Apple reveals rival app to Spotify's music-streaming service
Apple is upping the stakes against rival music services – especially Spotify – with the launch of a new app that combines streaming of tracks, music videos, internet radio and a platform for musicians to share unreleased compositions.
The Apple Music service, which was unveiled yesterday (8 June), will target users of Spotify, Tidal and other music apps when it launches in more than 100 countries at the end of June. It will use algorithms and humans to suggest songs and artists to people and can be voice controlled using Apple’s native Siri voice-activated software.
For advertisers, Apple Music will be a less attractive prospect than Spotify. Unlike Spotify – which offers non-paying customers music streaming interspersed with ads – Apple’s service will require consumers to pay for streaming music services – $9.99 a month.
The new app will include the Beats 1 radio station, hosted by former BBC DJ Zane Lowe.
Apple Pay
Apple also revealed that its Apple Pay service will make its debut outside the US, when it goes live in the UK next month. Transport for London has confirmed that will accept Apple Pay on London’s transport system when it launches.
TfL has already been at the forefront of contactless payment, having developed the technology for Oyster cards and debit and credit cards.
Source: and TfL
HSBC to cut 8,000 UK jobs
HSBC is to axe up to 25,000 jobs as part of plans to cut costs by $5bn, with around 8,000 of those jobs affecting UK staff, while the HSBC brand is set to disappear from the UK's high streets.
The British-based bank, which has faced controversy, including over its businesses involved in money laundering and concerning threats to pull its HQ out of the UK, is on a mission to improve profitability.
It will ring-fence its UK operations, separating its retail banking and investment operations as per UK regulations introduced as a result of 2008’s global banking meltdown.
The ramping down of UK operations and the possible closure of its global HQ will no doubt have ramifications for HSBC's advertising, which with emotive taglines such as 'Thank you' and various anti-elitism messages, is seemingly increasingly incompatible with its actions.
Source:
In case you missed it... two longer reads
Mark Steel, digital operations director at Argos, spoke to Marketing at the Bazaarvoice Summit, about the step-change in its comms strategy, the business' transformation plan, targeting higher demographic customers and why it's opening concessions in Sainsbury's stores and Tube stations.
Ben Carter, marketing director of Notonthehighstreet.com, reviews Gamechangers by Peter Fisk.
He starts by writing that "any book that leads with the question, ‘Are you ready to change the world?’, and has the equally impressive title Gamechangers, is guaranteed to excite me. I therefore had rather grand expectations of it". Find out if his expectations are met.
If you watch one video today...
We went along to find out about Gü Puds desert island pop-up restaurant, which is promoting the brand's ramekin range.
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