As iPods and smartphones put music in every pocket, somewhere along the way headphones became a fashion statement. When I reviewed the original Beats by Dr. Dre for Ubergizmo.com back in 2008, it was mostly die-hard audiophiles who were willing to fork over $300 or more for a really good set of personal on-ear musicians – and the looks of the cans were usually a secondary concern (if at all).
But celebrities flaunting earphones as a must-have accessory changed that, and Beats by Dre led the way: the former start-up targeting an upscale niche turned into a mass-market brand for hipsters and hipster wannabes. By now, The DJ and his producer partner Jimmy Iovine have said good-bye to Monster Cable and hello to a multi-million dollar business that they’re rapidly expanding into a digital music empire complete with music streaming service.
