Jimmy Iovine Hints at Possible Apple Music-Like Apple TV Curation, Admits 'Connect' as Weak Point

[MacRumors]

Following an interview yesterday with Evening Standard, Wired today posted an interview with Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine, in which the Beats co-founder admits the company's need to work to make Connect a better platform for artists and fans alike, and even hints at a possible curation aspect for Apple TV, similar to that of the company's new streaming music service.

"We all know one thing, we all have different television delivery systems, don't we all wish that the delivery systems were better, as far as curation and service?" he says.

"They're all technically good. And Netflix is starting to cross the code because they're starting to make some original content. It is really good, but still I mean none of us make movies here right, so we're all punters, or what do you call them in the music business, fans right? We want to watch movies. Sit down with your girlfriend or a bunch of friends and try to find a movie online. That box helps you none -- it doesn't help. You're on your own. And eventually that will catch them unless somebody digs in and really helps the customer. And entertainment needs that, it needs to live and breathe."

Iovine admits, however, that he wouldn't be the one spearheading such an innovation for the TV side of things, doubly noting that if such a curation aspect for Apple TV did appear, it probably won't be for some time. Speaking candidly with Wired, he said, "I'll tell you man, right now, this [music] is so daunting that I can't even think about anything else."

Before WWDC this year, a brand-new A8-Based Apple TV Box was expected to premiere alongside a long-rumored Apple streaming content service. New rumors point towards a September reveal, alongside the new iPhones, for the set-top box, with no word yet regarding what stages of development the streaming service is in. No specific reference to in-depth curation has been made in the past regarding the next generation of Apple TV, however.

Elsewhere in the interview, Iovine tackles the subject of Apple Music's Connect service, which allows artists to upload videos, songs, and short blog posts to keep fans up-to-date on the behind-the-scenes aspect of their work. As of yet, not much noise has been made coming out of the social network aspect of Apple Music, and Iovine knows the company has to work hard to make Connect what he and his team intended it to be in the first place.

"We have to prove [Connect's value to artists], and we will slowly prove that. That will be the piece of the service that comes along last, or later, and we have some real plans," he tells WIRED. "We're building it out a lot more, it needs a lot of technical work as well. But we believe we'll get there and it'll be a great place for artists to communicate and with a lot of independence and freedom to do what they want to do. But we're still building it."

Wired's full interview with Iovine is worth a read, with more in-depth looks behind the team that curates Apple Music for its users, his history in making and producing records for artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre, and even his opinions on Apple's old earbuds as a fuel for co-founding Beats.

Article Link: Jimmy Iovine Hints at Possible Apple Music-Like Apple TV Curation, Admits 'Connect' as Weak Point

 

[happydude]

Ping...i mean "connect" isn't a hit. huh. shocking.

 

[ButteryScrollin]

a 'For You' section in Apple's TV Streaming service? nice.

Ping...i mean "connect" isn't a hit. huh. shocking.

Connect and Ping are really nothing a like, such a trite observation to compare the two.

 

[k1121j]

i just hope curtaion doesn't stifle discovery

 

[pcmacgamer]

Ping...i mean "connect" isn't a hit. huh. shocking.

Give it time when this fails maybe Ping 3.0 will work.

 

[bushido]

the For You section is overwhelming with content just like the News app so i end up not using it at all lol

 

[topmounter]

a 'For You' section in Apple's TV Streaming service? nice.



Connect and Ping are really nothing a like, such a trite observation to compare the two.

Nonetheless, neither were or are a hit by any measure.

I don't know if Iovine is the guy to unbungle Apple's cloud-related efforts, but at least someone is acknowledging that all is no where near well.

 

[Hawk999]

I don't need any 'curation' or connect. I know exactly what I like and I never asked for help.

I want the iCloud Music problem to be solved and upload my tracks 'as is' without being 'matched'. The matching system is faulty and needs to be solved.

 

[kemal]

Give the top 200 artists their own personal Apple PR contact to manage what is going on in Connect.

 

[RoelJuun]

I disabled all those connect/radio etc. features directly when upgraded to 8.4. Just want to listen to music and have it available on all my devices (iTunes Match). I don't do adoration of artists and can explore my music perfectly by myself. And the music I like will never be on radio and is often not available in the store.

No problem of course, except for the terrible user interface and all the bugs in iTunes on OS X and Music.app on iOS. So I would like them to prioritize the basic functionality.

 

[2457282]

every time I read quotes from Jimmy, I think he should have played in Bill and Ted Adventure movie.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Urgh I don't know what's going on with all of this, Iovine and Tim Cook seem to be believing their own hype. I mean, the music app just seems to be getting worse and worse, you have to swipe around like a damned magician just to get the simple big play/pause features - it's just completely counterintuitive. I haven't used the Apple Music app myself, though from screenshots/feedback from other posters, it seems that they've made a mess of this too.

They seem to be seeing something we're not. It's a darned music app, not an oil painting. Once you're making it more difficult just to do things like adjust volume consistently, scrub through songs accurately, and swipe around to get basic features like skip/play/pause, it's form over function.

 

[solamar]

Ping...i mean "connect" isn't a hit. huh. shocking.

