Apple CEO Tim Cook clearly had Spotify and its algorithmically driven playlists in mind when he said: “We worry about the humanity being drained out of music, about it becoming a bits-and-bytes kind of world instead of the art and craft.” But are Cook’s anti-Spotify comments fair?
“Bits-and-bytes” music is the same humans-vs-machine argument that Apple Music has used against Spotify since launching three years ago.
But while a well crafted soundbite, it is not particularly accurate.
Spotify, though anchored by their powerful music algorithms, also employs an army of playlist curators who use data to help spot trends, but ultimately add their own taste and intuition.
So is Cook implying that Apple Music’s curators don’t look at data when choosing tracks? We all know better.
And while Apple Music may feature its hand-curated playlists and Beats One live DJ powered streams, other Apple Music features, like the just unveiled “Friends Mix,” clearly are computer generated using bits-and-bytes of data.
So, Tim, if bytes and bytes are such a bad thing, stop using them to help curate Apple Music, the App store and just about every corner of your business.
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