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Music Industry Is Dead: Apple Launching Label w/ Jay-Z

gizmodo.com — Looks like there might another major announcement at MacWorld. BGR it's confirmed" that Apple is launching a record label with Jay-Z, who's set to step down from Def Jam.

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  • anderzole, on 01/03/2008, -44/+21wtf
    • badjoke, on 01/03/2008, -32/+6Thanks for your input!
    • Stupidumb, on 01/03/2008, -7/+22I agree with your stance.
      • royalguns, on 01/03/2008, -19/+0I do too got the money with def jam now its apple money with gates himself jay u gotta love him
        • Stupidumb, on 01/03/2008, -3/+21I hate you for 21 reasons
        • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7Use the def jam money and buy Rosetta stone English
    • darkwing81, on 01/03/2008, -16/+1jiggga man! what the *****?
    • Ireland, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1I believe he means why-the-*****? Well that's what I keep telling myself ;)

      I doesn't matter what he says anyway, $10 says this story never materializes.. again!
  • PistolSO, on 01/03/2008, -22/+143I have a feeling there will be another Apple vs. Apple lawsuit in the works. But this is a good sign. Hopefully this new Apple label tells the RIAA to go die in fire
    • wonderchemist, on 01/03/2008, -2/+97The last settlement between Apple, Inc. and Apple, Corps, gave Apple, Inc. all rights to "Apple". Apple Corp. now licenses the right to use "Apple" from Apple, Inc.
      • wukillabee, on 01/03/2008, -24/+4say wha?
        • unloud, on 01/03/2008, -6/+68THE LAST SETTLEMENT BETWEEN APPLE, INC. AND APPLE, CORPS, GAVE APPLE, INC. ALL RIGHTS TO "APPLE". APPLE CORP. NOW LICENSES THE RIGHT TO USE "APPLE" FROM APPLE, INC.
        • Osjpr, on 01/03/2008, -16/+3@unloud: He meant which one the ***** is job's company?
        • SouthsideIrish, on 01/03/2008, -0/+15Apple Inc, formerly known as Apple Computer.
        • yunus, on 01/03/2008, -2/+28Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
      • ttamshadbolt, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2But wasn't that settlement specific to the iTunes store services they were providing?
        I thought they were able to use the Apple name for reselling/providing access to music, not physically producing the music?
    • zongamin, on 01/03/2008, -5/+35Please try to keep up.
    • pilot3033, on 01/03/2008, -21/+1Somehow I doubt that.

      If this is true (and I doubt it highly), Apple Inc. can certainly expect another legal battle, and they will lose this one. Before, they were in the clear because they clearly were not in the same field and Apple Corp. A record label is clearly the same market, and Apple Corp. got there first.
      • edwartica, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1No, they'll win. Apple computers has more money.
    • JESUSREAM, on 01/03/2008, -4/+4They will try to come up with a business model to compete with free. Good luck!
    • trghpy, on 01/03/2008, -1/+6@pilot3033
      Nifty thing about Apple Inc and Apple Corp...
      They made a silent agreement and nobody on the outside truely knows what that agreement is.
      For all we know they made a conditional plan to merge the two Apples together.
      So sit down, shut up and wait for real news.
      • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Two Apples in one? This Fat kid is excited.
        • Recuso, on 01/03/2008, -1/+13Yeah, because fat kids eat tons of apples.
          • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1I do and the idea of two in one is amazing.
        • joel.smith, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1He meant apples dipped in caramel covered with nuts and powdered sugar
    • VicTheKnife, on 01/03/2008, -7/+2I was pretty sure the agreement went along the lines that Apple (computers) would never extend there business into the recording industry?
      • ZevFan, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6Wrong. The LATEST agreement allowed Apple Computer to do whatever they wanted in music.
      • VicTheKnife, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1Oh. Neat.
    • diggingaround, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Can I haz yor label?
  • Xerces, on 01/03/2008, -36/+96Didn't Jay-z retire? Why is he still "making music"
    • Ryanz42, on 01/03/2008, -3/+63He came out of his short "retirement" from making cd's a couple years ago and has already released two cd's. However he never stopped being behind the scenes of the music industry.
    • xdvx, on 01/03/2008, -22/+2He didn't retired at all, and even now he is burning stars like Rihana.
    • r00tus3r, on 01/03/2008, -3/+34"***** this rap game, I need a new hustle. A bit of everything, the new improved Russel"

      Jay is the richest man in hiphop, and I predict that he will be a billionaire shortly.
      • roosterjm2k2, on 01/03/2008, -1/+12Hes also probably one of the most well spoken, educated people in hiphop. (no, im not being a dick, im serious)

        I've seen him talk at a conference before, i was actually bewildered...its no accident hes as successful as he his.
        • BotFiend, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Ever heard of Immortal Technique?
        • Frogee, on 01/03/2008, -0/+5unlike soulja boy, which was a complete accident.
    • acidbass, on 01/03/2008, -6/+5not sure hes "making music" like he used to, but now hes investing, making executive label decisions, which is what many artists go on to do.
      • Bokista, on 01/03/2008, -0/+8He released both Kingdom Come and American Gangster in the last two years.
        • kurtu5, on 01/03/2008, -4/+2And how much of the content from these two comes from his own mind?

