Apple Music has released a $450 coffee table book with its top 100 album list.
The book, limited to 1,500 copies, contains album analysis and facts.
Apple has teamed up with Assouline, known for luxury books, to publish the collection.
Apple has turned its top 100 album list into a coffee table book and is selling a limited edition for $450 each.
When Apple Music released its ranking of the best albums of all time in May, it sparked debate among music fans. On Monday, the company announced that the much-discussed list will now become a collector’s item.
Limited edition
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums is available for pre-order. The book’s description states that it is a limited edition of only 1,500 copies. At 208 pages, the book contains an analysis of the meaning of each album as well as some facts.
Apple Music’s global creative director and co-head of artist relations Zane Lowe wrote the foreword.
“If our list leads to more debate among fans outside of Apple Music and people talk passionately about the music they love, then we’ve achieved our goal,” Lowe previously said.
Apple has partnered with Assouline, a New York-based publisher. Assouline’s best-sellers include coffee table books about former tennis star Roger Federer, Barbie and the fashion brand Chanel (the book “Chanel: The Impossible Collection” is available for over $1,000, about 930 euros).
Apple’s foray into publishing
“Apple Music: 100 Best Albums” isn’t the tech company’s first foray into the publishing industry. Apple published the book “Designed by Apple in California” in 2016, which featured designs by former Apple design chief Jony Ive.
The 300-page book sold for $199 for the small size and $299 for the large size until it was discontinued in 2019. The high price had already caused criticism back then.
Years after it was pulled from shelves, the design book is now selling on eBay for 10 times its original price in some cases. A seller had listed a brand new large book on Tuesday morning for $2,400 (approximately €2,257).
Neither Apple nor Assouline immediately responded to a request for comment from Business Insider. According to the website, the new Apple Music book is expected to ship in January.
Uncertainty about income
It is unclear whether revenue from book sales will be counted toward Apple’s services division revenue. This division includes subscription-based services such as Apple Music. Your sales have increased sharply in recent quarters.
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