mastered For iTunes deluxe edition", through my Beats and it sounded phenomenal.

I will admit there is a lot of snobbery from perceived audiophiles regarding Beats.

My Beats in ear 'phones are great, far better than the EarPods that's for sure!

And I wonder if the Beats packaging will be refined under Apple ... the size of the box my in ears came in was ridiculous lol.

 

[Zerilos]

Your passive aggressive tone and woeful attempts at sarcasm aren't getting you anywhere.

Try to communicate like an adult.

----------



All fair points. And I hadn't noticed "ghetto" being used, so my bad on that count.

Seriously it's not getting me anywhere!? Oh noes. Hey I just wanted to point out that you weren't being honest when you said you hadn't mentioned Iovine previously, and your declaration that Apple should accept defeat to Spotify is probably not the strategy they should adopt if they wish to turn around their lagging music sales. But hey...you're the adult here so you must know what you're talking about.

 

[subsonix]

You can take a picture of yourself. But you will still never see you.

I'll just use a mirror. Did you have a point?