Should Spotify be scared of Apple?
Apple changed the way we listened to music with iTunes back when it was first released in 2001. Fast forward to 2015, and Apple’s music platform is being threatened by upstarts like Spotify. Today, the firm from Cupertino fights back with the announcement of Apple Music – their own take on a music streaming service.
“We’ve had a long relationship with music,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “And music has had a rich history of change, some of which we’ve played a part in.”
Apple, being Apple, isn’t content on just offering streaming music services to customers – Apple Music will also feature music downloads, streaming radio and streaming music in a single app. Much like other streaming music services out in the market today, Apple promises that their streaming service will be able to learn your tastes and recommend new songs and artists for you to enjoy.
Apple’s biggest asset going into the streaming music service is their streaming radio offering – curated by heavy hitters like Will I Am, Pharrell, Drake and Dr. Dre, Apple’s streaming radio is an enticing feature that other apps may not be able to match.
Apple’s Music service will be priced at $9.99 a month, and users will be able to try it for free for the first 3 months. There’s a family pack available as well for just $14.99, which gives full Apple Music functionality to six family members.
Apple Music will be launching in 100 countries on June 30 with iOS 8.4, and comes with new versions of iTunes for Mac and Windows, along with an Android version later this fall, or around October.
