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Apple Music vs. Spotify: Can Apple Dethrone The KING?

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Apple Music vs. Spotify: Can Apple Dethrone The KING?

Apple’s venturing into pastures a new with Apple Music. But can it take down the mighty Spotify?


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Out of all the announcements at this years Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple’s new Apple Music streaming service was clearly the star of the show. It’s what Apple saved for its big “One More Thing” announcement and the company dedicated A LOT of time talking about it. Though the service was widely expected, that doesn’t mean the leading streaming music services aren’t a bit shell shocked.

But this move has been a long time coming. Apple’s once great iTunes business model has been in decline for years, following the rapid growth of streaming services like Spotify which have dramatically changed the way consumers perceive buying and consuming music –– an album costs £15 on iTunes but on Spotify you pay £10 a month and can listen to potentially thousands of albums. Put like that it’s a no-brainer why so many people now stream their music from Spotify. 

Still the advent of Apple into the music streaming space is a very BIG deal. The company controls billions of mobile devices around the globe, making it very easy for it to push out new software. The fact that Apple Music is cross platform, meaning it’ll work on Android, makes the prospect of Apple in the streaming space that little bit scarier for the likes of Spotfiy and Google. 

“I absolutely think we will see a streaming music service,” Gartner analyst Van Baker told AFP. “Apple is late to the game on this but it may not matter.”

Matter of fact, you can tell Spotify–the world’s #1 streaming music service–is understandably worried about this new competitor by the overly positive blog post it put out after Apple’s unveil. In is the company stated: “What a difference a year makes! At the end of May 2014, we reached 10 million paying subscribers and 40 million active users. Today, we have reached more than 20 million subscribers and more than 75 million active users. 10 million subscribers in our first five and a half years – and another 10 million subscribers in just a single year! That’s an average of one new subscriber every three seconds over the last year. Wow.”

Of course, Spotify does have the right to brag. People love its service and 20 million paying subscribers are a lot. But will that number decrease now that Apple Music is out? That depends is consumers see Apple Music as better than Spotify. We take a look at the two services to see how they compare.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Price

Here both services are essentially tied–at least for single users. Each costs $9.99USD a month. However, Spotify offers a free ad-supported tier, which Apple Music does not. Then again, Apple Music wins in the Family Plan department. Apple is only charging $14.99 a month for up to six users in the same household. Spotify charges an additional $5 per user on top of the $9.99 monthly rate. That means at the same $14.99 Apple Music pricing plan Spotify would only allow two users, where Apple allows six. Were you to match the six users on Spotify it would cost you $34.99 a month.

Both services also offer a free trial period. Spotify’s is one month. Apple Music gives you three months.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Platforms

Both services support a wide array of platforms and devices. Apple Music works on Macs, PCs, iOS devices, Android devices, and the Apple TV. Spotify works on Macs, PCs, Linux boxes, iOS devices, Android devices, Windows Phone devices, and Playstation.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Regional Availability

Spotify is, of course, available now in most of the America’s and the EU, along with some other countries. However, Apple kills it here, with Apple Music–when it becomes available on June 30th–being available in over 100 countries worldwide.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Content

Each service offers “over 30 million songs”. Yet Apple Music will have some artists Spotify does not, like mega-super-super-superstar Taylor Swift who famously left Spotify earlier this year because she said free music streaming was demeaning music. As Apple Music doesn’t offer a free tier, it seems Swift is happy there.

It’s not clear whether each service will try to get exclusives going forwards (we hope not).

Apple Music vs Spotify: Radio

Here the two services could not be more different. Spotify has on-demand user-created radio stations. These radio stations are essentially automatic playlists created by algorithms. Generally they are great for playing the types of music you love, but their big drawback is you’re never going to hear a song that’s radically different from your tastes, but one that you end up loving.

Apple hopes to address that discovery issue with its Apple Music radio features. Named Beats 1, the radio station is actually a bonafide, real radio station. It’s live 24 hours a day and 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.”

It’s with Beats 1 and its human DJ’s that Apple hopes to really put the sense of discovery back into music, which has become an area heavily dictated by algorithms in recent years.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Verdict

As someone who’s never been interested in streaming music services before I think it’s clear Apple Music is in a very good position to be labeled the “winner” here–I mean, it’s got me interested and seriously thinking about signing up for the $9.99 per month subscription.

Though the content is basically the same and both Apple Music and Spotify works on the devices I own (Mac, iOS, and Android)–and though both single user plans cost the same price–it’s the Beats 1 radio station and the human touch that has got me really excited about Apple Music. To be able to actually listen to a global radio station with headliner DJs 24 hours a day is, I think, amazing.

It’s the little (or not so little, in this case) extras like that which is why I believe Apple Music will quickly hit Apple’s stated goal of 100 million subscribers by the end of the year–and why it appears to be the winner in the battle of the music streaming giants.


Michael Grothaus

15:54, 12 Jun 2015

Apple's venturing into pastures a brand new with Apple Music. But can it take down the strong Spotify?

Vs

Out of all of the bulletins at this years Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple’s new Apple Music streaming carrier used to be obviously the celebrity of the display. It’s what Apple stored for its large “One More Thing” statement and the corporate devoted S LOT of time speaking approximately it. Though the carrier used to be extensively anticipated, that doesn’t imply the top streaming song products and services aren’t somewhat shell surprised.

