• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
MPWMost Powerful Women

Apple Exec Under Fire for Saying Women Find It ‘Difficult’ to Discover New Music

By
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
TIME
TIME
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 20, 2015, 9:20 AM ET
Jimmy Iovine At The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)
Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Beats Electronics, speaks during the Apple World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Monday, June 8, 2015. Apple Inc. kicked off its annual developers conference in San Francisco, where the company will unveil a revamped streaming-music service, improvements to its mobile software and tools to speed up smartwatch applications. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Bloomberg via Getty Images

By Maya Rhodan, Time.com

Apple Music (AAPL) executive Jimmy Iovine had the internet scratching its collective head on Thursday over statements he made about how women find music online.

Appearing on CBS This Morning, the music mogul said Apple Music, the company’s streaming music service, makes it easier for women to find music they like—which is important because, as Iovine explains, “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.”

Iovine joined the morning talk show to tout the curated playlists the music streaming service provides, as presented in ads featuring Kerry Washington, Taraji P. Henson, and Mary J. Blige, who appeared alongside Iovine on the program. The hosts and Iovine agreed that Selma director Ava DuVernay “murdered” the ads, which enchanted social media during the 2015 Emmy Awards, but Iovine had an odd explanation for why he chose the three women to star in them.

“I just thought of a problem: Girls are sitting around talking about boys. Or complaining about boys, when they have their heart broken, or whatever,” he said. “And they need music for that, right? It’s hard to find the right music. Not everybody knows a DJ.”

Social media users took the music mogul to task on Thursday, sharing their thoughts on his statements in 140 characters or less.

https://twitter.com/KennyBRuns/status/667484990243020800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

I blacked out in rage and wrote about why women don't need Jimmy Iovine to mansplain music to us for @observer. https://t.co/HRvEzYv0WA

— ilana kaplan (@lanikaps) November 19, 2015

https://twitter.com/sadydoyle/status/667463140779696128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/beadedsweater/status/667483694563659776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Watch the whole clip at CBS.

This piece was originally published on Time.com.

About the Author
By TIME
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in MPW

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Lists Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in MPW

Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power this week
C-SuiteFortune 500 Power Moves
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power this week
By Fortune EditorsApril 24, 2026
2 days ago
Esther, Janet, Susan, and Anne Wojcicki stand in formal dresses and pose.
SuccessLeadership
‘Godmother of Silicon Valley’ Esther Wojcicki, mother of the YouTube and 23andMe CEOs, shares her secret to raising future leaders 
By Jacqueline MunisApril 23, 2026
2 days ago
milan
Arts & EntertainmentItaly
‘It’s a film that is good for the city’: Milan welcomes ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’
By Colleen Barry and The Associated PressApril 23, 2026
3 days ago
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry is stepping down: Why the comeback she executed fizzled out
C-SuiteFortune 500
Best Buy CEO Corie Barry is stepping down: Why the comeback she executed fizzled out
By Phil WahbaApril 22, 2026
3 days ago
Photo of (left to right) Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, Cris Abrego, and Eva Longoria
SuccessWealth
Jeff Bezos once gave Eva Longoria and the admiral behind Osama bin Laden’s capture $100 million—but she says you don’t need wealth to give back
By Orianna Rosa RoyleApril 21, 2026
5 days ago
Connie and Steve Ballmer pose and smile
Successphilanthropy
Billionaire Connie Ballmer just donated $80 million to support NPR after Trump cut $1.1 billion from public broadcasting
By Jacqueline MunisApril 20, 2026
6 days ago

Most Popular

According to Warren Buffett's math the stock market is officially in 'playing with fire' territory. So when is the next crash coming?
Investing
According to Warren Buffett's math the stock market is officially in 'playing with fire' territory. So when is the next crash coming?
By Shawn TullyApril 25, 2026
21 hours ago
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
Success
Despite nearing their 60s, nearly four in 10 Americans heading towards the end of their careers don’t even have a retirement account
By Emma BurleighApril 23, 2026
3 days ago
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
Success
This CEO lived on canned soup and took just two days off for his daughter’s birth. Now he admits he lost sight of proper work-life balance
By Preston ForeApril 25, 2026
21 hours ago
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
Politics
The U.S. military may have already used up half of its most expensive missiles, and it could take up to 4 years to rebuild its stockpiles
By Sasha RogelbergApril 24, 2026
1 day ago
This is a ‘come to Jesus moment’: Ford CEO says American carmakers are battling a perfect storm
C-Suite
This is a ‘come to Jesus moment’: Ford CEO says American carmakers are battling a perfect storm
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 24, 2026
1 day ago
Even as businesses spend $4 million to cross Panama Canal, they say 'it’s safer and less expensive' than the Strait of Hormuz
Energy
Even as businesses spend $4 million to cross Panama Canal, they say 'it’s safer and less expensive' than the Strait of Hormuz
By Alma Solis, Megan Janetsky and The Associated PressApril 24, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.