I actually like it, but I had to read iMore's how-to on Connect so I could understand how it works right now. Connect is actually a good start, but the interface right now needs A LOT of work to make it more consumer friendly.

The biggest issue I see is artists not updating frequently. That will make / or break / this service for many if their favorite artists don't participate.

 

[medazinol]

Gotta love the new Apple: Doppin' hints and chewing gum. I think they're onto something with the TV business and we should know more soon

 

[k1121j]

Urgh I don't know what's going on with all of this, Iovine and Tim Cook seem to be believing their own hype. I mean, the music app just seems to be getting worse and worse, you have to swipe around like a damned magician just to get the simple big play/pause features - it's just completely counterintuitive. I haven't used the Apple Music app myself, though from screenshots/feedback from other posters, it seems that they've made a mess of this too.

They seem to be seeing something we're not. It's a darned music app, not an oil painting. Once you're making it more difficult just to do things like adjust volume consistently, scrub through songs accurately, and swipe around to get basic features like skip/play/pause, it's form over function.

totally agree its almost counter productive

 

[navaira]

We have to prove [Connect's value to artists], and we will slowly prove that. That will be the piece of the service that comes along last, or later, and we have some real plans,"

Tell 'em Jimmy.

 

[patent10021]

Does anyone know how artists manage their Connect accounts? Do they simply login with an Apple ID and post stuff like they would on any other social platform? If I simply sell my music on iTunes I will have my own Connect platform too?

 

[avanpelt]

When is Apple going to get it?! Artists and fans are on multiple social networks already. No one needs another feed to update/check. Integrate with existing services!

In the end, Connect will probably die a slow death and Apple and Iovine will point fingers at each other, each blaming the other for the failure. I give Iovine another year or two, tops, at Apple. My gut says that Apple and Iovine's collaboration was merely one of convenience when Apple needed to get a foot in the door with the record labels to get Apple Music off the ground.

 

[tomasdi]

Someone tell Iovine that services are not only about curation. It is also important how the service works and how you interact with it. Both weak points in apple music.

 

[TechZeke]

When is Apple going to get it?! Artists and fans are on multiple social networks already. No one needs another feed to update/check. Integrate with existing services!

This. Artists are already post announcements, what they are doing, and photos to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

I have no need to use Connect.

 

[diipii]

Following an interview yesterday with Evening Standard, Wired today posted an interview with Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine, in which the Beats co-founder admits the company's need to work to make Connect a better platform for artists and fans alike, and even hints at a possible curation aspect for Apple TV, similar to that of the company's new streaming music service.
Iovine admits, however, that he wouldn't be the one spearheading such an innovation for the TV side of things, doubly noting that if such a curation aspect for Apple TV did appear, it probably won't be for some time. Speaking candidly with Wired, he said, "I'll tell you man, right now, this [music] is so daunting that I can't even think about anything else."

Before WWDC this year, a brand-new A8-Based Apple TV Box was expected to premiere alongside a long-rumored Apple streaming content service. New rumors point towards a September reveal, alongside the new iPhones, for the set-top box, with no word yet regarding what stages of development the streaming service is in. No specific reference to in-depth curation has been made in the past regarding the next generation of Apple TV, however.

Elsewhere in the interview, Iovine tackles the subject of Apple Music's Connect service, which allows artists to upload videos, songs, and short blog posts to keep fans up-to-date on the behind-the-scenes aspect of their work. As of yet, not much noise has been made coming out of the social network aspect of Apple Music, and Iovine knows the company has to work hard to make Connect what he and his team intended it to be in the first place.
Wired's full interview with Iovine is worth a read, with more in-depth looks behind the team that curates Apple Music for its users, his history in making and producing records for artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre, and even his opinions on Apple's old earbuds as a fuel for co-founding Beats.

Article Link: Jimmy Iovine Hints at Possible Apple Music-Like Apple TV Curation, Admits 'Connect' as Weak Point

TV has had it. The quality of programme material is dismal at best. I enjoy searching the net for all my video experiences and can pick and choose and avoid the moronic adverts. I do the same with music. Apple needs to absorb this and concentrate on selling the best computers in the world which they don't do at present.

 

[peterh988]

Actually, what happens with connect? If you follow someone, do you get a notification somewhere when they make a post?

I set up a few follows at launch, but forgot about it since. Nothing has happened to remind me.

 

[AngerDanger]

Does anyone know how artists manage their Connect accounts? Do they simply login with an Apple ID and post stuff like they would on any other social platform? If I simply sell my music on iTunes I will have my own Connect platform too?

Yes, that appears to be the case.

 

[avanpelt]

I just wish I could say "Hey Siri, play x song" and have it start to play consistently. Quite often Siri responds, "Ok, coming right up" and then I hear nothing but dead air. If I make the same request again, it usually works the second time. It's rough edges like this that I hope they fix. On the positive side, Siri seems to be generally quicker to respond than it has been in previous versions of iOS. There just seems to be a breakdown somewhere when a request to play something is given to Apple Music.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

When is Apple going to get it?! Artists and fans are on multiple social networks already. No one needs another feed to update/check. Integrate with existing services!

This would be pretty cool. It'd be nice if there was just a button somewhere to visit the artist's website, or see what they're posting on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram (or any other social website.)