          I don't know, but I am curious.
        • slvrbullet87, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Kurtu i know most rap is just random mass marketed garbage but JayZ is one of the few rappers who has tallent writes sings and produces and doesnt suck. He isnt solja boi or some douche bag

          I dont listen to his music but i can spot talent
    • buddamus, on 01/03/2008, -17/+12He should have retired, hes not very good
      I would be ashamed to be caught downloading his music
      • Jookly, on 01/03/2008, -4/+15I would be ashamed to be you.
      • Maciula, on 01/03/2008, -6/+2Second that! I wouldn't want his crap called music if they were giving cd's for free. His ***** don't even rhyme.
    • kurtu5, on 01/03/2008, -12/+5Do you think anyone will remember Jay-Z's music 20 years from now?
      • FaaipDeOiad, on 01/03/2008, -9/+2i dont think anyone will remember any rap music 20 years from now. itll go down as another phase in music history like disco or funk. but the funk never died!
        • androo002345, on 01/03/2008, -1/+14"I don't think anyone will remember any rap music 20 years from now. It'll go down as another phase in music history..."
          That's what they were saying about rap music 20 years ago. Get a clue.
        • jon30041, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Even if rap goes down the tubes thanks to the recent stuff that gets play on the rap stations (Hurricane Chris, et al.) people will always remember Tupac and those that came out of his era. That was good stuff, none of this "I'ma buy you a drank" and "up in the club, I see shawty, I'm like hey shawty wanna get down she like yeah boy, I'ma straight trick-ass ho." Honestly, I do like some rap. But the stuff that's all over the place now? ***** no.

          I'd take Tech N9ne over any of these pricks any day.
        • Rkocour, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Tech N9ne! Yay kansas city.
        • kurtu5, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Faaip I didn't ask about rap. It lives and will never die. I asked about artists who retire and turn producer. I asked about their relevance to the art.

          Remember it really started out as dance hall mike rants about 40+ years ago. Rap has easily passed the 20 year mark.
        • slvrbullet87, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Rap will evolve into the next crappy brand of garbage for losers trying to fit in. First it was disco, then funk, then soft rock, then rap.

          wOOt for the Tech N9ne comments KC MO
      • gasin, on 01/03/2008, -1/+7Maybe you should listen to Resonable Doubt! People said this about RunDMC, LL Cool J... and in "20 years" they are all getting nostalgic about it and calling it "old skool".
        Get out of your mindset dude. rap is a big genre and has artists who are really pop to the ones that are really underground!
        • kurtu5, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Well see RunDMC and etc. were artists. They didn't upgrade to producer status. This is the big difference.

          Sorry if my mind set is biased towards artists and away from producers of product. But if the mind set is buy whatever is being sold, count me out.
        • thatsbologna, on 01/03/2008, -0/+4Reasonable Doubt = Classic.

          Too bad all these douche bags have never even heard of it, let alone heard a song from it.
        • slvrbullet87, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1I remember early 90's rap. It had a point... it had verses that werent just about baggin a skank and doin blow.
          As for underground rap I hope your talking about KMK or Tech N9ne not some random thug tryin to act tough
      • TheIinLive, on 01/03/2008, -2/+9short answer: yes. he's considered to be the best of the hip-hop world. If you don't like that type of music, fine. But to say something like that just goes to show how limited your knowledge is on the music world.
        • kurtu5, on 01/03/2008, -4/+1He is no grandmaster flash. He is another knock off producer type and I seriously doubt he will be remembered nostalgically in 20 years time. There is a big difference between an artist and a corporate schill.

          Anyone listen to "reasonable doubt" anymore, or just the new stuff you are supposed to be excited about?
        • Thinkingbuddy, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2Most rappers, even mainstream, know jay is nothing compared to immortal technique/nas/talib. To say he is the best of the hiphop world is completely ridiculous.
          • tehxen3, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Most people don't know and never will who's immortal/talib. Nas yea... but Jay-Z is way bigger than him.
          • stvspl, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1He's certainly one of the best. Reasonable Doubt and Blueprint are fantastic.
            I agree with you on Nas and Immortal Technique, but it kind of hurts to see Kweli on this list. I always get really excited about his new releases, but his flow is just horrifyingly awkward. Not anywhere near the level of Jay, Nas, or Immortal Technique.
    • Jookly, on 01/03/2008, -3/+3He never actually said he was going to retire. People just inferred that from his comments about the Black Album.
    • solid12345, on 01/03/2008, -10/+3How the hell did Jay-Z get where he is, his rap sucks. His flow is slow, he rhymes the same words with each other, he has a monotone sound with no emotion and sounds like a robotic retard, I mean really.
    • tehxen3, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2He came back, like Jordan. Fool.
      • drastik21, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1and hopefully not the same outcome.
    • DeFex, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1he made music?
      • bingo000, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Yes, music not pancakes!
      • stvspl, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Absolutely. Jay-Z is one of the greatest rappers ever.
    • jferrari, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Well he did just make the best album of 2007 (according to Rolling Stone, not just me)

