4 ms·

Ok, the deal is not even officially announced, how the ef is so much info leaking out? If it's leaking out of Beats, then they're already demonstrating how poo

Ok, the deal is not even officially announced, how the ef is so much info leaking out? If it's leaking out of Beats, then they're already demonstrating how poor of a cultural fit for Apple they are. From... literally not day 1, but day -N.

melvinmt 12y ago
Well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544
leoc 12y ago
See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk . That said, it's not Dre's first entry into Apple's orbit. He has two entries in Isaacson's /Steve Jobs/.
gnoway 12y ago
I'm a lot more curious about what the point of this is. Beats is about more than just headphones - they have the branded audio systems in some laptops and I think phones - but I didn't realize any of it was technically compelling. I thought they were all sales and marketing. Apple doesn't really need any help with that, do they?
- vor_ 12y ago
  Beats has a streaming service that Apple has previously shown interest in as well as people with contacts in the music industry.
  - msane 12y ago
    The contracts are likely not transferrable. And the streaming service is not a huge technical accomplishment, by any stretch. Honestly I have no idea why this would be desirable. It would damage Apple IMHO.
    - danabramov 12y ago
      I think you misread the parent, it was “contacts”, not “contracts”. As in “insider connections”.
    - w4 12y ago
      I wouldn't assume anything about the contracts either way until the details of the deal are announced. EDIT: Actually, I might lean toward thinking the contracts are transferrable, given Beats built its streaming service by purchasing MOG.
- threeseed 12y ago
  There is a fantastic interview with Levine which explains it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Fkj427wDE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Fkj427wDE Beats' streaming service has a recommendation engine that is a combination of automated and manual curation. And iTunes Radio has shown that is Apple may be fine on the first but clearly fails at the second. What Levine mentions during the interview is how they know which producers and DJs are coming/going etc. So clearly they have extensive insider connections within the music industry. That is definitely worth spending money for.
  - w4 12y ago
    Iovine (it's an i, not an L) alone is worth spending money on. If Apple is struggling with iTunes and looking to revamp it with an eye towards streaming, as has been rumored, a guy with Iovine's connections to the industry is someone you'd like to have on your team. Add in the fashion aspects the of Beats brand, the fact that Apple already sells their hardware in large quantities, the fact that Beats is profitable, and whatever existing streaming licenses they have with the labels, and the acquisition makes a lot of sense.
- bri3d 12y ago
  Beats is an aspirational fashion brand. Apple have risen to dominance as... an aspirational fashion brand. They seem very aligned: high-margin, relatively expensive, weakly aspirational electronic goods which play a huge role in pop culture. Not only does Apple get a well-aligned brand poised for growth, but they also eliminate a potential threat in the weak-aspirational electronics space. Apple and Beats are also unique: they're the only two weakly aspirational brands I can think of that present organically in haute/celebrity culture. Both brands have managed, somehow, to punch up and mingle with strong-aspirational / luxury products while still being accessible to a large audience. You're more likely to see a movie star, rapper, or trust-funder get out of their Ferrari wearing an Audemars carrying an iPhone than a Vertu, and Beats headphones rather than Sennheisers. That's a powerful, rare achievement in brand position and it makes sense for one company which has truly mastered the art to snap up an upstart that seems to be on track to accomplish the same thing.
fendmark 12y ago
Agreed. It will be very interesting to see if this deal actually happens. Only time will tell whether the leak was very clever or completely idiotic. The whole world now knows what Beats is "worth" and that Apple is interested in them. I would love to know how much Beats sunk into the development of their flailing music streaming product that they are now trying to unload. If anyone can make it work it is Apple, but regardless something smells fishy. It seems like leaks like this happen when deals are on the rocks, to try to find a lifeboat in the form of another offer, only time will tell
threeseed 12y ago
Multi billion dollar acquisitions involve a lot of people. It was always going to be leaked eventually. Plus the whole Dr Dre getting drunk and telling everyone on Facebook that it was happening sort of confirmed it.

melvinmt 12y ago

Well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guMFKBXp544

leoc 12y ago

See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2e5ZibypDk . That said, it's not Dre's first entry into Apple's orbit. He has two entries in Isaacson's /Steve Jobs/.

gnoway 12y ago

I'm a lot more curious about what the point of this is. Beats is about more than just headphones - they have the branded audio systems in some laptops and I think phones - but I didn't realize any of it was technically compelling. I thought they were all sales and marketing. Apple doesn't really need any help with that, do they?

vor_ 12y ago
Beats has a streaming service that Apple has previously shown interest in as well as people with contacts in the music industry.
- msane 12y ago
  The contracts are likely not transferrable. And the streaming service is not a huge technical accomplishment, by any stretch. Honestly I have no idea why this would be desirable. It would damage Apple IMHO.
  - danabramov 12y ago
    I think you misread the parent, it was “contacts”, not “contracts”. As in “insider connections”.
  - w4 12y ago
    I wouldn't assume anything about the contracts either way until the details of the deal are announced. EDIT: Actually, I might lean toward thinking the contracts are transferrable, given Beats built its streaming service by purchasing MOG.
threeseed 12y ago
There is a fantastic interview with Levine which explains it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Fkj427wDE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Fkj427wDE Beats' streaming service has a recommendation engine that is a combination of automated and manual curation. And iTunes Radio has shown that is Apple may be fine on the first but clearly fails at the second. What Levine mentions during the interview is how they know which producers and DJs are coming/going etc. So clearly they have extensive insider connections within the music industry. That is definitely worth spending money for.
- w4 12y ago
  Iovine (it's an i, not an L) alone is worth spending money on. If Apple is struggling with iTunes and looking to revamp it with an eye towards streaming, as has been rumored, a guy with Iovine's connections to the industry is someone you'd like to have on your team. Add in the fashion aspects the of Beats brand, the fact that Apple already sells their hardware in large quantities, the fact that Beats is profitable, and whatever existing streaming licenses they have with the labels, and the acquisition makes a lot of sense.
bri3d 12y ago
Beats is an aspirational fashion brand. Apple have risen to dominance as... an aspirational fashion brand. They seem very aligned: high-margin, relatively expensive, weakly aspirational electronic goods which play a huge role in pop culture. Not only does Apple get a well-aligned brand poised for growth, but they also eliminate a potential threat in the weak-aspirational electronics space. Apple and Beats are also unique: they're the only two weakly aspirational brands I can think of that present organically in haute/celebrity culture. Both brands have managed, somehow, to punch up and mingle with strong-aspirational / luxury products while still being accessible to a large audience. You're more likely to see a movie star, rapper, or trust-funder get out of their Ferrari wearing an Audemars carrying an iPhone than a Vertu, and Beats headphones rather than Sennheisers. That's a powerful, rare achievement in brand position and it makes sense for one company which has truly mastered the art to snap up an upstart that seems to be on track to accomplish the same thing.

fendmark 12y ago

Agreed. It will be very interesting to see if this deal actually happens. Only time will tell whether the leak was very clever or completely idiotic. The whole world now knows what Beats is "worth" and that Apple is interested in them. I would love to know how much Beats sunk into the development of their flailing music streaming product that they are now trying to unload. If anyone can make it work it is Apple, but regardless something smells fishy. It seems like leaks like this happen when deals are on the rocks, to try to find a lifeboat in the form of another offer, only time will tell

threeseed 12y ago

Multi billion dollar acquisitions involve a lot of people. It was always going to be leaked eventually. Plus the whole Dr Dre getting drunk and telling everyone on Facebook that it was happening sort of confirmed it.