Apple’s iTunes Tagging
Apple revolutionized the music industry when it introduced iTunes and the iPod, providing customers with a new and better way to manage and listen to their digital music. With the addition of the iTunes Store, Apple then partnered with the major record labels to ensure a legal and lucrative way to sell music to combat the era of rampant file-sharing.
Some 2000’s classics
Business Need
Many iTunes customers were very happy to rip their CD collection into iTunes and enjoy the portability of their music. We noticed that iTunes sales were flattening, and needed ways to support new music discovery.
Challenges
We knew that terrestrial radio was still (2007) the most popular way that Americans discovered new songs. But the radio groups were very wary of Apple and the threat posed by digital music.
Tagged
Approach
We assembled all of the major radio groups in Cupertino to meet with Apple executives as we explained the technical solution, the revenue-sharing, and our point-of-view on the win-win.
Results
iTunes Tagging was implemented by many automotive manufacturers as an element of their entertainment systems. I am a co-author on the patent for this technology.