Talk of the Devil. Yesterday we posted a report discussing Google's new streaming music services that are in the works and asked the question: "Is Google preparing another run at Apple's iTunes Business?" Well, this morning Reuters Canada claims that Apple's CEO Tim Cook and music mogul Jimmy Iovine have been in discussions over a new iTunes streaming music service.
According to a Reuters Canada report, Apple has held talks with Beats Electronics LLC, 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 called "Project Daisy."
Apple's Internet products chief Eddy Cue, a key player in setting up its iTunes Music Store, also joined the meeting, at which Cook expressed interest in Daisy's business model and its rollout plans, although the two did not discuss specifics of a deal, the sources said.
The meeting between Cook and Iovine, who is also chairman of music company Interscope-Geffen-A&M, was "informational" and covered a broad range of music-related topics, the sources said.
Iovine said he subsequently pitched a subscription service to Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs in 2003, but the mercurial Silicon Valley icon was not keen on it right away. Iovine added that Steve Jobs didn't want to pay the record companies enough, and thought the price would come down eventually.
In light of the fact that Apple acquired the music streaming service Lala.com back in 2009, it would be interesting to know exactly what Jimmy Lovine's new service would actually be offering Apple.
