All signs point to a much broader iTunes when it re-launches this year
Apple is seeking an “Editorial Producer” for its London iTunes team, suggesting that it’s increasing its focus on the music industry. This certainly comes as no surprise, given the company’s acquisition of Dr. Dre’s Beats Electronics last year.
Apple focuses on iTunes
Start Dredge of Music Ally spotted the job posting, which calls for someone with experience in music journalism. The listing states that it is a full-time position that involves both editorial and producing responsibilities.
Under the editorial part of the job, the person will be doing writing and editing and managing freelance writers while “working collaboratively with business and content heads to shape and define editorially driven merchandising promotions.” The job posting also calls for someone with “deep contacts in the freelance world with writers who can cover the spectrum of pop culture.”
Apple set to re-launch iTunes
iTunes as we know it now doesn’t exactly have much of a place for journalism, but clearly that will change when Apple re-launches the service, which is expected to be sometime this year. Journalism is indeed a natural addition to iTunes, as it already has reviews of albums. Perhaps Apple is thinking of adding reviews from professional writers in addition to or instead of reviews from listeners.
Part of the re-launch of iTunes is to integrate the Beats music streaming service. With the addition of a music editorial team, Apple will be making it more like rival Spotify, which includes interviews and other content for Spotify Landmark.
As Dredge notes, the music journalism industry is struggling as print magazines are on the decline. Naturally people are going online to read about their music, and streaming services like Spotify and Beats are the perfect source for articles on these topics.
Popular DJ joins Apple
Zane Lowe, a popular DJ who was on BBC Radio 1, said earlier this month that he was leaving the station to take a position with Apple, moving from London to Los Angeles. He did not reveal what he will be doing at Apple, but with the expected addition of a music streaming service, it’s possible that he will continue being a DJ for Apple.
The addition of Lowe and an editorial team isn’t the only sign of the direction in which Apple is taking iTunes. Last month the company acquired music analytics service Musicmetrics.