      But - strangely you cant get his last album on iTunes?
  • desacrator48, on 01/03/2008, -8/+187Digg whatever will forever eliminate $18 list price CD's.
    • SirNoobius, on 01/03/2008, -23/+17yeah it'll eliminate the $18 now they're $50 and shiny.
      • estvir, on 01/03/2008, -23/+20And only work on Apple products.
        • unloud, on 01/03/2008, -6/+34There are DRM free music files on iTunes.
        • CressCrowbits, on 01/03/2008, -20/+7Which only work on Apple products
          • Elranzer, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Unprotected MP4 music files work on Zune, many Chinese players and high-end players BASED on the Chinese players, and any player that can be hacked with RockBox or some kind of Linux.

            Seriously, MP3 is so 10 years ago.
          • cubeeggs, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1MPEG-2 AAC is so 10 years ago. MP3 is so 17 years ago. When will Apple support HE-AAC?
      • Chirp08, on 01/03/2008, -2/+16when weren't they shiny?
      • sjbdallas, on 01/03/2008, -7/+2Oh, i see what you did there.
    • MarkOfTheDead, on 01/03/2008, -8/+4I still prefer anything with a lot of attention on low frequency sound on a 12" vinyl disc.
    • solid12345, on 01/03/2008, -5/+1I've been buying CD's for 9.99 to 12.99 for years don't know where you guys are shopping.
    • ManufactrsDfect, on 01/03/2008, -4/+1$18? You're still living in 1990. Cds dont cost more than $13, only with "BONUS DVD" do the cost $18. Also if you're watching, you can usually get it cheapest the week that the album comes out, $9.99.
    • highPhone, on 01/03/2008, -2/+1what's a CD?
    • solid12345, on 01/03/2008, -2/+1I can't believe you assholes dugg me down for stating the truth that 18.99 for a CD is NOT COMMON.
    • desacrator48, on 01/04/2008, -0/+0$18 list price is what I said guys. Obviously every store now has its CDs on "sale" for like 10-14. But you still see that $18.00 with the X slash through it. Check Amazon for example.
  • CptBuck, on 01/03/2008, -30/+6Wouldn't an Apple (Computer) Record Label be in complete violation of their agreement with Apple (The Beatles) Record Label? I know they sorted things out, but I didn't think it went this far.
    • Angostura, on 01/03/2008, -1/+19Yes, it went that far. Apple Computer, as was is free to do whatever it it likes.
    • zongamin, on 01/03/2008, -2/+10Instead of posting this you could have spend a few minutes looking into it.
    • rpgmaker, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2Maybe they name it iTunes Record Label...
      • javajockey, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1IRecord?
        • slvrbullet87, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2If you really need an IPhone IPod Itunes IRecord then you might as well just wear a t shirt that says ISuck
  • GetUthunized, on 01/03/2008, -28/+178What's to stop Apple from just morphing into another stupid record label? It's not like they have the best record when it comes to not screwing their costumers over...
    • swimmingbird67, on 01/03/2008, -12/+31i'm sure they won't be nearly as bad as the riaa
      • Nossie, on 01/03/2008, -9/+4I love os x.. and I love my g4 cube and macbook pro .... but I think Apple would LOVE to be Microsoft and they would be pulling the same practices if they had the same market share microsoft has.... (this has been shown already with itunes and the ipods... but Microsoft isn't exactly playing fairball either with compatibility)

        So really its a choice of the business practices of the RIAA or the business practices of Microsoft.... I wouldnt know which one to choose ...

        Instead I just hope in my utopian vision that Apple never gets that big, MS gets broken up into 3 separate entities and Google gains some competition..

        I hope all the labels die and we buy stuff directly from an artists site... that at least would get rid of the one hit wonder manufactured boy/girl bands to an extent and maybe share the wealth a little more.

        I can dream eh? :)
        • Seph7, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3I agree partially although not all labels are bad, they still serve a purpose to provide promotion for bands. Major labels though are not cool and I believe thats what apple will be from the word go.
    • fkr3, on 01/03/2008, -4/+41You can be certain their record label won't be some charity designed to "reinvent" music by just giving it away. Apple's in it for the money and they're no stranger to protecting their property.
      • octophobic, on 01/03/2008, -2/+4They might not give it away but they may also set the prices low so that it will drive sales of their iPods.
        • rpgmaker, on 01/03/2008, -2/+8iTunes never has drove iPods sales, it's the other way around.
        • fkr3, on 01/03/2008, -0/+9You're dreaming. 99c is already a low price, iPods don't need any help selling and more importantly, by lowering the price Apple would be devaluing their own merchandise and cutting into their own profit margin for absolutely no reason.

          They don't owe you any favours and they don't subscribe to the "everything should be free" theory that's popular on digg.

