Rumor: Beats' Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre could take the stage at Apple's WWDC
When Apple kicks off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 2, it could use the keynote as an opportunity to formally introduce its two newest executives: Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre of Beats Electronics.
Details of the rumored plans come from people familiar with the Beats acquisition talks who spoke with Bloomberg. Those unnamed sources indicated that both Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, and Iovine are expected to take executive roles at Apple, and with WWDC less than a month away, the keynote could be an ideal for the company to showcase its two newest recruits.
Word of Iovine and Dre's anticipated roles at the company first surfaced last week. With Monday's latest report lending more support to that rumor, it was said that Iovine may oversee Apple's music strategy and handle relationships with labels and publishers.
What kind of executive role Dre might occupy at Apple was not revealed. But the rapper-turned-entrepreneur has actually been a part of an Apple presentation before: 10 years ago, when he appeared in an iChat with late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
During that 2004 keynote, Jobs phoned Dre, who at the time was in the studio working on a new record. The rapper congratulated the CEO on the initial success of iTunes and the iPod.
Last week, Dre seemingly confirmed the $3.2 billion acquisition of Beats in a video posted online by singer and actor Tyrese Gibson, who appeared to be celebrating the news. Talks between Apple and Beats are said to be in the final stages.
Details of the rumored plans come from people familiar with the Beats acquisition talks who spoke with Bloomberg. Those unnamed sources indicated that both Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, and Iovine are expected to take executive roles at Apple, and with WWDC less than a month away, the keynote could be an ideal for the company to showcase its two newest recruits.
Word of Iovine and Dre's anticipated roles at the company first surfaced last week. With Monday's latest report lending more support to that rumor, it was said that Iovine may oversee Apple's music strategy and handle relationships with labels and publishers.
What kind of executive role Dre might occupy at Apple was not revealed. But the rapper-turned-entrepreneur has actually been a part of an Apple presentation before: 10 years ago, when he appeared in an iChat with late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
During that 2004 keynote, Jobs phoned Dre, who at the time was in the studio working on a new record. The rapper congratulated the CEO on the initial success of iTunes and the iPod.
Last week, Dre seemingly confirmed the $3.2 billion acquisition of Beats in a video posted online by singer and actor Tyrese Gibson, who appeared to be celebrating the news. Talks between Apple and Beats are said to be in the final stages.
Comments
OK, bets ... it's the most watched WWDC ever!
I think every WWDC becomes the most watched ever.
I know I'll be watching! Its coming fast too!
Groan.... AI, I know you want/love/need clicks, but c'mon... another Beats story?!
Rumour: Dr. Dre to replace Tim Cook as Apple CEO.
and Eminem to replace Jony Ive as head of design.
...or they may not!
Groan.... AI, I know you want/love/need clicks, but c'mon... another Beats story?!
Expect many more, because according to a Billboard article about this year's WWDC, they said that the deal is expected to take two months to close, and Apple may choose not to announce anything until everything is final.
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Groan.... AI, I know you want/love/need clicks, but c'mon... another Beats story?!
They're going to Beats it to death.
I am losing interest on WWDC. What is happenning to the world?
...or they may not!
And what's the bets they bring cans of Heineken on stage.
I am losing interest on WWDC. What is happenning to the world?
We'll see. WWDCs big focus is 10.10.
That would also be a dumb move. Whatever they are doing for iOS 8 should be the main event.
If this happens as rumored, the stage and audience could be as filled with optimistic energy and excitement since Jobs was up there. None of the current crop Cs compare to Jobs for stage presence.
WWDC is a developer conference - I don't see what having them onstage, even at the consumer facing keynote, would accomplish.
I am losing interest on WWDC. What is happenning to the world?
This is all a smoke screen to cover for no new hardware product announcements. Introduce OS X 10.10, iOS 8, then the Dr. Dre dog and pony show. The end.