Apple Music Chief Oliver Schusser Adding Beats Hardware to His Responsibilities

Beats president Luke Wood is stepping down at the end of this month, and Apple Music chief Oliver Schusser will be adding oversight of Beats hardware to his responsibilities, according to CNET.

apple music beats icon
Apple has not publicly announced the upcoming change, but Apple's services chief Eddy Cue recently sent an email to Apple employees confirming it. Cue noted in his email that the transition has been in the works for a while and that Apple remains "committed to the Beats brand."

The move has been in the works for a while, Cue said in his note to employees: "In the last year, Luke Wood told me about his desire to do something new. I appreciated the heads up so that it allowed us to plan for this transition." [...]

Cue wrote that he was sensitive to making a management change in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, remarking that "the timing of the announcement isn't ideal." However, the best thing for Beats is "to keep the business moving forward," he said, affirming that Apple remains "committed to the Beats brand and the importance of maintaining its role firmly in the music portfolio."

Wood officially joined Beats as president and chief operating officer in 2011, and has continued to oversee the Beats hardware business since Apple's acquisition of Beats in 2014.

While Beats Music quickly transitioned to become ‌Apple Music‌, Apple has kept the valuable Beats hardware brand separate so far, releasing several new and updated headphone models including Powerbeats, Powerbeats Pro, and Solo Pro in recent months.

Apple itself has, however, increasingly ventured into the headphone market with AirPods, AirPods Pro, and rumors of additional upcoming products including over-ear headphones that would directly compete with some of Beats' higher-end flagship products.

Tag: Beats

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...

Top Rated Comments

Jakexb Avatar
65 months ago
Apple bought Beats because it was the fastest way to get into streaming music and to fix their "dad brand" issues. Hiphop is everything in popular music today and there was no bigger consumer brand in hiphop than Beats. They got the headphone business "for free" and they've managed it well. The beats brand isn't the same as the apple brand and that's totally fine. Both have an element of fashion and everyone in the world isn't going to wear the same fashion.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeanL Avatar
65 months ago

Always thought Apple should've bought Bose instead of Beats. Bose's design principles and aesthetic fit right in at Apple; now Apple has to enter a whole new venture of R&Ding their own stuff to phase out Beats. What a weird purchase, though I guess it was profitable?
1. Not every company is for sale.
2. The rumours of Beats being phased out have been there for years and it's not going to happen because of brand recognition.
3. Beats was more than just the hardware at the time. Remember Beats Music? Bose doesn't have a streaming service.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
az431 Avatar
65 months ago

Still can’t believe Apple bought Beats and made Dre a near billionaire in the process. Thank god that chancer Iovine was eventually booted to the curb but not before Apple lavished (wasted) millions upon millions on his “talent”.
Yeah it's been an epic failure all around. :rolleyes:

/s


So the Apple Music team overseas Beats hardware. That tells us all we need to know about Beats. It’s not about quality headphones it’s about the brand and appealing to a certain demographic.
I don't see how you arrived at that conclusion. Like leaping over the grand canyon.


Always thought Apple should've bought Bose instead of Beats. Bose's design principles and aesthetic fit right in at Apple; now Apple has to enter a whole new venture of R&Ding their own stuff to phase out Beats. What a weird purchase, though I guess it was profitable?
Ehhhh what????? :oops:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
addictive Avatar
65 months ago
Bose has great marketing but not great sound. Ever hear the phrase "no highs no lows must be bose"? There has always been a better equivalent for the same money. Think of how popular the Beats brand is among the young 13-35? Would all the entertainers and sports stars advertise Bose in the same way they've advertised Beats? Apple Music has an online global radio station under the Beats brand.

There's no way Apple is phasing out the Beats brand but it's unfathomable how Apple hasn't put the W1 or it's successor in any portable stereos in the last few years. Or Siri. I understand they've prioritised the HomePod and AirPods but a lot of that engineering expertise comes from acquiring Beats.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtneer Avatar
65 months ago

"Dad brand"...?

? ? ?

I've been an Apple user for almost 25 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard that phrase. Not once did I ever think Apple was "uncool" for being a computer company first and foremost. Nor would I have cared if they were. In fact, it's only since Apple's begun trying to increase their cultural cachet with the "hip" and "young" crowd that I've begun to have problems with the company's hardware, software, and philosophy.

But I suppose logic like yours is what has driven Apple management for the last decade anyhow. Explains a lot, sadly.
That's because by being an Apple user for 25 years, you are part of the "Dad generation" that's being implied in the earlier post!! Apple probably wants the generation who wasn't even born for the duration of time you've been using Apple products.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
65 months ago

"Dad brand"...?

? ? ?

I've been an Apple user for almost 25 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard that phrase. Not once did I ever think Apple was "uncool" for being a computer company first and foremost. Nor would I have cared if they were. In fact, it's only since Apple's begun trying to increase their cultural cachet with the "hip" and "young" crowd that I've begun to have problems with the company's hardware, software, and philosophy.

But I suppose logic like yours is what has driven Apple management for the last decade anyhow. Explains a lot, sadly.
You decry the claim of Apple being called "dad brand" with, what you have to realize is, a text book "dad brand" quote. Intentional or happy accident? Either way, good stuff.:D
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)