Apple has held talks with Beats Electronics, the audio technology firm co-founded by influential hip-hop producer Dr Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine, on a potential partnership involving Beats’ planned music-streaming service.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook (pictured above) met Beats chief Jimmy Iovine during a visit to Los Angeles in late February to find out more about “Project Daisy”, a music subscription service the company announced in January but with scant detail, sources said.
Apple’s internet products head, Eddy Cue, a key player in setting up its iTunes Music Store, also joined the meeting, at which Mr Cook expressed interest in Daisy’s business model and its roll-out plans, although the two did not discuss specifics of a deal, sources said.
The meeting between Mr Cook and Mr Iovine, who is also chairman of music company Interscope-Geffen-AM, was “informational” and covered a broad range of music-related topics, sources said.
Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr and Beats declined to comment. The iPhone maker has been reported to be considering a music-streaming service to complement iTunes. – (Reuters)
