Yesterday, about a week after Apple officially joined the streaming arms race, the Grammy-winning indie folk musician Justin Vernon tweeted his grievances about the tech giant. The creative force behind Bon Iver cited an article by FACT that asked whether Apple is still innovative and said, “the company that made me believe in companies, and not joking: PEOPLE / is no more.”
don’t need to read this. its true. the company that made me believe in companies, and not joking: PEOPLE is no more pic.twitter.com/evDBnHf1zR
— blobtower (@blobtower) June 16, 2015
Apple Music’s current licensing structure, according to FACT, potentially means that “rights holders would be paid no royalties from those using the streaming service’s three month trial period,” which some fear would “punch a black hole” into the music industry’s annual earnings. Vernon joins many who share this concern, including, as Billboard reports today, indie label conglomerate Beggars Group.
Back in April, (when the Tidal debate was raging) Vernon aired his general disappointment in the company’s current state of affairs.
thats it. I’ve had it. APPLE: you were a great company. fearless. innovative. now iTunes literally is just BAD DESIGN. #COMEBACK
— blobtower (@blobtower) April 20, 2015
Today, Vernon cited older versions of popular Mac applications that had “such amazing design.” He then added that he’d “been loving Spotify, for the record,” but that he thinks “cd’s +lp’s and tapes are still better,” just in case any of you dare doubt his commitment to analog.
For more, read our coverage of Apple Music and Tidal.
(via Flavorwire)
