Which headphone and music company did Apple acquire in 2014 for about $3 billion?

Apple acquired Beats Electronics in 2014 for approximately $3 billion, making it one of Apple’s largest acquisitions at the time.

Beats was founded in 2006 by rapper Dr. Dre and music executive Jimmy Iovine. It became famous for stylish headphones and later expanded into music streaming with Beats Music. Apple’s deal included both Beats Electronics and Beats Music.

The acquisition strengthened Apple’s position in premium headphones and helped provide technology and expertise for Apple Music, which launched in 2015. Apple retained the Beats brand and continued selling products such as Beats Studio and Beats Solo headphones.

The deal is sometimes described simply as Apple buying a headphone maker, but it also involved a music-streaming business and important relationships in the recording industry.