Apple Music’s Jimmy Iovine Said Some Dumb Shit About Women And Music

Apple Music’s Jimmy Iovine Said Some Dumb Shit About Women And Music

Happy International Men’s Day! Every fucking day is International Men’s Day in the world I live in (you probably live here too!), so let us welcome another great example of why we don’t need a day specifically designated to upholding the patriarchy.

Jimmy Iovine, a legendary producer and co-founder of Interscope Records, partnered with Dr. Dre to start Beats Music way back in 2006. When Apple bought Beats Music, Iovine transitioned over to the company and has been helping sell the new streaming service to the public ever since. He is undoubtedly a very important, very astute man, but that didn’t stop him from saying some very stupid shit on CBS This Morning today. Iovine was brought in to talk about a well-orchestrated Apple Music ad that first aired a few months ago, during the Emmys, and was directed by Selma’s Ava DuVernay and starred Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson, and Mary J. Blige. It shows the three women hanging out and listening to some of their favorite songs on Apple Music. Stars! They’re just like us. People loved this fucking ad, and since a Google search brings up dozens of articles about how great it was, CBS This Morning brought in Mary J. Blige and one of the brains behind Apple Music to talk about the thought process that wrought it. Apparently the ad isn’t appealing because it showcases three passionate, successful women hanging out with one another — it was successful because it showed other women that they too can enjoy music! Here is what Iovine had to say:

So I always knew that women find it very difficult at times – some women – to find music. And this helps makes it easier with playlists, curated by real people. They’re not made by algorithms alone – they’re made by algorithms but with a human touch.

Apparently it is very hard for us, The Women, to seek out new music because we are so busy talking — er, sorry — complaining about boys to have other interests. It’s such a relief that Apple Music exists, because with Apple Music I can listen to a playlist specially designed for me (a woman) to soundtrack all of my complaining! Here’s Iovine again:

I just thought of a problem, you know: girls are sitting around, you know, talking about boys. Or complaining about boys, you know, when they’re heartbroken or whatever. And they need music for that, right? So it’s hard to find the right music, you know. Not everybody has the right lists, or knows a DJ or something.

These morning shows aren’t as unscripted as they’re made to look, so why would Iovine make such a baseless, gendered comment on the CBS This Morning? Because it’s International Men’s Day, dammit! We can’t talk about how men suck at finding music on their special day. No, that’s not why. He did it because a lot of women watch CBS This Morning, and pandering to their “inabilities” seemed like a good idea! Thing is, a lot of women also know how to use the internet (and Apple Music, at that!) and are firm believers in the notion that no thoughtless comment should go unpunished. To be fair, he did say “some women,” to which I reply: #NotAllMen. Watch below.

UPDATE: Iovine issued an apology for his comments, which you can read below.

We created Apple Music to make finding the right music easier for everyone — men and women, young and old. Our new ad focuses on women, which is why I answered the way I did, but of course the same applies equally for men. I could have chosen my words better, and I apologize.

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