Apple recently met with Beats Electronics, the audio firm founded by hip-pop producer Dr Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine, to discuss a potential partnership involving the company's planned music streaming service. CEO Tim Cook and Internet products chief Eddy Cue reportedly met with Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine during a trip to Los Angeles late last month according to sources familiar with the situation as reported by Reuters.
Sources speaking directly with Reuters said the meeting was informational and covered a wide range of topics related to music. Specifically, Cook showed interest in Beats' music streaming business model and their rollout plans although the two sides did not discuss any specifics relating to a deal.
Naturally, both companies declined to comment when probed by the publication.
Interestingly enough, Beats is already locked into a separate partnership with Taiwanese handset maker HTC, one of Apple's rivals in the mobile devices market. It seems unlikely that the deal between Beats and HTC would have any bearing on a strategic partnership with Apple, however.
Beats purchased streaming music provider MOG last summer for an undisclosed amount of money. Iovine and company reportedly selected MOG due to the fact that they were the first streaming service to offer their entire catalog in 320Kbps.
Earlier this year, Beats announced Project Daisy - their plans to take what is left of MOG and develop it into a new streaming audio service. Topspin boss Ian Rogers was appointed CEO and the goal is to focus on mobile first but outside of that, details still remain unknown.