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Apple Music

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Not to be confused with Apple Records.

Apple Music
Original author(s)Apple
Initial releaseJune 30, 2015[1]
Operating systemLaunch:
iOS 8.4 or later
OS X 10.9.5 or later
watchOS
Windows
Later:
Android
Apple TV
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.apple.com/music/
Beats 1
  • Los Angeles, New York, and London
Broadcast areaOver 100 countries on devices running iOS, OS X, Windows[2]
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatFreeform radio, Eclectic radio, Contemporary hit radio
Ownership
OwnerApple
History
First air date
June 30, 2015
Links
WebcastiTunes HLS stream (64-256 Kbps AAC)
Websiteapplemusic.tumblr.com/beats1

Apple Music is a music streaming service by Apple. Users select music to stream to their device on demand. The service includes the curated Internet radio station Beats 1 and the blog platform Connect for artists to share media with fans. Apple Music provides music recommendations based on user taste and is integrated with Siri voice commands.

Overview

Apple stated at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference that the service would launch at the end of June 2015 and would be free for the first three months. After that, it would cost US$9.99 per month,[3] close to the economic equilibrium point for the recording industry estimated by the Open Music Model.

Users select music on a device, which then plays on the device via Internet streaming and may be saved to the device for offline access. The service also provides music recommendations based on user taste. While Apple Music's cost and music library are similar to other music streaming services, the service aims to distinguish itself with added features and content exclusives.[4]

Apple Music includes Internet radio stations curated by famous artists. Beats 1, the first station, plays continuously in 100 countries and is staffed by former BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, hip hop DJ Ebro Darden, and Julie Adenuga.

A third feature, Connect, is a blog platform where artists share media with fans.[4] Some of the uploaded media will be exclusive to Connect's platform.[5] Apple Music also accepts Siri voice commands, including requests for specific songs and more generalized selections, such as for the top charted tracks from a specific period of time[4] or "the song from Selma".[5]

The Apple Music app has several tabs. The "For You" section recommends music for the user. Human expert selections supplement the algorithmic curation. Every artist has a "My Music" section that shows both purchased songs and tracks available for streaming.[5]

History

Before Apple Music, the company's iPod and iTunes were known for having "revolutionized digital music".[4] Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs was previously opposed to the idea of music subscription services.[4] After a period of rumors and anticipation, Apple Music was announced at Apple's June 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference[6] with plans for launch later that month.[4] The "one more thing" reveal[5] had been confirmed by Sony Music CEO Doug Morris and The Wall Street Journal reports prior to the announcement. Morris added that he expected the service to restore the music industry's prior state of financial prosperity. He said that Apple Music's ad-supported streams would have a halo effect on the market where Spotify was unable to profit.[6] Hip hop artist Drake appeared onstage at the announcement event to elaborate on how he used the Connect platform. Apple also emphasized how unsigned artists could participate in Connect.[5]

Apple Music launched on June 30, 2015, in 100 countries. New users receive a three-month trial subscription, which reverts to a monthly fee. A family plan option lets up to six users share a reduced rate.[5] Apple originally sought to enter the market at a lower price point for the service, but the music industry rejected the plan.[4] The service debuts as an iOS device exclusive alongside the same-day iOS 8.4 update. Apple TV and Android device support is planned for a Q3 2015 launch.[5] A previously unreleased song by Pharrell Williams called "Freedom" was used in promotional material and has been announced as an exclusive release on the launch of the service.[7] The "History of Sound" advert for the launch of the Apple Music service was soundtracked by the tune "There Is No Light" by Wildbirds & Peacedrums, from their 2009 album The Snake.[8]

Reception

Before Apple Music's announcement, The Verge wrote that there was little to distinguish the service from its contemporaries, including by library size and cost.[4] The Verge's Nilay Patel complained that the trade-off of convenient access to streaming music was "lock-in" to separate Spotify, Amazon Prime, Google Play Music, and Apple Music platforms, each with their own set of exclusives, pricing, and lack of interoperability.[9]

Ars Technica wrote that Apple's emphasis on unsigned artist participation in Connect could be an effort to restore the company's former reputation as a "tastemaker" in the mid-2000s.[5]

Royalty payment policy

On June 21, 2015, Taylor Swift publicly criticized Apple Music and announced that she would be holding back her album 1989 from the service in an open letter to Apple.[10] She criticized the three-month trial period saying that the plan was "unfair" as "Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months". She concluded her letter stating "We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us (recording artists) to provide you with our music for no compensation." UK independent record label Beggars Group also criticized the three-month trial period, saying it struggled "to see why rights owners and artists should bear this aspect of Apple's customer acquisition costs".[11][12] A day after Swift's letter, Eddy Cue announced on Twitter that Apple had changed its policy and that Apple Music "will pay artist for streaming, even during customer's free trial period".[13][14] Also via Twitter, Swift wrote "After the events of this week, I've decided to put 1989 on Apple Music... And happily so". She concluded saying that wasn't an exclusive deal with Apple and it was "the first time it's felt right in my gut to stream my album".[15]

Compatibility

Apple Music is compatible with iOS devices running version 8.4 or later, iTunes version 12.2 or later (OS X Mavericks or later; Windows 7 or later), and the Apple Watch. It will also receive a release for Android devices and Apple TV in fall 2015. Access to the Beats 1 radio stream is restricted to the iOS Music app and iTunes logged in with a valid Apple ID. The restriction is enforced by encrypting the live stream with FairPlay DRM.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Introducing Apple Music — All The Ways You Love Music. All in One Place". Apple Inc. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  2. ^ Availability of Apple Music, Apple Music Radio, and iTunes Match
  3. ^ "Apple W.W.D.C. 2015: iOS 9, Apple Pay and Other Announcements". The New York Times. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Popper, Ben; Singleton, Micah (June 8, 2015). "Apple announces its streaming music service, Apple Music". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Machkovech, Sam (June 8, 2015). "Apple Music is 'the next chapter in music,' debuts June 30". Ars Technica. Condé Nast Digital. Archived from the original on June 13, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Plaugic, Lizzie (June 7, 2015). "Sony Music boss confirms Apple will reveal its music streaming service tomorrow". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (June 25, 2015). "Pharrell's New Single 'Freedom' Will Serve As Apple Music's First Exclusive". Forbes.
  8. ^ "Wildbirds & Peacedrums soundtrack Apple Music launch". The Leaf Label. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  9. ^ Patel, Nilay (June 5, 2015). "Apple Music and the terrible return of DRM". The Verge. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Swift, Taylor (June 21, 2015). "Taylor Swift - To Apple, Love Taylor". Tumblr. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "With regards to Apple Music..." Beggars Group. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "Taylor Swift pulls 1989 album from Apple Music". BBC News. June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "Apple Music changes policy after Taylor Swift stand". BBC News. June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  14. ^ Halperin, Shirley (June 21, 2015). "Apple Changes Course After Taylor Swift Open Letter: Will Pay Labels During Free Trial". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  15. ^ Rosen, Christopher (June 25, 2015). "Taylor Swift is putting 1989 on Apple Music". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  16. ^ Developer Finds A Web Stream For Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio That Lets Android Users Tune In | TechCrunch
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