Apple Denies Shutting Down Beats Music

Technology giant Apple has denied a report by TechCrunch that it is shutting down its Beats Music streaming service, The Hollywoord Reporter says.

The report, posted on early Monday, claims its five sources said the Cupertino-based company will discontinue Beats Music, which is a subsidiary of Beats Electronics. Apple acquired the company in May from its founders, hip hop producer Dr. Dre and record producer Jimmy Iovine, through a $3 billion deal.

The TechCrunch article says that its sources, who reportedly include several prominent Apple and Beats employees, have confirmed that many engineers from the streaming service have already been transferred to other projects at Apple, including its other music service, iTunes.  

Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr, however, has told The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and Re/code that the claims are "not true." A Beats representative has also said denied the report.

Re/code's says that Neumayr did not expound on the statement. It, however, claims that based on conversations with "people familiar with Apple's thinking," Beats Music will not shut down but will instead undergo a rebranding in the future.

TechCrunch's story has since been updated and now mentions Re/code's elaboration on Apple's statement. 

Nevertheless, it claims that the information provided by the sources who spoke with Re/code "aligns with what [the report's] sources said, which is that the Beats Music brand will be shut down, but that it's unclear what Apple wants to do in streaming music."

TechCrunch notes that the new iPhones do not feature a pre-installed Beats Music app but are loaded with several other Apple apps. It also says that there was no mention of the streaming service during the reveal of the new Apple Watch two weeks ago, arguing that the service's radio and fire-and-forget playlists are fitting for a wearable watch.

The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, mentions that Beats Music was "largely ignored" during the event.