Here’s an example of the term “star power.”
Apple announced at WWDC that they were coming out with a music streaming service called Apple Music. To get you hooked, Apple was going to offer a three month free trial period. Sounds great right? Not so much if you were a music artist because Apple wasn’t going to pay you for using your music during said trial period. The rationale was that Apple was going to pay musicians much higher royalty rates than they usually get. Many musicians were not overly thrilled, and those musicians found a champion in the form of music mega star Taylor Swift. She posted an open letter to Apple that was also cross posted to Twiter that said among other things this:
I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
And:
But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.
This came after saying that her new album “1989” would not be available to stream on Apple Music which denied the service of one of the best-selling albums of the last two years.
That apparently was the tipping point for Apple who hadn’t responded to the concerns of musicians up until that point. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, posted this on Twitter late last night:
Followed by this:
To which Ms. Swift responded with this:
https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/612841136311390209
So, why the flip flop? Pick from any of the following:
- Bad press is never good for business.
- Having one of the biggest selling musicians in the history of the planet deny you access to her music may start a trend where other artists may do the same thing and that would be bad for business.
Well, according to BuzzFeed News reporter John Paczkowski was told by Mr. Cue that “Taylor Swift’s tweet today solidified the issue for us” and “we decided to make a change.” You can decide for yourself which one of those this applies to.
Whatever the reason, this story will now die down and Apple can go back to attempting to rule the musical universe starting at the end of the month.
Taylor Swift Makes Apple Backtrack On NOT Paying Artists During Apple Music Trial Period
Posted in Commentary with tags Apple on June 22, 2015 by itnerdHere’s an example of the term “star power.”
Apple announced at WWDC that they were coming out with a music streaming service called Apple Music. To get you hooked, Apple was going to offer a three month free trial period. Sounds great right? Not so much if you were a music artist because Apple wasn’t going to pay you for using your music during said trial period. The rationale was that Apple was going to pay musicians much higher royalty rates than they usually get. Many musicians were not overly thrilled, and those musicians found a champion in the form of music mega star Taylor Swift. She posted an open letter to Apple that was also cross posted to Twiter that said among other things this:
I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.
And:
But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.
This came after saying that her new album “1989” would not be available to stream on Apple Music which denied the service of one of the best-selling albums of the last two years.
That apparently was the tipping point for Apple who hadn’t responded to the concerns of musicians up until that point. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, posted this on Twitter late last night:
Followed by this:
To which Ms. Swift responded with this:
https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/612841136311390209
So, why the flip flop? Pick from any of the following:
Well, according to BuzzFeed News reporter John Paczkowski was told by Mr. Cue that “Taylor Swift’s tweet today solidified the issue for us” and “we decided to make a change.” You can decide for yourself which one of those this applies to.
Whatever the reason, this story will now die down and Apple can go back to attempting to rule the musical universe starting at the end of the month.
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