          I'll be interested to see how they plan to protect the music their label produces. Jobs has claimed not to like DRM but that was before it actually affected his bottom line.
          • Theli, on 01/03/2008, -2/+1"They don't owe you any favours and they don't subscribe to the "everything should be free" theory that's popular on digg."

            That's a straw man. No one in this thread has suggested that Apple owe them anything, or that they should give away their music for free.
          • fkr3, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3How does another record label make the music industry dead?

            Why would Apple offer the music cheaper just because they'll be a label too?

            Why would Apple give more to the artists when they could give more to their shareholders?

            All of these fantasies and more that are scatted around this story validate what I said - Apple does not owe anyone any favours. They're in it for themselves and their goal is to make money, not to save us money, not to give the artists more money, not to kill the RIAA, but simply to get another piece of the pie.
    • 4rp4n3t, on 01/03/2008, -7/+6They wear costumes at Apple Inc now...?
      • MacParrot, on 01/03/2008, -3/+1Well duh! Why else would they need constumers?
    • unloud, on 01/03/2008, -0/+13I imagine Apple's draw will be larger royalties for artists and the artists retain control over their content.
    • nicheplayer, on 01/03/2008, -9/+18"What's to stop Apple from just morphing into another stupid record label?"

      Uh, intelligence? Why take over an industry and then behave just like the industry you've taken over? Jobs isn't an idiot. In case you're just tuning in to this whole subject, Jobs has been waiting to take over the music industry since iTunes was launched.
      • n3demonic, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1I'm unsure what his goal was in launching iTunes but I thought it was just to become the middle man as blockbuster and netflix is the middleman for movies.

        I would think that creating a label would help independent artists get their music out and in turn help iTunes become the industry leader in downloading mp3's rather than becoming the music industry itself.
        • barnett25, on 01/03/2008, -1/+3"I'm unsure what his goal was in launching iTunes but I thought it was just to become the middle man as blockbuster and netflix is the middleman for movies."

          It probably was at first. But then he got mad at the record companies. And I think we all know by now that having Steve Jobs mad at you is a bad thing.
    • FearNLoathing, on 01/03/2008, -1/+4My feeling is that this could be great for artists like Jay-Z, who already have name recognition and don't really need a label to promote them. However, I would think that the world of MTV and radio are closely knit groups, but are one of the biggest ways to promote an artist. I'm sure that the RIAA has the power to block Apple's artists from getting air time.
      • SouthsideIrish, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7So, how many Starbucks are there? Apple pushing the music in all the stores worldwide and sending them to iPhone's and Touch's is not promotion?
      • barnett25, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6But aren't MTV and radio getting less popular while internet based audio services are becoming more popular?
    • g33kj0n, on 01/03/2008, -1/+5Why would Apple want to screw their costume supplier? It's hard to find a good costumer these days.
      • Mr.RX99, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Wasn't aware Apple needed costumes. I've never seen Jobs with a mask or anything...
    • mthe0ry, on 01/03/2008, -0/+5I still don't get it. Why sign a record contract of any kind with any entity? When you are as established as Jay-Z you follow Radiohead's lead and make the album on your own and then you pick how it is distributed. I'm not seeing a real step forward.
      • ZevFan, on 01/03/2008, -0/+4Radiohead just signed on with iTunes.
        • mthe0ry, on 01/04/2008, -0/+0Good for them. Does Apple own exclusive copyright privileges for their music? I see on a second reading that the article is actually really vague about what Jay Z's business agreement with Apple is. My original point is that if their agreement is that all of his future albums will be sold exclusively on iTunes (and whatever legal implications that has) it's no upgrade from BGR.
    • Theskeletonking, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Exactly the future is where Radiohead was leading. There was a breakdown of the 99 cent charge and where it goes on digg just a couple of days ago. I don't think this is progress. Maybe this is better. Apple does not get it perfect (when they easily could) especially when most of their problems are such easy fixes.
  • harvinator24, on 01/03/2008, -6/+95If Apple owns their own label, wouldn't the other labels be less likely to deal with them, next time their itunes contracts come up?
    • Berkana, on 01/03/2008, -2/+8Perhaps, but it could be a leveraging point. They might use their own label as part of a carrot-and-stick approach; offer the record labels a deal (even if they don't like it) or a worse alternative, and hope they have enough sense to settle with what they're offered.
    • ladon86, on 01/03/2008, -1/+18Actually, the labels already want out, but they can't afford to lose all that income. That's why all the majors are banking on the Amazon store to open the market up.
      • MScrip, on 01/03/2008, -1/+7Why should the labels wait for Amazon to become popular? They should just sell music DIRECTLY off their OWN website!

        iTunes was great, because it was a popular marketplace for music. But, now that people are navigating TO amazon.com... why couldn't they find their way to the labels' websites instead?
        • octophobic, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7For one thing they can afford to focus on marketing their specific bands and not their download service. Having another company pay all of their own advertising costs AND send you money is a good thing. Also Apple and Amazon feature much larger collections of music than any single label and that's a big draw for consumers. I would rather pay at one or two locations than 10 or 20 label sites.
          • MScrip, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Well, it depends how much music you buy and how often. If you wanted the new single by John Mayer, would it be so hard to go to johnmayer.com?

