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Perhaps the one and only advantage of growing up in the U.K. in the grim 1970s was the fact that the country had a national music culture.
It seemed to me, as a music-mad teenager, that everyone in the entire country listened to the same things — mostly.
My WWII-era grandparents didn’t listen to The Clash, ofc (Bing Crosby and Glen Miller were more their jam), but they were exposed to the band, via BBC Radio One, Top of the Pops, The Tube and the like.
These were all popular programs that were broadcast nationwide. Not everyone listened, but it did seem like the whole country was heavily invested in whatever song topped the charts that week. And you would likely hear that song everywhere — on the radio, on TV, in pubs and nightclubs, at parties or on friends’ record players.
This was mostly before portable music players, headphones and the advent of highly personalized music culture.
Apple today released Apple Music Replay 2025, a catalog of your most-played songs, artists and albums from the past year.
To coincide, Apple Music also compiled a list of the most-streamed songs and artists for the year, and — fogey alert! — I’ve not even heard most of the songs.
I’m pretty sure I haven’t even heard one bar of the most-streamed song globally: "APT." by Rosé and Bruno Mars. This is actually a good thing: I absolutely cannot stand Bruno Mars. (“You’re amazing, just the way you are,” is now stuck in my head! Grrrrrr.)
I don’t think it’s just me. I do try to seek out new music all the time. I have a bunch of 20-something kids who play all kinds of music on our kitchen HomePods.
Perhaps I’m a hopelessly out-of-touch old grouch. Or maybe we’re all in our own algorithmically optimized music bubbles. But I do miss the day when The Jam topped the charts with “Going Underground,” and the whole school/town/country celebrated it!
Anyway, here’s how to check your own Apple Music Replay.
Also in today’s newsletter:
While Apple is working on its first folding iPhone, Samsung is racing ahead with a trifold phone that unfolds into a 10-inch tablet. It looks pretty impressive.
Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea has been forced into early retirement after a string of failures. In Slack this a.m., I tried to argue that perhaps his job was harder than it looked: Apple’s trying to do AI right, with strong privacy and security controls, while rivals rush heedlessly ahead. But then I was reminded: Try to get Siri to play your favorite song! Giannandrea’s replacement has a pretty impressive resume.
This seems like a bad joke, but upcoming Macs might again run Intel inside. There are some good reasons, too.
Apple just dropped a new video about how its products are designed for everyone, not just the able-bodied. It’s remarkably charming and life-affirming. It’s embedded below. I recommend a watch.
Talking of charming: Here’s how to watch the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas for free, Apple TV subscription or no.
Today is the day in 1991 when Apple debuted one of the most consequential apps in the history of software: the first QuickTime player.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
P.S. Apologies to any Bruno Mars fans. I guess “Uptown Funk” is pretty good.
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Tweets of the day
Wallpaper of the day
One more thing ...
When I was growing up, a guy across the street had a Volkswagen Bug. He really wanted to make it into a Porsche. He spent all his spare money and time accessorizing this VW, making it look and sound loud. By the time he was done, he did not have a Porsche. He had a loud, ugly VW.
Today’s poll
Is Apple right to replace John Giannandrea (former head of AI)?
Results from yesterday’s poll: How often do you use AirDrop?
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