> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Apple Music: We Won’t Play Free Music “Shell Game… building an audience on the back of the artists” [ANALYSIS] - URL: https://www.hypebot.com/apple-music-we-wont-play-free-music-shell-game-building-an-audience-on-the-back-of-the-artists-analy/ - Published: 2015-10-08T11:55:00.000Z - Updated: 2015-10-08T11:55:00.000Z - Description: Apple Music has no intention of "building an audience on the back of the artists" by offering a free ad supported music option, as Spotify does, according to senior exec. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/10/apple-music-we-wont-play-free-music-shell-game-building-an-audience-on- - Author: Bruce Houghton - Tags: Music Business, Music Tech, Streaming, Apple Inc., Bruce Springsteen, Dr Dre, Hypebot, Interscope Records, iTunes, Jimmy Iovine, music industry, Record producer, Trent Reznor, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:28 [![Jimmy Iovine](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d1648d3f970c-150wi "Jimmy Iovine")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d1648d3f970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com)**Apple Music** has no intention of **"building an audience on the back of the artists"** by offering a **free ad supported music** option, as **Spotify** does, according to senior exec **Jimmy Iovine**. Is this just spin to cover up slower than hoped for user adoption; or is this caring corporate policy? Free ad-supported streaming music services like Spotify are "building an audience on the back of the artists," Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine said yesterday at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit in San Francisco. He categorized the practice as a "shell game." [![image from cdn.macrumors.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d152e148970c-150wi "image from cdn.macrumors.com")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d152e148970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com) "We don't want to do that," said Iovine, a former record producer who co-founded Beats Electronics. "We believe that we've built something powerful enough and strong enough that it will work." Unsurprisingly, Iovine didn't share how many paid subscribers Apple Music has, but claimed growth was "going really well." **ANALYSIS** As a former record producer and exec, Jimmy Iovine may fully subscribe to the artist friendly approach that he espouses. But his statements, particularly shared just days after Apple got to see their music service's paid subscriber numbers, also accomplish other goals. With this one conference appearance (and others likely to follow), Iovine sent a signal to his label partners, dissed his chief rival Spotify and gave artists a reason to favor his service. **To the labels** (and likely his Apple bosses), Iovine was saying be patient. Doing this the right way (aka Paid not free) takes time. **To Spotify** , the message was 'the labels and artists love me, so don;t assume you can stream music free forever." **To artists**, the message was 'give us your exclusives, we'll treat you fairly'. **Not bad for a single interview.** Related articles [![](http://i.zemanta.com/362083675_80_80.jpg)](http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-acquired-beats-just-so-that-it-could-hire-jimmy-iovine-2015-9?ref=hypebot.com)[Apple may have spent $3 billion just to hire Jimmy Iovine](http://uk.businessinsider.com/apple-acquired-beats-just-so-that-it-could-hire-jimmy-iovine-2015-9?ref=hypebot.com) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/362332338_80_80.jpg)](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/5-signs-youre-ready-to-release-your-first-full-length-album.html?ref=hypebot.com)[5 Signs You're Ready to Release Your First Full-Length Album](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/5-signs-youre-ready-to-release-your-first-full-length-album.html?ref=hypebot.com) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/362992761_80_80.jpg)](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/one-helluva-musical-butt-whoopin.html?ref=hypebot.com)[One Helluva Musical Butt Whoopin'](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/one-helluva-musical-butt-whoopin.html?ref=hypebot.com) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_48_80_80.jpg)](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot-hosts-fourth-san-francisco-music-and-tech-meetup/)[Hypebot Hosts Fourth San Francisco Music And Tech Meetup – hypebot](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot-hosts-fourth-san-francisco-music-and-tech-meetup/) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_NaN_80_80.jpg)](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/10/eddy-cue-jimmy-iovine-not-worried-about-apple-musics-future-but-zane-lowe-is-.html)[Eddy Cue, Jimmy Iovine, Zane Lowe Speak In Code About Apple Music's Secret Subscriber Numbers](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/10/eddy-cue-jimmy-iovine-not-worried-about-apple-musics-future-but-zane-lowe-is-.html) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/362332339_80_80.jpg)](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/welcome-our-new-community-manager-owen-davie.html?ref=hypebot.com)[Welcome Our New Community Manager Owen Davie](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/welcome-our-new-community-manager-owen-davie.html?ref=hypebot.com) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/361742683_80_80.jpg)](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/top-10-music-industry-podcasts.html?ref=hypebot.com)[Top 10 Music Industry Podcasts](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/top-10-music-industry-podcasts.html?ref=hypebot.com) [![](http://i.zemanta.com/361742685_80_80.jpg)](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/the-best-way-to-make-money-as-a-musician-is-not-with-music.html?ref=hypebot.com)[The Best Way To Make Money As A Musician Is Not With Music](http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/the-best-way-to-make-money-as-a-musician-is-not-with-music.html?ref=hypebot.com)