I grew up with Apple. I'm writing this on one of my Apple computers while checking messages on my iPhone, streaming Netflix on my AppleTV and checking email on my iPad. The reason I have all of these devices is because Apple builds revolutionary tools that change the way we work. Change the way we play. And change the way we think about the world we live in. Until today, when they launched, in my mind, the biggest failure in Apple History, APPLE MUSIC. I woke up excited. This is that time of year Apple tells us how it's going to change our lives. I'm not disappointed in Apple for trying. I'm disappointed in Apple because they stopped innovating. Why do I think this is a failure? Because Apple didn't do the ONE THING they always do. Change something. Although I wasn't always the biggest fan of Steve Jobs, his company's motto was Think Different. And that's what I loved about Apple.It's Time For ChangeWhether you're using iTunes, Spotify, GhostTunes, MusicKey, Tidal or any of the other services I've never heard of... In all honesty: it doesn't matter. The Music Industry has created these services legally, for your benefit. Use them. Stop buying into candid statements regarding how these different streaming services treat the artists you listen to. Find a service that you LIKE. Find something you can afford. Find a user interface that feels right to YOU. Is your favorite artist Beyoncé? Then you should probably use Tidal (for now at least). How about TSwift? I'd probably just stick to iTunes. Find something that helps you discover new music and keeps you in touch with the music you love. I think for many people, the Apple Music platform may be the best choice, especially considering the one thing that was unique, its family-plan price point at $14.99/month (although, it's competitor Spotify does plan to match that pricing). I encourage everybody to give the new Apple platform a try, but, I wouldn't be so quick to cancel your other subscriptions at the same time. Several friends have asked for my thoughts on this long-awaited music service and, to be honest, I'm upset. I'm upset because this has been done before. I was looking for something that would CHANGE the way we experience music and I'm tired of companies thinking they can do streaming better than the last. I refuse to believe that streaming is the final medium of music consumption that I'll experience in my lifetime and I thought Apple might have been on to that next great thing. Now, Apple's new product does seem to have some great features and I'm definitely going to give it a shot; but the way to change the music industry is to change the way consumers experience the product. iTunes was launched in 2001, completely revolutionizing the way we purchase music. Seven years later, in 2008, Spotify was created, giving users the freedom to experience any track, at any time, from anywhere. And now, seven years after that, we have limited progress, little to no innovation and music industry that is failing. Anyone who tells me that Tidal, GhostTunes, YouTube Music Key, or Apple Music is "revolutionary," is wrong. They may have new features, but the essentials are all the same.
It's time to innovate. It's time to change. It's time to revolutionize the music industry once again. The artist's we support work hard every day to create something new for the consumer. We can do that too. Today, Apple failed. Not because they didn't create a great product, but because they stopped innovating.
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