STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Drake and Pharrell Ink Lucrative Deals With Apple

Both stars are confirmed as celeb "guest DJs" for a revamped version of iTunes Radio.

Just weeks after news broke that Drake opted out of joining Jay Z's Tidal movement two days ahead of its launch, details have emerged on a new music venture that Drizzy is allegedly supporting. Billboard reports that, along with Pharrell, the "Headlines" rapper is set to be a "guest DJ" for Apple's newly revamped iTunes Radio service.

Set to be unveiled to the general public during Apple's 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next week (June 8-12), the reworked music service is said to have the two music superstars confirmed as its new faces. While specific details on their respective deals are unclear for now, a report from the New York Post seems to know pretty clearly the mechanics of the seemingly air-tight deal, with Drake's pay-out being one of them. According to a source from the Post, the MC is set to earn $19 million from the business venture.

| BIG BUSINESS: MAJOR DEALS IN MUSIC |

However, Billboard reports that a "knowledgable source" killed the Post's confident claim, saying that "Apple doesn't normally pay artists for those types of collaborations."

In regards to the "Happy" crooner's involvement, not much has been divulged as of yet, but it is suggested by the publication that he, Drake and David Guetta are scheduled to be three of several celebrity "guest DJs" for the service.

Is Apple potentially attempting to step on Tidal's neck through the reinvention of their still otherwise fresh iTunes Radio release? Only time will tell how this one pans out.

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