            I guess if you buy a dozen songs at a time form different artists... sure it would be better to buy in one place. But is iTunes that place?
        • tnoy, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6I dont know who's on what record label, nor do I know the names of all the record labels. I'd prefer not to spend 15 minutes trying to find WHERE to buy a song I want.

          I want a one-stop shop for my needs.
          • MScrip, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Google "name of artist"

            Chances are, you'll end up on their website... which is run by the label.
      • CyrusG, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Someone please clue me in -- what's so special about Amazon's store?
    • iainc, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3But aren't the other labels now making their own individual forays into digital downloads? If so, it stands to reason and common sense that Apple evolve their own business model in much the same way (only in reverse).
    • sideshowRAHEEM, on 01/03/2008, -2/+1I wish people would stop believing this stupid rumor it's been around for like 6 months. First off getting into the record business is a dump move for Apple and why would an artist sign with a label that can only distribute there music through iTunes that would essentially lock you out of every other online music retailer and lock you out of the top two brick and mortar music retailers Walmart and BestBuy unless Apple is willing to start pressing music CD's witch I'm sure there not. And lets no forget the most important point Jay-Z isn't the Def Jam prez anymore but he is still an artist on there label and said when he stepped down that he would continue making music for them.
  • NightOwl4, on 01/03/2008, -19/+77hes not a business man...hes the business..man!
    • tapeman11, on 01/03/2008, -2/+97ahem... "I'm not a business man, I'm a BUSINESS, MAN! Let me handle my business, damn."
    • bratterscain, on 01/03/2008, -16/+2Such a lame rhyme. Did you learn that in pre-school?
      • Steroblo, on 01/03/2008, -1/+3No. He learned it from a man who has 10 #1 billboard albums. What have you done today?
        • Rethcir, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Yeah, even if he don't understand the flow, he should understand the dough
  • natewitt, on 01/03/2008, -4/+31Overhypers synergizing.
  • D3koy, on 01/03/2008, -13/+19When will he really go away?
  • LucasKane, on 01/03/2008, -8/+59I think Apple's gone mad with profits
    • geniusj, on 01/03/2008, -3/+7If that's how you feel, you'd better buy some stock
    • mormo92, on 01/03/2008, -1/+5And so begins an extensive education on the concepts of capitalism.
    • navster15, on 01/03/2008, -0/+9Of course they have. Have you tried going mad without profits? No one listens to you...
      • thedragon4453, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Indeed. Its like being drunk with power. No power, and you're just a drunk.
  • gwycliff, on 01/03/2008, -3/+7this rumor floated around a while ago, it seems more likely now that jay is stepping down at def jam, but still unlikely.
  • xdvx, on 01/03/2008, -9/+3Wow, Jay-z is more and more popular every day...
  • Stupidumb, on 01/03/2008, -8/+1dugg
  • wukillabee, on 01/03/2008, -12/+3H to the izzO V to the izzA
  • EndersGame, on 01/03/2008, -11/+5This will be the final nail in the RIAA's coffin. This will benefit Apple, any artists that sign with the label, and consumers that purchase from the label. I never thought I would say this but the RIAA doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell after this hits the market.
    • fkr3, on 01/03/2008, -3/+5How does it magically benefit anyone? You can bet we are still going to pay $0.99 a song, you can bet Apple will still take their share, you can bet Apple's record label will still take their share, and you can bet the artist will be trading a big piece of the pie for the exposure and sales Apple can achieve - which is exactly what happens now with every other label.
      • unloud, on 01/03/2008, -2/+2No, you can't bet any of that, because it's a ***** RUMOR and doesn't give good odds at ANYTHING happening.
        • fkr3, on 01/03/2008, -4/+4Sure I can. Know why? Because Apple's a company not a charity. They could give away music right now - they make and have enough money they could easily give every iPod owner X free songs.
    • EndersGame, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1How do you know its gonna be a dollar a song? That is way overpriced and Apple knows it, the only reason they charge that now is because the RIAA demands it. Apple currently makes a few cents off of each Itunes song if that so I don't see why Apple would launch their own label if it didn't change anything. I say they are going to charge 30 cents a song, 50 cents tops. The artist will probably get shafted just the same, but they will get more exposure with the lower prices.
      • octophobic, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2$1 per song and $10 per album isn't bad really. It beats going into Borders and paying $30 per CD.
    • MacParrot, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1I doubt (unfortunately) that the RIAA will go away if this rumor is true, but it does stand to reason that ant artists signing with this alleged label would stand to benefit. Most of what the individual songs sell for go to the label without the artist's getting squat. If Apple even gave them half of that, that would be a heck of a lot more than they were getting before. We'll see what happens at Macworld
  • rumbl3r, on 01/03/2008, -18/+9feck Jay-Z. Why couldn't Apple pick someone cooler to create a record label with?
    • Unit134679, on 01/03/2008, -11/+4You still have to give the man some props
    • super_spyder, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2I am not a huge fan of rap to be quite honest, but jay is one of very few artists that i consistently like. Just listen to the new american gangster album, i think there are only 1 maybe 2 songs on the whole cd i dont like... hell even my mom, a 50 year old white lady who grew up listening to country likes jay's music
      • phazon88, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1***** Jay-Z he's a ***** evil freemason. I don't think you'd like him if you knew what he's really about. Don't believe me, watch this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6j5k1oCYus
        Why do you think his record label is called "Rock-a-fella", which is derived from David Rockefeller? Who is David Rockefeller? Well he is head of the Council on Foreign Relations. Who are the CFR and what do they do? Their main goal is to bring about a new one world order. Wake up people this is not a conspiracy theory the evidence is their plain and clear.
    • JudgeMonkey, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Ok, you mentioned that album, so interestingly enough I went to listen to some samples on itunes. They have ONE song you can buy, and the rest only come with the "album". I thought the big perk of buying through itunes was not HAVING to buy all of these songs I don't want.
  • dwninjungleland, on 01/03/2008, -1/+8Wow... if that's true, that could be huge. I had thought that the whole 99-cent track thing was leading to the downfall of artists packaging songs in albums and focusing on singles, but this could change a lot about itunes and its effect on the music industry.
  • EricVKX, on 01/03/2008, -18/+16We need less labels, not more. This is twenty-oh-eight, goddamnit. Time to embrace the future.
    • David513, on 01/03/2008, -1/+24No, we need more labels. The more the market is consolidated in the hands of a few legacy players, the more the policies we hate will continue. It's only by having additional labels (ones that are willing to market artists in innovative ways) that the power of the old ones will be broken.
    • Zippo, on 01/03/2008, -0/+9Competition is good for the market.
    • johnnysaucepn, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6More, smaller labels, with lowered manufacturing and distribution costs.
      • gavin422, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Unless we go completely digital (which i don't think is an option until lossless-quality music downloads become practical), smaller labels will never have lowered manufacturing and distribution costs. Big labels make such a killing because they can mass-produce products from just a few artists. When you have smaller issues for more artists, your costs will naturally go up.
    • moosebaloney, on 01/03/2008, -3/+10I believe it should be "FEWER" labels. It's a multiple, not a measurable amount. Dimwad.
    • jcroweall7, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Labels are still valuable in their ability to distribute and promote music. It's their practices and ways of finding comepensation that are outdated
    • heynoop, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Fewer labels = less choice for music artists. you're an idiot.
  • saggygrandma, on 01/03/2008, -14/+5Jay Z already grabs enough peoples songs and plasters his voice all over them, can't wait to here 'its your boooy Jay-Zeeeee' in every artists songs under the label...... :(
  • TremorX, on 01/03/2008, -3/+68Why is there a picture of Bill Gates - or, as we call him in the rap business, Skinny G - with this article? Does not compute.
    • atomicskip, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1It's hard to see put they marked out Bill Gate's face. If you click on the article you can see a larger version of the photo.
    • SirBotchness, on 01/03/2008, -1/+5Of course, a non microsoft related article in any way has to take a stab at bill. It's law on gizmodo and digg.
    • xero9, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1I thought it was Bill at first too, but then just assumed it was the PC guy from the Apple commercials. Guess I was wrong
  • and303, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1He'll make a lot if this new label rips off artists as much as iTunes does.
    http://www.theflashbulb.net/doc/revolution.htm
    • MacParrot, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2How does iTunes rip off artists? They get paid according to whatever deal they made with their publishers and Apple has little to do with that
  • IslandSaint, on 01/03/2008, -11/+5Can I get a what what?
    • helloplease, on 01/03/2008, -2/+19No.
    • bobbyi, on 01/03/2008, -0/+4Unfortunately, we are fresh out right now. We're expecting a new shipment of what whats on Sunday. We do have a stack of ***** yous in the back, though, if you would care for one of those.
  • nga911, on 01/03/2008, -7/+2wait till the antitrust and monopoly lawsuits come.
    • Nossie, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1its gonna happen... those that can do, do... those that can't, sue

