How can a music service better compete with Spotify? Apple’s proposed solution, according to a new Wall Street Journal report: Add a dash of Netflix. The Journal reports that Apple is planning to bring original scripted series and movies to the $10-per-month Apple Music service. The tech giant has already reportedly spoken with Hollywood producers about acquiring content. Apple Music has previously taken small steps in this direction, last year acquiring a half-hour series based on the The Late Late Show with James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke segments. Of course, that acquisition was music-related, kind of. But according to the Journal, Apple Music is now seeking shows along the lines of HBO’s Westworld and Netflix’s Stranger Things. So if you’re a production company, why partner with Apple instead of Netflix? Apple’s pitch is, reportedly, a powerful one: The company will share data about how many people are watching the content. Other streamers tend to keep that info close to the vest, which has never made content creators particularly happy. Ultimately, Apple’s goal isn’t to spend zillions of dollars on content like Netflix and Amazon, the Journal reports; rather, Apple is trying to add just enough content to set its music service apart from Spotify, which currently has 40 million subs to Apple Music’s 20 million.
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