Tomorrow is the big launch of Apple Music. The tech company has been dominating the news with minor updates and announcements about its subscription streaming service over the past few days, so here’s a roundup of what listeners should know before the new platform’s debut, from exclusives to celebrity involvement to the technical details. Continue Reading
Multiple major independent groups have voiced support for Apple Music following the tech company’s choice to pay royalties during the free trial period of its upcoming streaming service, with many signing contracts that reflect that new policy. WIN, Beggars Group, Merlin, and IMPALA are all joining the bandwagon. Continue Reading
by Brad Hill
Yesterday Google announced it was introducing a free-listening, Internet radio-style component to its Google Play service. The announceement was widely viewed as counter-Apple positioning. But Apple has freemium too. Both companies, the owners of mobile computing, are playing the same game with the same pieces. Continue Reading
We recently reported that Taylor Swift’s latest album would not be available through Apple Music. Yesterday, Swift published a Tumblr post explaining why. She questioned Apple’s decision to not pay any royalties to artists, songwriters, or producers for song plays during listeners’ three-month free trials. “These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much,” she said. Continue Reading
Taylor Swift made waves in the music industry when she opted to remove her entire catalog from Spotify. She explained at the time that she didn’t want to support “the perception that music has no value and should be free.” So it’s a bit of a surprise to learn that her latest album won’t be available on Apple Music. Both Apple and Swift’s label told BuzzFeed News that her popular “1989” album won’t be available at the launch of the new streaming service. Continue Reading
Anyone who is offered an Apple iOS upgrade to versions 8.4 or 9 will see a first glimpse of Beats 1, Anyone who is offered an Apple iOS upgrade to versions 8.4 or 9 will reportedly see the start of Apple’s new radio lineup, a promised part of Apple Music, scheduled to launch widely on June 30. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. The ongoing discussions of Apple Music’s place in the industry have pulled out a range of opinions. We select pieces from MediaPost’s London editor, a Bridge Ratings survey, and Jeffrey C. Smith writing in Re/Code. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Czech Republic launches large T-DAB+ trial; Apple Music will be below standard audio quality; a rough outlook for indie Internet radio. Continue Reading
Yesterday, the world got its first official look at Apple Music, the newest player to join the streaming music field. To call it a highly-anticipated debut would be an understatement. As befits such a big announcement, the media has come forth with an intriguing mix of thoughts and opinions about what Apple is and isn’t bringing to the table. Here’s a selection of what people are saying about Apple Music. Continue Reading
After a long build-up and a vast amount of speculation, Apple has finally announced Apple Music, its overhauled music offerings. Cook dubbed the new service “the next chapter in music,” and presented it as a single resource for listeners’ various musical needs. Most of the features and news shared by Tim Cook and his colleagues fell in line with the previously reported rumors on what it would look like. However, the team did clarify two of the key questions that had circled around Apple Music’s launch: a date and a price point. Continue Reading
Research company MusicWatch publicly released data points from its Annual Music Study, measuring relative popularity among leading streaming music outlets YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, VEVO, and iTunes Radio. The timing anticipates Apple’s expected announcement of its new on-demand music platform. Continue Reading