Apple has officially closed a deal to acquire headphone maker and music-streaming service Beats, the company announced Friday. “Today we are excited to officially welcome Beats Music and Beats Electronics to the Apple family,” Apple said in a statement. “Music has always held a special place in our hearts, and we’re thrilled to join forces with a group of people who love it as much as we do.” News emerged in May that Apple had struck a $3 billion deal to acquire Beats, a company co-founded in 2008 by Dr.