      Question really is when and how successful will they be?
  • AntzNZ, on 01/03/2008, -35/+29Jay-Z sucks.
    • vermax, on 01/03/2008, -10/+6BIG TIME!! what a polished turd. he's such a good match for that soulless Beyonce (dumbest name ever).
      • qualish, on 01/03/2008, -3/+2Don't you ever, *EVER*, speak ill of my girlfriend Beyonce again. *EVER*!
    • Madpony, on 01/03/2008, -5/+1Here! Here! News of his new music gets me about as excited as my grandma in lingerie.
    • Mutton, on 01/03/2008, -2/+7I like bananas. Now we know a little something about eachother.
  • bingobongony, on 01/03/2008, -3/+21And this kills the industry how?
    • SRSco, on 01/03/2008, -0/+10The submitter cut off Gizmodo's title which was The OLD Music Industry is Dead. Completely changes the story.
      • bingobongony, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1WEll, allow me to repeat. And this kills the OLD industry how?
        The point is, apple fanbosy are once again putting WAYYYYY too much stock in Apple's power when it comes to ANYTHING but the iPod. This will not change the music industry one iota.
  • darkwing81, on 01/03/2008, -8/+1I see you vision mama, I put my money on the longshots
    All my ballers that's born to clock
    Now Imma be on top whether I perform or not
    I went from lukewarm to hot; sleepin on futons and cots
    to King Size, dream machines, the green fives
    I've seen pies let the thing between my eyes analyze life's ills
    Then I put it down type braile
    • rumbl3r, on 01/03/2008, -7/+5I just threw up a little in my mouth when I read your post.
      • darkwing81, on 01/03/2008, -3/+2i see all of your comments on digg thus far have been anti hip-hop. . . .get a new hobby redneck
    • bratterscain, on 01/03/2008, -8/+5I used to listen to that crap, and then I grew up. Don't remind me of this lame *****.
  • zongamin, on 01/03/2008, -8/+12Use emusic.com - drm free, independent music.
    • JFrizzle, on 01/03/2008, -0/+4I love emusic. Even at 75 tracks a month, I am still finding quite a lot new bands and musicI love.
    • postalblowfish7, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2use your local indie record store. drm-free cd-quality cds.
    • Jugalator, on 01/03/2008, -1/+3Or Amazon.com, DRM free, dependent music!
  • sdellboy, on 01/03/2008, -7/+19Is he going to do a Puff Daddy and change his name to iJay-Z now?
    • oneshot2g, on 01/03/2008, -2/+19Puff Daddy changes his name to iDiddy, in related news Curtis Jackson and Bill Gates have revealed a new plan to compete against the Apple-Hova partnership. All downloads from the G Unit label will cost 50 cent.
  • drcreek, on 01/03/2008, -2/+12Don't Starbucks have a music label? Apple and Starbucks are quite friendly at the moment. Could this be related?
    • AdvancedSoul, on 01/03/2008, -1/+3You got some of your coffee in my mac, you got some of your mac in my coffee. :)
    • yosempai, on 01/03/2008, -2/+1Yes. Starbucks does have a record label.
  • sfacets, on 01/03/2008, -11/+5Even Windows looks tempting right now.
    • marksweb, on 01/03/2008, -2/+2Windows has never stopped being tempting.

