When did Apple first start planning its iTunes initiative?
Chris Bell: Apple has had a digital music strategy for some time, even going back to the original Macintosh. That was the first computer that had sound included, after all. Since then, we’ve seen Macs used for years by professionals in the recording industry. I don’t think there’s any music made today that wasn’t touched by a Mac at some point. So, music has been part of our culture for 20 years, and iTunes just feels like a natural direction for us to take. Was the iPod originally conceived of as part of the larger iTunes strategy, or did its role in that strategy evolve after its release? Bell: The iPod and iTunes have always [gone] hand in glove. When we released the iPod, we knew that iTunes would be a companion to it, but we wanted to wait before releasing it. At the time, there were a number of failed attempts at online music subscription services and mini-sites, and we waited until we could do it right and have it work seamlessly. We were ready last April, so we launched it then
