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Apple Music expected to include Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ album, a digital first [Update: confirmed]

Dr. Dre with Apple’s Eddy Cue

[Update: Apple tells us that The Chronic will definitely be available tomorrow on Apple Music.]

[Update #2: The Chornic is available on Apple Music and available to purchase digitally for the first time on the iTunes Store.]

Taylor Swift’s 1989 album isn’t the only high profile record exclusive coming to Apple’s new streaming music service when it launches tomorrow. Apple Music is said to include Dr. Dre’s classic album The Chronic for streaming, Rolling Stone reports, which will be a digital first for the hip-hop album.

The album’s inclusion in the catalog is especially notable as it hasn’t yet been available digitally including through the iTunes Store or Beats Music.

That’s due in part to a legal battle over the rights to the record with Dr. Dre being awarded digital rights to the album in 2011 while the label Death Row holds the rights to physical sales.

Dr. Dre, of course, co-founded Beats Electronics and Beats Music, which Apple acquired for $3 billion last year. Apple Music is based heavily on that acquisition with many elements from the Beats Music service present on Apple’s new streaming music service.

You won’t find the album digitally on iTunes or Amazon

In addition to possibly boosting Apple Music with the digital exclusive of his classic album The Chronic, Dr. Dre is said to be involved with the Beats 1 streaming radio station as well. The hip-hop artist will host a slot on the broadcast called “The Pharmacy” alongside other notable artists including Drake and Elton John with Zane Lowe leading the effort.

Apple Music launches with iOS 8.4 and updates to iTunes tomorrow at 8 AM PT while Beats 1 begins broadcasting at 9 AM.

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Comments

  1. Chris Brighton - 9 years ago

    Apple Music will be available in the UK right? I know that is a stupid question. There has been many rumours that on the US will get Apple Music tomorrow. On the US Apple site, it says 06/30/15 yet everywhere else it simply says “Coming Soon”.

  2. dda26f7e - 9 years ago

    While not entirely relevant to the article, having half a caption is just lazy journalism.

  3. proudinfidelusmc - 9 years ago

    I don’t know why steal.i.am is in that picture. He is one of the most unoriginal “artists” out there. Not just samples or borrows, he completely steals whole songs and throws shitty lyrics over them and calls it his own. And his other business ventures are just as big failures or worse. His stupid car he designed, dumb speakers, and his stupid “smart” watch.

    http://thissongissick.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/William-steals-song-meme.jpg

  4. I keep reading stories about what is being called Apple “Music” but then keep reading about how just about everyone involved with it is some rapper.

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.