      And it wont be starting a record lable, even if it loves it's Media Player more than anything else.
    • NotaFanboy87, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3what an odd thing to say. That's like saying sex with your cheating floozie wife of 25 years is tempting. Odd...
  • inf0, on 01/03/2008, -13/+7Apple is getting worse than Microsoft... way worse, imo.
  • SpittingUpWind, on 01/03/2008, -7/+1A To Z.
    Do you get it? haha i left out the j though. Whats with the doted letters and apple?
  • chkdg8, on 01/03/2008, -4/+10This is the beginning of the end as we know it for the entire recording industry. *****'s bound to change anyway, might as well be Apple to set the standard.
    • gavin422, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3People have been saying everything is the "beginning of the end" of the record industry for years now. For all intents and purposes, if the industry is really ending, then the beginning of the end was probably Napster. Or maybe Usenet.
  • crakbot, on 01/03/2008, -9/+8Oh no, the anti record label people who are Apple fanboys are going to have a stroke deciding which side to take on this one.
    • JibberGeorge, on 01/03/2008, -2/+4Hahaha so true!

      Watch them try to bury you because they are insecure and confused about their fanhood.
    • DeFex, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3apple could nuke new york and the fan boys would still say it was ok.
  • collywolly, on 01/03/2008, -11/+3"Music industry is dead", just like Apple was about to turn the telecoms industry upside down (I'm sure that headline made the front page of Digg) before the crappy iPhone came out and didn't revolutionize anything.
    • Lemon, on 01/03/2008, -2/+4One thing it especially didn't revolutionize was UI in a hand held.
  • Thepack1138, on 01/03/2008, -10/+11This is frickin huge!!!! Jobs is a smart man. He knows people do not want to pay over .99 for a song and if this rumor is true it will be a huge blow to the other labels that insist on raising prices. If the right "artists" sign on then this will create competition and prices will probably be .99 or less for a song every where. You may hate itunes for their DRM but they are the big guy that know that raising prices is a bad thing. (remember when it was proposed that prices be raised and lowered for certain songs and Jobs said no to it.) Some good can come of this.
    • lysdexia, on 01/03/2008, -7/+3'may hate drm?'

