Apple has launched its Apple Music streaming service, kicking off a three-month free trial with hopes of competing with entities as varied as Spotify, broadcast radio and Facebook. Apple Music was launched for iOS devices as part of the company’s iOS 8.4 software update.
The service will also be available for PC and Mac computers through Apple’s iTunes software, with Android to follow later in 2015. The launch represents an upheaval for Apple’s digital music business, which until now focused on selling music downloads through iTunes. The store remains open, but Apple is beginning the process of migrating digital music buyers to paying a monthly subscription for access to its full music catalogue.
Some elements of Apple Music will be free, but full access will cost €9.99 a month once the three-month trial ends, with a €14.99 option for families of up to six people. Apple’s plans not to pay royalties to labels and music publishers during that period sparked controversy, before interventions by independent labels and Taylor Swift triggered a U-turn.
Apple Music has three components. The first is on-demand access to a catalogue of more than 30 million songs, with paying subscribers able to store songs offline. This is the direct competitor to streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer, Rhapsody, Google Play, Tidal and Rdio.
The second component is “radio”, which includes live radio station Beats 1 and will broadcast online around the clock, from studios in Los Angeles, New York and London. DJs Zane Lowe, poached from BBC Radio 1 earlier this year, Julie Adenuga and Ebro Darden will be joined by guest DJs.
Apple’s radio will include streaming “stations” created by DJs based on genres and themes, a feature prominent on rival services and which forms the core of Spotify’s recently introduced “Now” homescreen. People will be able to listen to Apple’s radio free of charge, with restrictions on how often they can skip tracks, which will be lifted for paying subscribers.
The third component is Apple Connect, which blends elements of SoundCloud, YouTube and Facebook. Accredited artists will be able to upload songs, videos and photos for fans who follow their profiles.
Meanwhile, AC/DC, who play Dublin's Aviva Stadium tonight, have made their back catalogue available to stream for the first time on Spotify, Rdio and Apple Music.– (Guardian service)
