Apple looks like it's about to enter the music publishing business
Apple is reportedly creating a global music publishing division within Apple Music, directed by Elena Segal, previously the legal director for iTunes International.
Segal will divide her time between the U.S. and London, England, Music Business Worldwide said on Wednesday. The Music Publishing team is expected to have several sub-divisions, such as Operations, Commercial, Publisher Relations, and A&R. The A&R crew is slated to help develop songwriters, rather than directly sign new talent.
The initiative is said to be the brainchild of Oliver Schusser, who assumed control of Apple Music in April.
"Oliver is well aware that much of the most important artist discovery happening in the music industry today comes from the publishing side of the business," one source explained to MBW.
"He is also aware that record labels and artists are well served by industry relations teams at streaming platforms -- they are in and out of those offices every day -- but that publishing hasn't yet enjoyed that kind of direct relationship," the person continued. "Oliver wants to underline the importance of publishing and songwriters to Apple. That's what this move is all about."
The creation of a publishing division would seem to suggest that Apple could begin publishing music without the need for third parties, assuming artists and others are willing to go along.
Apple has regularly tried to use exclusives to lure people to Apple Music, typically first dibs at new songs and albums by artists like Drake. Nevertheless, Spotify still commands an overwhelming presence in music streaming, with over 75 million paid subscribers versus Apple's 50 million, on top of which Spotify has even more ad-based listeners.
Segal will divide her time between the U.S. and London, England, Music Business Worldwide said on Wednesday. The Music Publishing team is expected to have several sub-divisions, such as Operations, Commercial, Publisher Relations, and A&R. The A&R crew is slated to help develop songwriters, rather than directly sign new talent.
The initiative is said to be the brainchild of Oliver Schusser, who assumed control of Apple Music in April.
"Oliver is well aware that much of the most important artist discovery happening in the music industry today comes from the publishing side of the business," one source explained to MBW.
"He is also aware that record labels and artists are well served by industry relations teams at streaming platforms -- they are in and out of those offices every day -- but that publishing hasn't yet enjoyed that kind of direct relationship," the person continued. "Oliver wants to underline the importance of publishing and songwriters to Apple. That's what this move is all about."
The creation of a publishing division would seem to suggest that Apple could begin publishing music without the need for third parties, assuming artists and others are willing to go along.
Apple has regularly tried to use exclusives to lure people to Apple Music, typically first dibs at new songs and albums by artists like Drake. Nevertheless, Spotify still commands an overwhelming presence in music streaming, with over 75 million paid subscribers versus Apple's 50 million, on top of which Spotify has even more ad-based listeners.
Comments
It'll also be interesting to see how other music streamers -- Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, etc. -- respond. Will they be hesitant to stream artists who are from the Apple label?
And now for my rant...
The quality of music already completely sucks enough presently (and now it’ll suck and additionally be exclusive to certain platforms) with popular authetentic original sounding vocals virtually unheard these days—practically every modern popular artist I can think of puts on a voice that doesn’t seem like their own. Adele, Ed Sheeran—all these guys. Quit hiding behind that stupid thing you’re doing with your voices and reveal yourselves. Teenagers are hypnotised into thinking these guys can sing. This fake singing ain’t real singing. A good barometer of how crappy music is these days is to compare the original ‘we are the world’ to the spoof-like modern version. The emperor’s new clothes. Music is largely in the toilet and has become one large, strange popcorn fest of shit. I’m sure there are artists that are exceptions, but where are all of this generation’s greats? Is there literally even one? It’s very, very sad.
Here’s a secret: 98% of music has always sucked.
It’s just that the stuff we remember and play today from “the good old days” is the 2% that didn’t suck back then.
And back then, stuff was much better in the olden days, too.
Can’t all be James Blunt (whom I appreciate but really, really cannot listen to).
What was the first thing Jobs did when he went back to Apple? He thinned out the mess of products and services that were leaving the company unfocused. He's not coming back a third time.
Apple will be an independent label!!
I'm sure it would raise concerns about exclusives and stuff, but in the end it is no different from HBO, Netflix or Disney having their own app.
Apple Music Publishing will be the content and Apple Music will be the app to consume the music.
I'm sure Apple won't restrict the music to just their ecosystem. However, I'm not sure how many other streaming services would be bothered to use the content.
It would depend on the artist and how popular they are. With most of the big names tied to the big publishers, Apple would have to start from scratch, unless they put real money into it and buy whole catalogues from the others.
Apple Records.
All genres and all kinds of artists sharing ideas under one roof. No negotiations just the greatest artists in the world making music together.