      I bought one tune on iTunes, discovered my ability to listen to it when and where I wanted was crippled and haven't been back. iCon more like.
      • barnett25, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2They do offer DRM-less tracks as the labels allow them. The main restriction to how you can use the music you buy is not the store you buy it from, but the labels who produce it.
    • tk0680, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Yep, it's worth mentioning iTunes Plus here. As labels allow, iTunes is replacing its DRMed content with DRMless content (yes, replaced, not offering both) and offering users a fairly straightforward "upgrade" system for DRMed tracks they've already bought. Don't blame iTunes for the DRM, blame the labels.
  • AceyS, on 01/03/2008, -2/+3Anyone can see the connection behind Big Music Industry online sales failures (see Radiohead's response just a few articles on the frontpage back). Perhaps what could form is a label for recording artists to come to so they can actually get a fair piece of record sales. What better way than to go to the world's largest online music retailer.
  • Stonekeeper, on 01/03/2008, -4/+3Can't wait for the record labels to bitch about this. "First they destroy our business model (DRM), then they take our customers".
    • bingo000, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2DRM destroyed itself by ignoring the consumer. Bitch about this.
      • Stonekeeper, on 01/05/2008, -0/+1I know that! what's wrong with people on digg? Can't understand that I'm not saying it, I'm saying that the record labels with say it.
  • eems, on 01/03/2008, -5/+20Jay-Z is an intelligent, respected, influential, & successful entrepreneur whether you like his music or not (i.e. he doesn't need to be with any label). This is very interesting since he now has unprecedented access to iTunes as an artist or whatever label.
  • heystoopid, on 01/03/2008, -10/+2I pity the poor recording stars , they will be totally shafted yet again with Apple dealing the cards they would be lucky to clear one cent per track compared to ten cents per ordinary CD !
  • zetsurin, on 01/03/2008, -5/+9Oh great, here we go again. An *established* well-known artist decides to go a different way around the whole music distribution game and people are trumpeting the death of the industry. Like it or not unknowns need promotion, marketing etc. Established artists CAN just throw up 'pay what you like' websites and the like but that is far from changing the face of traditional music distribution or promotion as it doesn't help unknowns.
    • thailand1972, on 01/03/2008, -0/+5This is Digg, so you'll get Dugg down, but you also state the obvious truth. New bands need some kind of "agent" (call it a label if you like) to promote them. End of story. You can do it alone if you want to risk your collective life savings, but most people won't bother. The Digg crowd download torrents of music that are owned by labels. They (by and large) ignore unsigned artists. Fact. So labels are obviously important to get the publicity in the first place that gets you those lucrative tours and sponsorship deals. Never mind, let the Diggers do the usual hypocritical thing about pretending to care about (already rich) artists while downloading their music for free and not buying it second-hand to circumvent the labels.
  • mdavis, on 01/03/2008, -8/+63My Mac's got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one.
    • JibberGeorge, on 01/03/2008, -2/+13Dear M. Davis,

      I came to this thread in hopes that I would find a hilarious Jay-Z quote with a geek spin to it to brighten my day.

      Thank you.
  • LmaoTzu, on 01/03/2008, -9/+1The only place Jay-Z should be launched is into outer space so we don't have to put up with his "music" anymore.
  • bdk9246, on 01/03/2008, -9/+2huzzah, here comes another iTunes update I'll have to ignore
  • malloyoy, on 01/03/2008, -1/+5Do people really think that Apple will sell songs for less than $0.99? Think about how successful they are at this price point.
    • barnett25, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Maybe they will sell them without DRM. That seems to be the way Steve wants it. And at Apple what Steve wants Steve gets!
    • thedragon4453, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1Likely I think they will keep em at .99, and just keep the profit that would normally go to the labels. Maybe the artist will get a little too, because I think that Apple hardly makes anything off of itunes now.

      If the tracks don't come DRM free, Jobs will be like the biggest hypocrite ever.
  • phazon88, on 01/03/2008, -16/+2***** Jay-Z he's a ***** evil freemason. Don't believe me, watch this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6j5k1oCYus
    Why do you think his record label is called "Rock-a-fella", which is derived from David Rockefeller? Who is David Rockefeller? Well he is head of the Council on Foreign Relations. Who are the CFR and what do they do? Their main goal is to bring about a new one world order. Wake up people this is not a conspiracy theory the evidence is their plain and clear.
    • Nesh, on 01/03/2008, -1/+3Forget your tinfoil hat, did you?
    • JibberGeorge, on 01/03/2008, -1/+4You're a moron... they picked rock-a-fella because it symbolizes being rich and powerful you idiot.
    • Supraz01, on 01/03/2008, -2/+0Someone forget their meds?
  • grayapple, on 01/03/2008, -6/+4Hey, it's 2007 again!
  • vermax, on 01/03/2008, -13/+3buried for even mentioning that worthless hack jay-Z. boring, cliche, carpetbagging, parasitic, played out, YAWN.
  • shauncorleone, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1So with this new label, Apple will assumedly own content and the delivery method, then? How is this good for the music industry? I hope that anyone who uses a non-Apple media player enjoys the "Only on iTunes" commercials for this new content.
    Perhaps if Jay-Z was starting his own company which was more of a talent scouting/consulting agency and was partnering with Apple, this would be good for music. This is Apple further becoming the thing its most loyal fanbase fears.
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