Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed official subscriber numbers for Apple Music at the Wall Street Journal technology conference. He shared that the streaming platform has more than 6.5 million subscribers, with another 8.5 million currently enrolled in free trials. Continue Reading
We got one glimpse at Apple Music subscribers thanks to Wristly, and today another peek comes from Jackdaw Research. The company surveyed just 500 people about their use of the streaming platform, but the results still offers some insight into how Apple Music is performing in the field after its initial free trials lapsed. Continue Reading
Research company Wristly conducted a survey of 1,350 Apple Watch owners about their use of Apple Music now that the streaming platform has ended its initial free trial period. While Apple Watch owners represent just a sliver of the Apple Music audience, it’s worth examining the figures since the people buying the debut model of the smartwatch are likely heavy Apple brand devotees. The results showed that more than two out of three respondents tried the streaming service. Continue Reading
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: New streaming metrics from Nielsen; Apple Music trials; Pandora enters the concert business; data-free listening; more. Continue Reading
The freemium streaming model has taken a lot of fire in recent months. The latest to lock and load is Jimmy Iovine. The Apple/Betas exec spoke at Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit and had some pointed words for the freemium approach to music, calling it a shell game. But his comments need some context. Continue Reading
It’s a new era for Apple Music. The streaming service’s initial wave of three-month free trials has formally ended, and it will need to start building an audience of paying customers. Based on a wave of news items from the first few days, things may not be starting on the best foot for the listeners or the company. Continue Reading
Apple Music is making its debut in China and it’s going for cheap. Listeners in the new market can the same three-month trial membership as the launch countries, but once that ends, the subscription will be just $1.50 a month. Continue Reading
XAPPmedia published a special new report about Apple as a supplement to its usual quarterly ad load data. This focused study, which is the first from XAPPmedia to address a service by name, covers all of 2015 through August. Apple’s ad-supported streaming music property at the start of the year was iTunes Radio, which was then folded into Apple Music when it launched on June 30. Continue Reading
Beats 1 has added three new artist-led shows to its programming roster, with more artist hosts to be announced in the coming weeks. Zane Lowe also talked about the philosophy behind having performers participate behind the mic at Beats 1 in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: SoundCloud CEO on labels, varied business models; Apple Music is tops down under; how Pandora’s CTO works. Continue Reading
The New York Post has reported new numbers about sign-ups at Apple Music. Considering how much hype centered around the new entry into the streaming market, it’s somewhat to be expected, but the degree to which rumors and speculation have swirled around Apple Music is impressive. Continue Reading
Apple Music had two big business developments break yesterday. First, the streaming service debuted a surprise mixtape by hip-hop superstars Drake and Future. Then a new commercial marked a shift in rhetoric for the streaming platform. Continue Reading