Apple Music has transformed its 100 Best Albums list from digital screens to an elegant coffee table book—but this luxe edition, priced at $450 (approximately Rs 38,000), isn't for budget-conscious buyers. Titled 'Apple Music: 100 Best Albums', this 208-page collector's piece is available for pre-order, with shipping scheduled for November 25.
With only 1,500 individually numbered copies available, this edition is a serious collector’s piece. Crafted by luxury print house Assouline, the book is a visual delight, housed in a custom-designed, transparent acrylic slipcase etched with the Apple Music logo. The hardcover is wrapped in white linen, with gold gilding on the page edges and spine. Apple Music’s Creative Director, Zane Lowe, describes the collection as one that’s sure to "stir up passionate debates among fans over what truly qualifies as the 'greatest records ever made.'"
Although the content is drawn from the digital version of Apple’s list, it’s curated to showcase the profound impact each album had on both listeners and artists. Lowe describes it as a “love letter” to music fans. “What we found,” he explains, “is that truly great albums are more than just a collection of songs—they become a part of you, a part of your life story.”
The list celebrates 65 years of music, embracing genres from country and rock to hip-hop and electronic. It ranges from timeless classics like Miles Davis’s 'Kind of Blue' to recent hits like Bad Bunny’s 'Un Verano Sin Ti.' With insights from artists and music experts, it features icons as diverse as Billie Eilish, Metallica, Travis Scott, and Talking Heads.
Deciding if it’s worth the splurge depends on how much you value premium music memorabilia. For some, 'Apple Music: 100 Best Albums' is the ultimate tribute to the records that defined their lives; for others, it’s a reminder of Apple’s skill in turning music into high art. Notably, this isn’t Apple’s first venture into collector’s editions—back in 2016, the tech giant released a $300 (about Rs 25,000) book featuring 450 photos of Apple products through the years, focused on its hardware legacy.