Billboard Magazine Says Its Sources Confirm Apple's Music Network

by , 3:15 PM EST, March 5th, 2003

Billboard.com has run a story saying that the publication has confirmed what the LA Times reported yesterday. In the Times' article that we mentioned Tuesday morning, the newspaper said that Apple will be launching a Mac-only music file sharing network. The Times also reported that Apple is setting up the system in a way that has pleased music executives. Billboard, the venerable music-industry publication, says that its own sources have confirmed it. From the short report:

Apple Computer is expected to launch a digital music service as early as next month, sources confirm to Billboard Bulletin. Digital-music executives familiar with the situation say Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has been meeting with the major record companies to generate support for the venture.

The report also erroneously states that Mac users represent 3% of the market, mistaking current market share for total users. You can read the full report at Billboard's Web site.

The Mac Observer Spin:

It's always very interesting to see the non-Mac world reporting on Apple-related things. In this case, Billboard and the LA Times both seem to have relied on sources that normally never cross the world of Apple. If, as both reports say, Steve Jobs has been meeting with music executives, it's hard to imagine just how many people would know about that. Secretaries, security guards, junior execs, executive assistants, and who knows how many passers-by could all have noticed these meetings. Newspapers, and especially Billboard magazine, must have lots of contacts in that world, making it a much different story than most regarding a tech company like Apple.

Billboard Story