But this transfer has been a very long time coming. Apple’s as soon as nice iTunes industry style has been in decline for years, following the speedy expansion of streaming products and services like Spotify that have dramatically modified the best way shoppers understand shopping for and eating song –– an album prices £15 on iTunes however on Spotify you pay £10 a month and will pay attention to probably heaps of albums. Put like that it’s a no brainer why such a lot of other folks now movement their song from Spotify. 

Still the arrival of Apple into the song streaming area is an overly BIG deal. The corporate controls billions of cellular units all over the world, making it really easy for it to push out new tool. The incontrovertible fact that Apple Music is pass platform, that means it will paintings on Android, makes the chance of Apple within the streaming area that little bit scarier for the likes of Spotfiy and Google. 

"A completely assume we will be able to see a streaming song carrier," Gartner analyst Van Baker informed AFP. "Apple is past due to the sport in this nevertheless it would possibly not topic.”

Matter of reality, you'll be able to inform Spotify–the arena’s #1 streaming song carrier–is understandably concerned approximately this new competitor through the overly positive blog post it placed out after Apple’s unveil. In is the corporate said: “What a distinction a yr makes! At the top of May 2014, we reached 10 million paying subscribers and 40 million lively customers. Today, we now have reached greater than 20 million subscribers and greater than 75 million lively customers. 10 million subscribers in our first 5 and a part years – and any other 10 million subscribers in only a unmarried yr! That’s an ordinary of 1 new subscriber each and every 3 seconds during the last yr. Wow.”

Of path, Spotify does have the correct to gloat. People love its carrier and 20 million paying subscribers are so much. But will that quantity lower now that Apple Music is out? That is dependent is shoppers see Apple Music as higher than Spotify. We check out the 2 products and services to peer how they examine.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Price

Here each products and services are necessarily tied–no less than for unmarried customers. Each prices $9.99USD a month. However, Spotify gives a loose advert-supported tier, which Apple Music does now not. Then once more, Apple Music wins within the Family Plan division. Apple is most effective charging $14.99 a month for as much as six customers in the similar family. Spotify fees an extra $5 in keeping with consumer on most sensible of the $9.99 per month fee. That way on the comparable $14.99 Apple Music pricing plan Spotify may best permit customers, the place Apple lets in six. Were you to compare the six customers on Spotify it might value you $34.99 a month.

Both products and services additionally be offering a loose trial duration. Spotify’s is one month. Apple Music will provide you with 3 months.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Platforms

Both products and services make stronger a wide selection of systems and units. Apple Music works on Macs, PCs, iOS units, Android units, and the Apple TV. Spotify works on Macs, PCs, Linux bins, iOS units, Android units, Windows Phone units, and Playstation.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Regional Availability

Spotify is, in fact, to be had now in a number of the America’s and the EU, along side another nations. However, Apple kills it right here, with Apple Music–while it turns into to be had on June thirtieth–being to be had in over 100 nations around the globe.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Content

Each carrier gives “over 30 million songs”. Yet Apple Music may have a few artists Spotify does now not, like mega-tremendous-tremendous-celebrity Taylor Swift who famously left Spotify in advance this yr as a result of she stated loose song streaming used to be demeaning track. As Apple Music doesn’t be offering a loose tier, it kind of feels Swift is excited there.

It’s now not transparent whether or not each and every carrier will attempt to get exclusives going forwards (we are hoping now not).

Apple Music vs Spotify: Radio

Here the 2 products and services may just now not be extra other. Spotify has on-call for consumer-created radio stations. These radio stations are necessarily automated playlists created by way of algorithms. Generally they're nice for enjoying the forms of track you're keen on, however their large problem is you’re by no means going to listen to a track that’s noticeably other out of your tastes, however person who you find yourself loving.

Apple hopes to deal with that discovery factor with its Apple Music radio options. Named Beats 1, the radio station is in reality a bonafide, actual radio station. It’s are living 24 hours an afternoon and declares from 3 places–New York, Los Angeles, and London. Apple has signed up widely recognized DJs to go the unique are living content material together with interviews, visitor hosts and “the most productive of what’s happening on the planet of song.”

It’s with Beats 1 and its human DJ’s that Apple hopes to actually placed the feel of discovery again into track, which has turn out to be a space closely dictated by way of algorithms in contemporary years.

Apple Music vs Spotify: Verdict

As anyone who’s by no means been occupied with streaming track products and services prior to A assume it’s transparent Apple Music is in an excellent place to be classified the “winner” right here–A imply, it’s were given me and critically excited about signing up for the $9.99 per 30 days subscription.

Though the content material is principally the similar and each Apple Music and Spotify works at the units A personal (Mac, iOS, and Android)–and although each unmarried consumer plans value the similar worth–it’s the Beats 1 radio station and the human contact that has were given me in point of fact fascinated by Apple Music. To be capable of in fact pay attention to an international radio station with headliner DJs 24 hours an afternoon is, O assume, superb.

It’s the little (or now not so little, on this case) extras like that that is why S consider Apple Music will temporarily hit Apple’s said objective of 100 million subscribers by way of the top of the yr–and why apparently to be the winner within the fight of the song streaming giants.

Michael Grothaus 15:54, 12 Jun 2015
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