On Monday, May 16, 2017, the technology giant Apple Inc announced a massive update to its popular GarageBand music creation software on Mac and iOS. This update will now provide access to “extensive Chinese language localization” to include Chinese instruments in a strategy to celebrate the “rich history of Chinese music.”
More importantly, the recent bid is an effort to add exotic sounds not only sought after by unique musicians but also to appease an increasing Asian user base who may be looking to incorporate more traditional Chinese-inspired sounds.
“GarageBand is the most popular music creation app in the world and we’re excited to introduce these new features that incorporate the rich history of traditional Chinese music,” remarks Apple Vice President of Produce Marketing Susan Prescott. “By adding classic Chinese instruments and new Live Loop templates, the new GarageBand makes it fun and easy to make Chinese-inspired music right on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.”
“As a musician I’m always looking for ways to take my music in new directions and GarageBand has been such a great tool for me to experiment and add new elements to my songs on-the-go,” expressed artist JJ Lin, who has actually jammed with Apple’s Tim Cook, experimenting with the upgrade.
Of course, this announcement comes after a few weeks—and even months—of Apple looking to make a bigger divot in the Chinese infrastructure. Regulatory trouble, obviously, has made it difficult to penetrate this country, with Apple often receiving strict criticisms. Perhaps, the tech company’s recent $1 billion investment in the Chinese ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing may have helped improve their standing in the eyes of Chinese regulatory agencies.
Time will tell, as the adage goes, which is often the case when dealing with China. The country can be a tough nut to crack but should Apple manage it, they could gain access to a massive market far ahead of their competitors.
