“Steve Jobs was famous for saying one thing and poo-poohing certain business models — and then blowing them out of the water if he changed his mind about it later. Well, Steve had long poo-poohed the subscription models like Beats and Spotify where you can download and/or stream any song in their extensive catalog instead of having to purchase songs one at a time, like the iTunes model had pioneered back when I first bought Apple more than 10 years ago,” Cody Willard writes for MarketWatch. “Long ago, more than three years really, when it was time to start getting in front of that music subscription model that Spotify has now mastered. Beats? Really? It’s at best a second-rate version of Spotify and at worst a fashion accessory company.”
“Yes, the Beats headphones, while heavy on bass, are not exactly most audiophile’s dream headphones. They’re an expensive and trendy accessory that will go the way of the boom box fad of the 70s and 80s,” Willard writes. “The good news is that the $3 billion price tag isn’t really all that much money to Apple shareholders, even if it is, as has been breathlessly reported for days now, as the ‘Largest acquisition in Apple’s history!'”
“I’d rather have the guys at Whatsapp on my team than Beats founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre, who are now going to be visionaries at a high-tech company. Uh, they are marketers who smartly got in front of the App Revolution stock market bubble with a music app at the right time — while Apple slept without their Steve Jobs change-your-mind approach,” Willard writes. “I wish Apple spent that money and time on much-needed improved operating systems and mind-blowing features for their gadgets instead of buying a fashion accessory tied to a music app company.”
Read more in the full article here.
Related articles:
Apple may unveil Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre executive appointments at WWDC – May 12, 2014
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s pursuit of Beats seen presaging more takeovers – May 12, 2014
Former eMusic CEO explains why Apple wants to buy Beats – May 12, 2014
Apple’s deep ties with Jimmy Iovine key driver of Beats deal – May 12, 2014
Removal of Dr. Dre video about Apple-Beats deal likely means acquisition is real and imminent – May 10, 2014
Game changer: Apple buying Beats could radically transform the digital music business – 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