Apple Music says it's for country music loving patriots too

Apple Music says it's for country music loving patriots too

Commentary: A new Apple Music ad crosses over to the country side of life and features singer Brantley Gilbert.
Since Apple Music's launch, it's been tempting to regard the service as the home of the self-consciously style conscious.
For instance, Taylor Swift.
Like the Democratic Party, Apple hasn't seemed to make too much effort to reach out to the heart of the country, where the values are a little different than they are in, say, Culver City, California.
Until now, that is. A new Apple Music ad offers patriotism and the joys of the open road and of eating in the local diner. 
Narrated by Georgia-born country singer Brantley Gilbert, the ad shows that his own taste in music includes Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild," Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama."
It's unclear whether Gilbert is one of those bikers who blasts his music for all to hear while he's rollin' on down the road. I've always found them oddly enchanting.

More Technically Incorrect

This is, though, a very sound move by Apple Music. 
When you have a product that has no truly distinguishing features -- other than that it's from Apple -- it's as well to appeal to all, not just those with whom you might feel most sweetly at home.
Moreover, after its new Siri nonmovie featuring The Rock, Apple is signaling its own shift toward more mainstream universality, a shift that's been evident for some time. 
Apple Music enjoys around 27 million subscribers. It's grown as the streaming market has grown, but it hasn't made too many inroads into Spotify's comfort zone. Spotify currently claims about 50 million subscribers.
Those of political bent will mutter, though, that Spotify is a Swedish company, while Apple Music is quintessentially American, so this appeal to Americana is a reflection of the Make America Great Again project of our times. 
I cannot confirm that Tim Cook will be the grand marshal at the next Daytona 500.
Tech Culture: From film and television to social media and games, here's your place for the lighter side of tech. 
Technically Literate: Original works of short fiction with unique perspectives on tech, exclusively on CNET.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

South Korea Suspends THAAD Deployment

Image
South Korea Suspends THAAD Deployment The new president of South Korea has halted the deployment of a controversial missile defense system designed to protect the country from incoming enemy missiles. The  Terminal High Altitude Air Defense system , or THAAD, was agreed to by the previous administration as a means to defend both South Korea and the U.S. troops based there from North Korean missile attack. Earlier this year South Korean President Park Geun-hye agreed to the deployment of the US-made THAAD missiles to her country. South Korea had waffled for years on the deployment, which was urged by the Pentagon, but the  breakneck pace of North Korea's missile tests —and what appeared to be an imminent nuclear test—forced the country's hand. President Park was impeached and removed from office this spring on corruption charges. The new president, Moon Jae-in, has criticized the previous administration's decision to deploy THAAD, saying it it should have b
Read more

With new Porsche Panamera, E-Hybrid means massive power

With new Porsche Panamera, E-Hybrid means massive power The 911 pace car ahead of me raced up the main straight and took the ascent up through Turn 1 of the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit without a flash of brakelights. Behind the wheel of the 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, I tried to close the distance. My car weighed a lot more but it also boasted substantially more power. The pace car's brakes went on hard before Turn 2, a strategy I emulated. The very tight corners on this tiny track gave the smaller 911 a natural advantage. To close the distance, I quickly learned that, to access the Panamera's 680 horsepower I needed to really put the pedal down, as the throttle felt modulated for smooth on-road driving. On the third of a succession of turns, I steered too tight and the Panamera's rear end began to wag. It wasn't pretty, but it wasn't devastating, either. Under Porsche's direction, I was driving with the Panamera's Porsche Stabili
Read more

Apple Says It Is Removing VPN Services From China App Store

Apple Says It Is Removing VPN Services From China App Store HIGHLIGHTS Apple Inc says it is removing virtual private network (VPN) services from its app store in China, drawing criticism from VPN service providers, who accuse the U.S. tech giant of bowing to pressure from Beijing cyber regulators. VPNs allow users to bypass China's so-called "Great Firewall" aimed at restricting access to overseas sites. In January, Beijing passed laws seeking to ban all VPNs that are not approved by state regulators. Approved VPNs must use state network infrastructure. In a statement on Sunday, an  Apple  spokeswoman confirmed it will remove apps that don't comply with the law from its China App Store, including services based outside the country. Beijing has shut down dozens of China-based providers and it has been targeting overseas services as it bids to tighten its control over the internet, especially ahead of the Communist Party congress in August. While per
Read more