Apple’s Jimmy Iovine has downplayed exclusives in Apple Music’s strategy, while not ruling out further such deals, in an interview with Variety.
“I don’t lean on them too heavily myself,” he said. “We did ’em. We’ll do some more. But we’re just experimenting. I just know that if something feels right and someone wants to, we’re willing to do it, to help them really market their record, get the word out, and spend what it deserves.”
Iovine also called for changes in the way charts tally streams.
“A free stream shouldn’t be weighted the same as a paid stream — I don’t think there’s a sane person in the world, other than a promotion man, who would advocate that,” said Iovine.
“A chart that weighs some ad-supported streams the same as a pay stream… encourages artists to promote free tiers to have a number one record. That’s great for the tech companies, but not for artists.” Iovine also called for more risktaking by music labels.
“Right now there’s a lot of fear in the record business. And the corporations should make it so the labels can relax a bit and be more adventurous… The record industry, in order for it to really thrive, has got to attract great people. And I think there might be some suffering there right now.”
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