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Apple Music Is HERE But Can It Topple Spotify?
Apple Music has launched and will be available inside iOS 8.4
Music fans rejoice! Apple Music has officially launched in more than 100 countries. The music streaming service was initially announced at this year’s World Wide Developers Conference by none other than Beats’ Jimmy Iovine who said of the service “All the ways people love enjoying music come together in one app — a revolutionary streaming service, live worldwide radio and an exciting way for fans to connect with artists.”
Iovine was a natural to introduce it not only consider his decades of experience in the music industry, but the fact that Apple acquires his company, Beats, and essentially turned it into Apple Music. The move was also a no brainer for Apple considering that the ala carte music download model of buying songs that Apple pioneered in 2003 has since been replaced by streaming music services. Speaking of which…
Spotify comparisons are inevitable, but Apple has also put its own Apple touch on its new Music service–and thrown some serious cash behind it. But just what all does the new service entail and how do you get it? Here’s everything you need to know.
Apple Music is three distinct things: streaming, radio, and social network
Apple Music isn’t “just” a streaming service. It’s actually three distinct services under one Music label. The first part of Apple Music is the streaming music service itself. This streaming music service gives you access to over 37 million songs that you can stream and listen to any time you want. Apple Music doesn’t offer all the songs to stream that you can buy on the iTunes Store (the Beatles’ songs are a notable absence) but it does offer most of them. Apple Music was even able to sign up pop music superstar Taylor Swift after she famously removed her catalog of music from Spotify. Though while Swift originally agreed to have her back catalogue on Apple Music, she held off her most recent album, 1989, until Apple agreed to pay royalties to artists during Apple Music’s three month free trial.
Another large part of Apple Music is music curation. Traditional streaming music services rely solely on algorithms to determine the playlist and decide which music users might like. While Apple Music does rely on algorithms, it also features a heavily human-curated content selection. Apple made much hype about the human touch in Apple Music during the keynote and it could be the distinguishing factor that sets it apart from other streaming music services.
Besides curation, Apple Music is also a radio station–literally. Until now all online “radio” stations have actually just been computer controlled streaming music channels. With Apple Music Apple has created a world-wide radio station called Beats 1 Radio. This station broadcasts from three locations–New York, Los Angeles, and London. Apple has signed up well known DJs to head the exclusive live content including interviews, guest hosts and “the best of what’s going on in the world of music.”
Beats 1 Radio launched today, kicking off at 9am California time with former BBC DJ Zane Lowe serving up the tunes from London. For those wondering, the first song played on Beats 1 was Spring King’s “City” – check out the music video below.
Besides Zane Lowe other big name DJs will be helming Beats 1 from Los Angeles (with Julie Adenuga) and New York (with Ebro Darden).
The final leg of Apple Music is as a social media portal. Called Apple Music Connect, the social media channel allows artists to share videos, unreleased tracks, pictures, and more with the fans who follow them. This of this as kind of like a mixture of MySpace and Instagram.
What devices does Apple Music support?
Device and platform support is the area you can really tell Apple Music matters so much to the company. Why? Because for the first time Apple is releasing a dedicated Apple Music app for Android. That is a HUGE departure from anything the company has done in the past. They want everyone in the world to use Apple Music and know that in order for that to happen Android support is a must.
As of today you can access Apple Music on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 8.4 or higher. You can also access the service on your Mac or PC via iTunes 12.2. Android support will be coming in the fall. In the fall Apple Music will also be rolling out to the Apple TV.
How much does Apple Music cost?
Apple Music is priced at £9.99USD per month in the UK. There will be no tiered options or ad-supported options for the main streaming service. But the good news is everyone will be able to try Apple Music for free for 3 months–starting today. After than, you gotta start paying.
The £9.99 cost matches other streaming services like Spotify–and shows music labels wouldn’t allow even someone like Apple to go lower. And if you’re complaining about the no-ad-supported free streaming service, know that that’s why Apple was able to get artists like Taylor Swift to sign up–she pulled her catalog from Spotify because she believed free streaming music devalued music.
Apple Music also offers a family plan for £14.99 a month that allows six people in the same house to access the service.
Will Apple Music kill other streaming services?
Probably not. But they should be concerned. After all, Apple Music will automatically be installed on hundreds of millions of iOS devices once those devices upgrade to iOS 8.4. Apple is hoping to sign up 100 million people to the paid service this year–if it does it could very well take some of those customers from Spotify, currently the largest streaming music service with 60 million users.
How Do I Get Apple Music?
On your iOS device open up the Settings app, tap General, and then tap Software Update and upgrade to iOS 8.4 or later. On your Mac or PC open iTunes and select “Check for Updates” and upgrade to iTunes 12.2 or higher.
On your Mac or PC you can access Apple Music right through iTunes. On your iOS device tap the new Music app and tap on the “Start 3 Month Free Trial” button. Select the plan you want–individual or family–then enter your iTunes password to confirm your subscription. You’ll have three months of free Apple Music from the day you subscribe (which you can cancel at any time). After that you’ll be charged monthly for your selected Apple Music plan.
Michael Grothaus
07:23, 1 Jul 2015