The hot topic around music and radio circles over the past week or so has been the anticipated launch of Apple Music and Beats 1 at the end of this month.

Radioinfo’s Radio Tomorow contributor, James Cridland has compiled a lsit of some of the more interesting and informative links for you to get the full picture. If you missed it, you could start with Cridland’s own piece Who are the DJ’s.
 

Beats 1 and Apple Music

• Last Monday was the announcement from Apple that they’d invented this new form of radio. The press release says: “Listeners around the globe will hear the same great programming at the same time.” – revolutionary. Why haven’t we thought of this before? Why did it take Apple to invent radio over the internet? Shall we call this new invention ‘internet radio’? It might catch on. (Note: the preceding paragraph is not very serious).
• “Internet Radio isn’t really radio; it’s just a playlist of songs.” – according to Apple, no less. I’ve been saying this for years. I’m delighted Apple agree. Where do I send the cheque?
• There’s plenty we don’t know about Beats One and the Apple Music offer, says J Herskowitz. Not that it’s stopping anyone from having their say. Here’s what the CEO of TuneIn thinks.
• Chris Price reckons we can steal stuff from webcasts like Beats One. Perhaps one thing is that human beings are actually good for something, according to Bob Kernen.
• Not everyone likes it. Niko Batallones says that it’s awfully western. Gizmodo says it’s a terrible executive vanity project (and I think there’s some validity in that). I find it disappointingly linear, at a time when linear radio is – on mobiles – failing.
• Interesting comparison here with Beats 1 & BBC Radio 1 – their business model and appetite for innovation is surprisingly close (no advertisers to please, remit to innovate)
• The Fader has a focus piece on Julie Adenuga, Apple’s New DJ in case you haven’t heard of her – you’re not alone.
• Beats killed the radio star? This is an ironic lazy Buggles headline. XAPP’s Brett Kinsella says Apple Music’s Biggest Threat May Be to Broadcast Radio (not sure I agree), while Voizzup’s Tommy Ferraz reckons it’ll kill traditional audience research in radio – not sure about that one either. But online streams have the capability to kill music research, and partially replace the PPM. Probably.