'Freedom' by Pharrell Williams will be an Apple Music launch exclusive
A new single from Pharrell Williams, "Freedom," will be an Apple Music exclusive and launch alongside the service on June 30, according to a Facebook update by the hip-hop and R&B singer.
The post didn't indicate how long the song might be an exclusive, or whether Williams' next album would also be limited to Apple. The single was originally heard during the WWDC 2015 keynote announcing Apple Music.
Prior to the keynote, rumors suggested that Williams might be one of several celebrity DJs featured in revamped iTunes radio content. Instead the company's radio efforts will center around Beats 1, a live station hosted by Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and Julie Adenuga.
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Apple has increasingly relied on Williams as a marketing tool. He was one of several celebrities to receive an Apple Watch weeks before the product's April 24 launch, some other examples including Katy Perry, and Drake, the last of whom appeared on stage during the WWDC keynote.
Indeed the company has become increasingly focused on celebrity product placement. Some early Watch recipients, such as Beyonce and Karl Lagerfeld, each received Edition models with custom gold link bracelets unavailable to the public.
The post didn't indicate how long the song might be an exclusive, or whether Williams' next album would also be limited to Apple. The single was originally heard during the WWDC 2015 keynote announcing Apple Music.
Prior to the keynote, rumors suggested that Williams might be one of several celebrity DJs featured in revamped iTunes radio content. Instead the company's radio efforts will center around Beats 1, a live station hosted by Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and Julie Adenuga.
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Apple has increasingly relied on Williams as a marketing tool. He was one of several celebrities to receive an Apple Watch weeks before the product's April 24 launch, some other examples including Katy Perry, and Drake, the last of whom appeared on stage during the WWDC keynote.
Indeed the company has become increasingly focused on celebrity product placement. Some early Watch recipients, such as Beyonce and Karl Lagerfeld, each received Edition models with custom gold link bracelets unavailable to the public.
Comments
I'm getting old, don't have any idea who most of these "stars" are.
But...I thought Tidal was for the artists, and stuff!
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So how much does Apple have to shell out for this exclusive? People hate exclusivity. I hope it doesn't happen very often. And I'm sure it won't as the DOJ and EU would be all over that in a heartbeat.
The EU is on the verge of collapse, no one cares what they think. The DOJ's about to be too busy attacking every church and religious organization in America to worry about some music exclusivity.
The more pain dealt to Spotify, the better.
Well, well, so Apple has decided to compete head-to-head with the music publishing establishment. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
Why? Why do you hate Spotify so much? I'm sorry but I find this whole idea of "winning" being opening up the checkbook to buy exclusivity with big name artists kind of distasteful. There's nothing innovative about that. Plus it's in Apple's interest for Spotify and others to be successful. Just like it was in Microsoft's interest that Apple remain a viable alternative in the PC space.
Why? Why do you hate Spotify so much? I'm sorry but I find this whole idea of "winning" being opening up the checkbook to buy exclusivity with big name artists kind of distasteful. There's nothing innovative about that. Plus it's in Apple's interest for Spotify and others to be successful. Just like it was in Microsoft's interest that Apple remain a viable alternative in the PC space.
I don't want Apple to be the only streaming game in town. But Spotify has played dirty, now they need to get what's coming to them. They've been stirring all this antitrust crap up.
Doesn't mean I have to like it. Doesn't really matter to me though as an exclusive single or track from Pharell won't make me leave Spotify. And based on what happened with HBO Now my guess is this won't be exclusive for very long.
Maybe they have played dirty but what has it gained them? Nothing so far.
Drake, no dis, but what was he thinking up there? It was like he was pulled in last minute, with no preparation, barely knowing what it was he was supposed to be talking about.. I felt so bad for him...
Maybe, but that jacket...
So how much does Apple have to shell out for this exclusive? People hate exclusivity. I hope it doesn't happen very often. And I'm sure it won't as the DOJ and EU would be all over that in a heartbeat.
It's amazing how much effort you constantly put to exaggerate perceived negatives, and in this case, twist a clear positive into a negative.
Yeah, not exclusivity is a bad thing. But only when it applies to Apple, right? If anyone else was getting this exclusive we know you'd be bitching and whining about how Apple should have snagged it, and how Cue should be fired. I wonder why people like you, who pretend to like Apple but constantly bet against them at every opportunity, never giving them credit, nor the benefit of the doubt, post here.
This is a huge exclusive, and will put a shitload of spotlight on Apple Music. Whatever they shelled out for it, it's worth it. That's what the money is there for, to promote their services and products.
The ball is rolling.
For people who do not have the selected home for the exclusive it makes them mad they lose out on something they won't.
For those who do have said service it makes no difference except for some it becomes asshole Bragging rights.
And worst case scenario everyone starts doing this. Now Apple has the new album for artist x while Spotify has the album for artist Y and Google has artist z. And poor you are fan of all three.
BTW it does not make people switch services. As I'm certain no one on this site would switch from Apple music to Google music to follow their favorite artist. They will just say Google is bad.
I hope the other streaming service don't follow suit.
FYI I only refer to music not features of the respected streaming service.
Agreed. This will backfire on the industry and will just lead to more piracy.
Agreed. This will backfire on the industry and will just lead to more piracy.
Pirates are thieves who wouldn't pay for something if their life depended on it. There is no appeasing them.
Because people don't want to pay for music. It's not like Spotify is rolling in the dough. Should Apple be the only streaming game in town because they have the cash to subsidize the industry?
Doesn't mean I have to like it. Doesn't really matter to me though as an exclusive single or track from Pharell won't make me leave Spotify. And based on what happened with HBO Now my guess is this won't be exclusive for very long.
Not sure if you're aware, but Apple is not centering all their decisions and their strategies around YOU. From all your posts, that's what you seem to assume, as if billions of other human beings don't exist.
Believe me this "Freedom" song will be ripped off of Apple Music in no time and will be all over the net. I'm sure a version of it will end up on YouTube unless Apple/Pharrell force them to take it down. This exclusivity crap is like going back to the dark days with DRM.