Apple to buy Beats for $3bn

摘要

Apple has confirmed the widely rumoured acquisition of Beats Electronics in a $3 billion (£1.78bn) deal designed to help it stay on top of the fast-changing music business. The deal will bring Apple the Beats headphones business along with Beats Music, a subscription service launched in January that directly competes with Spotify among others, and Beats Audio. Beats co-founders Jimmy lovine and Dr Dre will join Apple as part of the deal. The acquisition had been rumoured in May, and was made official on 28 May. Apple expects to close the purchase in the fourth quarter, it said.