Comments on: Dubious Rumor Alert: Apple is not starting a record label with Jay-Z

By: Graham

Graham — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:08:01 +0000

I see ya jockin jay-z jockin jay-z

By: D9

D9 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:52:05 +0000

Yes, but it doesn’t stop Apple from signing an exclusive distribution deal w/ Jay-Z’s new label; similar to what McCartney did with Starbucks.

It provides Jay-Z w/ the leading digital distribution market for pennies of the traditional, music-mogul controlled CD market. And for Apple, it allows them to show a means to circumvent the labels and their “We won’t let you sell our music” practices, aka Universal… basically, Apple gets to stick their tongue out at Universal.

No, I can see this and other artists moving in the direction of direct digital distribution deals. Sir Paul has, in essence, opened a can of worms on the music moguls!

By: Realtosh

Realtosh — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:49:18 +0000

First, Apple bought all rights to the Apple brand from Apple Corp in their settlement. So, to be short Apple Inc has all rights to the Apple brand and licenses it back to Apple Corp. This likely means that they not only have the right to start a label if they wish, but that they could also do so under the Apple brand if they wish. They may choose to use a different name for their label as Starbucks as done with the Hear Music label.
Apple will create a label, even if only a de facto pseudo-label. The market forces will demand it. Over time as more and more established music talents break from their own labels and go independent, they will increasingly look to online distributors like Apple. Novel ways of getting new good music to new listeners through Hear Music and iTunes will become increasingly more relevant.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not an Apple vs. the labels. The role of the labels will become less important over time, as music talents will rely less on labels for distribution and promotion. As more and more of the power goes to the music talents, they musicians will be able to cut deals directly with today’s modern distributors without much of a role left for yesterday’s labels.
The labels need to adapt quickly and become much smaller organizations focused on their core strengths of finding and promoting new talents. Already established and well-known music talents will often require less assistance from the labels and will be reluctant to pay staggering cuts of their royalties in exchange.
Apple will benefit from changing market conditions, that are already under way. The market was already changing before Apple entered the music industry and the market would have changed even without Apple. Apple success has only helped move the process along a bit faster, but only because they did things right. Someone else would have come along, if Apple hadn’t gotten it right.
The labels are desperately trying in vain to keep things as they were before. The world will change around them with or without Apple. But this changing world will in time have Apple take on some quasi-label role even if it doesn’t call itself a label. Apple’s strengths of distribution and promotion will increasingly take on a more important role.
So while I doubt that Jay-Z and Apple have started a label, they may have worked out a distribution agreement for Jay-Z and other talents that may represent. Other talents will also continue to take control of their own music and work out their own distribution deals. The future is here. Those who work with the market will prosper and enjoy success, while those who work against the market will suffer and lose whatever fortunes they have.

By: Mb1000

Mb1000 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:36:42 +0000

Oh, by the way, I don’t nessesarily believe the part about Jay-z being involved. :)

By: Mb1000

Mb1000 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:33:32 +0000

Somehow, I tend to believe this rumor. It makes sense for Apple to start a label of their own. And now, contrary to what the article above says, Apple is free to pursue music as much as it want’s.

You know what I’m thinking? Maybe Steve will launch a co-branded label with Apple Corps. Remember, Apple Records (Apple Corps’ record label division) was originally supposed to be a label any worthy artist could get signed to, not just a vehicle for The Beatles. To quote John Lennon: “We’ve got this thing called Apple, which is going to be records, films and electronics, which all tie up.”

If not,I suspect any new label will have to be called iTunes Records, which actually sounds pretty cool.

By: GearsofWar

GearsofWar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:23:07 +0000

Are you still sure about that Beatles Apple Corp. agreement? Things changed in the last year or so-are you sure the ban is still in effect?

By: Yasser

Yasser — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:20:57 +0000

This is the weirdest rumor of the year so far. There is no way Jay-Z would do such a thing and if he does I would be extremely surprised. He has too much in Def Jam.

By: BLIZZ

BLIZZ — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:12:19 +0000

To the poster above. Apple product and the music industry are hand in hand already. 95% of music studios use Pro Tools which functions best on Macs, and most studio computers are made by Apple so basically they are on the backside already and want some money from the front.

By: BLIZZ

BLIZZ — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:09:24 +0000

This would make sense. Also, seems like great timing since most of Steve’s Keynote has already been leaked out. I think it is true. You know people try to start rumors to kill deals and momentum. I would actually like to see how this model would work. If this happens Apple will probably dive all the way into music and telco.

By: David Dugan

David Dugan — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:15:43 +0000

Actually, it is my understanding that, as of the last lawsuit between Apple Inc and Apple Corps, Apple Inc now retains all rights to the Apple name, including usage of the name in all aspects of the music industry. Also as part of the settlement, Apple Inc now licenses the name back to Apple Corps.

That being said, I agree that this Jay-Z/Apple label idea is unlikely. First, as you’ve stated, the other labels would go nuts at a time when relations are on thin ice as it is, and secondly, didn’t Jay-Z just pull his latest album from iTunes at the last second, even after a bunch of pre-orders were taken? That doesn’t sound like the actions of a guy who’s going into business with Apple…

By: Marcus

Marcus — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:15:24 +0000

Album art that matches my iPod? I would love that, by the time I think I can get no deeper in the Apple hole they release new products, products using shinier enamels. I would love to listen to my Apple music on my Apple iTunes on my Apple iBook pro, you know what they say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

I have never been much of a Apple fan, but as a new music lover I hate their products