[Brother Leon]

Apple 'To Buy Dr Dre's Beats Firm For $3.2bn'

Dr Dre calls himself the "first billionaire in hip hop" as the iPhone maker lines up a huge bid for his headphones company.



Apple is set to buy headphone maker Beats Electronics for $3.2bn (£1.9bn), it has been reported.

The Financial Times says the deal could be announced as early as next week, marking Apple's largest ever acquisition.

Founded by rapper and music producer Dr Dre and fellow music producer Jimmy Iovine in 2008, the firm produces 'Beats by Dr Dre' headphones and also runs a music streaming service.

Beats Electronics received a $500m (£295m) investment from Carlyle Group last September, valuing the company at more than $1bn.

It has been reported that Apple is contemplating a Spotify-like on-demand music service.

Some technology analysts have speculated that the purchase plans are motivated by acquiring Beats' streaming arm rather than the headphones division.

Apple is sitting on a $133bn (£78bn) cash pile, and chief executive Tim Cook has said the firm has "no problem" with spending large sums of money to acquire top companies.

Apple and Beats have not commented on the reports.

However, in a video posted by singer Tyrese Gibson, Dr Dre boasts that he is "the first billionaire in hip hop".

He then laughs as Gibson says: "Billionaire boys club for real, homie. The Forbes list just changed."

Dre, a former member of NWA, compared his company to Apple in an interview in 2011.

He said: "We're trying to eventually be second to Apple. And I don't think that's a bad position."

http://news.sky.com/story/1258197/ap...firm-for-3-2bn

Damnn...Dre wins.

[Shaun]

crazy

are they any good? All I see is hipsters saying they suck

[Ramsay]

Imagine actually having that amount of money holy ****

[jackc1806]

Originally Posted by Karl

Imagine actually having that amount of money holy ****

It'd be pretty cool tbh

[Ramsay]

I know well it'd go straight to my head would completely ruin me

[Josy]

Crazy money. Good for Dre though.

[Brother Leon]

Originally Posted by Shaun

crazy

are they any good? All I see is hipsters saying they suck

For what they cost there are better performance ones I guess, but they look nice,are comfortable and the sound cancellation/sound is pretty good. I got ones as a present a couple years ago and they are doing good enough for me.

[T*]

Beats- Giving you £30 worth headphones for up to £300, Because rapper brand

[Brother Leon]

Originally Posted by Tom!

Beats- Giving you £30 worth headphones for up to £300, Because rapper brand

Welcome to life. Everything "branded" is like this pretty much.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by Tom!

Beats- Giving you £30 worth headphones for up to £300, Because rapper brand

Meh I don't buy things just because of the brand tbh... Beats are good, my old HTC was good with them in it too.

That's probably why apple are buying it so they can stick them in iphones.

[InOne]

Good as time as any to post this classic

Youtube video

[alex_front2]

Fantastic news.

It's interesting to see certian folk in comments sections become furious at a black guy becoming a $ and £ billionaire and reading snooty articles about Dre and how he's involved

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...is-Dr-Dre.html

What Rhiannon Williams actually means is 'nope Dre can't really be involved' as this would mean a) he's actually really savvy outside of music as Rhiannon knows all blacks are good for in making money is sport, rap and drugs b ) it's technology and blacks surely are clueless about this Pathetic cow, Rhiannon.

[Shaun]

it's been confirmed drinks on dre tonight

[Jake.]

Doesn't matter, Beats are nothing more than a fashion accessory now anyway so that will suit Apple fine

[King Gizzard]

do they keep his name or what?