Unreleased 1983 Prince Concert Film May Land Exclusively on Apple Music

Ironically, the deal is being helped by Troy Carter, a Spotify executive. Here’s more about what Apple may win with a multi-million dollar bid:

On the table is a film of Prince’s Aug. 3, 1983 performance in Minneapolis where he debuted several of the songs released on the soundtrack to his 1984 movie Purple Rain, plus additional footage that a buyer could use to produce a documentary about the making of the film, sources say. The storied show at Minneapolis’s First Avenue nightclub was a surprise gig billed as a benefit for the Minnesota Dance Theatre, with a set list that included “Let’s Go Crazy” and “Purple Rain.”

Late last month, in an extensive interview with Bloomberg, Apple executive Jimmy Iovine hinted about plans to make the streaming service much more than just about music.

Currently, Apple Music has more than 20 million subscribers compared to more than 50 million paid Spotify users. With the market getting even more crowded with newcomers like Pandora Premium, exclsuice content is seen as a major differentiator and can help drive long-term growth.