Okay, listen. I'm sick of this being even a discussion.
Linkin Park, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, and whatever other crappy nü-metalband that intentionally misspells their awful name, sucks. In fact, that entire genre is a pox upon most people's ears.
I know that's just one man's opinion, but one good way to tell whether or not there is a consensus on a band's suckage is whether or not people outside the genre like them. Nobody who doesn't like Nü-metal likes Linkin Park. Plenty of people who don't like indie rock, for example, like bands like Radiohead and Band of Horses. Plenty of people who don't like punk rock like the Clash. And plenty of people who don't like R&B/Pop like Gnarls Barkley. I am not personally promoting these groups but instead looking at them objectively.
Linkin Park and the rest of the genre are not respected among other musicians, music press, or people who don't listen to the genre. This is key. NOT RESPECTED. Nobody but their fans really think they are cool or compelling enough to be in a commercial.
Apple likes to use bands that there is a buzz around. Simply because your ear is not tuned to music industry buzz does not mean this band is not important. People like the next big thing, which is why it was a perfect moment for Feist, for example. When you have the next big thing in your commercial, people who pay attention to this sort of thing have their ears perked and their attention piqued, and will probably the respect the brand a little bit more for paying attention to what's going on in music.
Another advantage is attaching the music to a product before the song is mainstream. Then, when the artist suddenly becomes popular, people attach their single mentally to an Apple product.
Linkin Park is not new or catchy or respected. Apple artists are usually all three and always at least two.
If you happen to like Linkin Park, sorry I said they suck, yes that was my personal opinion. But look closely, there is probably some truth to what I said, try to be objective about it. I'm 21 and I can realize when a band I like sucks, hopefully you can do the same.