Apple Signs Drake at $19M as Guest DJ for iTunes Radio, Courting Pharrell Williams and David Guetta
Apple has signed up Toronto-born rapper Drake to serve as a guest DJ on its revamped iTunes Radio venture on June 1, reports Rolling Stone.
The New York Post reports that the tech giant offered Drake $19 million to be featured on iTunes Radio.
Apple is also in talks with hip-hop artist Pharrell Williams and French DJ David Guetta to be guest DJs for iTunes Radio, according to the New York Post.
The company already has a relationship with Drake and Williams. Both recording artists touted an Apple Watch before its official release. Drake donned a gold Apple Watch at the 2015 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Williams wore a stainless steel Apple Watch with white polymer bracelet on an early April episode of "The Voice."
In addition to securing celebrity guest DJs, Apple has been negotiating with record labels for Apple Music, but its terms have not impressed the labels. Apple doesn't want to pay for licensing rights. The company is asking that labels waive fees for customer free trials and provide free lyrics.
Apple also wants music labels to not renew contracts with services like Spotify that offer free, ad-supported music.
The record labels are reportedly not thrilled with one of the world's biggest brands asking for freebies or pressuring them to end partnerships with other music services.
The tactics have landed Apple under the scrutiny of both the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission over whether or not the company's negotiation practices are fair and square, reports the Verge.
Apple is expected to introduce its rebooted iTunes Radio and the new subscription platform at the Worldwide Developers Conference next week. Fans will have to wait and see if Drake joins Apple CEO Tim Cook on stage at the event.
In addition to a refurbished iTunes Radio, the technology company reportedly plans to outgun Pandora, Spotify and YouTube by offering streaming music and video, artists' pages, and a YouTube-style DIY platform called Apple Connect.
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