Apple Hiring Culture Editor for iTunes
A job posting from the tech giant reveals more of its iTunes plans.
As Music Ally pointed out earlier today (Feb. 23), Apple is looking to hire an “editorial producer” in London. This person would be tasked with running a seemingly small but wide-ranging vertical within iTunes dedicated to covering the pop-cultural landscape generally.
The job listing also outlines the role’s involvement with branding and cross-marketing initiatives.
The hire would seem to align closely with the former Beats Music’s curatorial bend, and syncs with rumors around Apple’s plans for the streaming service, expected to launch in late spring or early summer. Apple just recently wooed the much-respected musical tastemaker Zane Lowe from the BBC.
Apple’s strategy for its streaming service is quickly coming into focus; the company’s retention of Jimmy Iovine and his acumen for spotting a good thing (whether an artist or a tech niche), the hiring of Zane Lowe and this newest posting all point towards a service aimed at giving listeners hand-crafted directions for navigating the tens of millions of songs available to them.
Billboard reported last week on changes to Apple’s iTunes album displays, and nervous reactions to those changes from independent label executives. Taken together, all signs point to a fundamental relaunch of iTunes by autumn.
Spotify has, through the Echo Nest, taken a data-driven approach to curation for its listeners, which many seem pleased with.
Not to be forgotten, Jay Z’s recent bid for Aspiro also included an editorial-heavy component in its WiMP streaming service.
As well, Google’s acquisition of curated playlisting company Songza last year was an important piece of that company’s streaming strategy. (That acquisition also notably lined the pockets of investors Scooter Braun and Troy Carter.)