“There are still many unknowns about Apple’s reported acquisition of headphone maker Beats Audio, but one thing is already certain,” Janko Roettgers writes for GigaOM. “The deal, if it goes through as reported, is going to be a game changer for digital music.”
“Twelve months from now, the digital music world is going to look very different. Instead of startups trying to convince consumers to spend $10 for music per month, it will be dominated by big companies trying to convince consumers to buy their devices and buy into their platforms,” Roettgers writes. “Digital music will become a value-add. It won’t exactly be free — licenses are still expensive — but it will increasingly be bundled with other products and services, and come with long-lasting promotional offers meant to convince you to buy phones, headphones, data plans, or in the case of Prime, all kinds of stuff.”
Roettgers writes, “The pioneers of digital music may finally see their vision of mass consumer services become a reality in the near future — but chances are that these very pioneers and their startups won’t be part of that future anymore.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: For some unknown reason, we’ve got a strange craving for beets.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Dan K.” and “Sarah” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Jimmy Iovine in talks to join Apple as a ‘special adviser’ to Tim Cook, sources say – May 9, 2014
Apple wants Beats for Jimmy Iovine, not bad headphones or an untested streaming music service – May 9, 2014
Apple close to buying Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion, Reuters sources confirm – May 9, 2014
Dr. Dre boasts of Apple-Beats deal in YouTube video, on Facebook – May 9, 2014
If Beats deal happens, Apple is acquiring a fad, not quality, and that is troubling – May 9, 2014
If Apple’s really buying Beats, here’s hoping it’s brilliant in a way which isn’t immediately obvious – May 9, 2014
The reason for Apple’s $3.2 billion interest in Beats? Spotify – May 9, 2014
Apple buying Beats Electronics: Its best idea since the iPad? – May 9, 2014
Why would Apple want to blow $3.2 billion on Beats Electronics? – May 8, 2014
Apple in talks to buy Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion – May 8, 2014
