Apple nets exclusive concert livestream by Arcade Fire

Apple Music has secured a new exclusive, this time a livestreamed performance by indie rock outfit Arcade Fire. The band is playing a concert to promote its upcoming album, Everything Now, but for those who can’t physically attend the show in Brooklyn, it will be streamed exclusively on the Apple platform. The show is scheduled for July 27 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m. Pacific.

Apple gets lots of exclusives, but this one is compelling because two of the leading members of Arcade Fire participated in the big relaunch of Tidal and signed on as artist-owners of that streaming property. For Win Butler and Régine Chassagne to take their band’s work to a rival platform might demonstrate a lack of confidence that Tidal would match the experience (or finances) offered by Apple. But it may not be a surprise; Butler gave an interview in 2015 that called Tidal’s big unveiling “a poorly managed launch.”

Anna Washenko