Apple Reportedly Offering Drake, Others Millions to Serve as iTunes Radio Guest DJs

If the news leaked through The New York Post yesterday, May 31, is any indication, Apple is serious -- tens of millions of dollars serious -- about investing in setting its music offerings apart from the competition.

According to a column in yesterday's Post, Apple is asking Drake to join forces with iTunes Radio, offering the rapper something to the tune of $19 million to sign on as a guest DJ, among other possible collaborations with Apple.

The paper also said Apple has approached mega-producer Pharrell Williams and superstar DJ David Guetta with similar propositions.

The maneuvering indicates Apple is investing the big money in giving an old-school, human-powered element to its music offerings. Earlier this year, Apple hired popular BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, as well as four producers from the station, to work on iTunes Radio.

This also isn't the first time Apple has tried to lure top-tier artists in close. In April, it was reported Apple was pursuing the likes of Taylor Swift and Florence and the Machine -- whose How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful comes out tomorrow (June 2), and is one of the most anticipated releases of the year -- for exclusive releases for Apple Music, the company's new streaming service. Analysts are expecting Apple to give more details on Apple Music at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8.

The Post also reported that Apple asked record labels for free rights to their music for its first three months -- an unlikely score even for the tech megalith. We already know Apple plans to launch Apple Music with a free trial period.