Apple Music has secured a new exclusive, this time a livestreamed performance by indie rock outfit Arcade Fire. The band is playing a concert to promote its upcoming album, Everything Now, but for those who can’t physically attend the show in Brooklyn, it will be streamed exclusively on the Apple platform. Continue Reading
UK telecom EE has a new deal with Apple Music. Any monthly or SIM-only customers can get six months of free access to the streaming platform. Under this promotion, use of Apple Music will not count toward the individual’s data plan. Continue Reading
At WWDC last month, Apple did announce plans to add a new social layer to its streaming music platform. The company’s previous efforts to add connection features in the app have been shaky at best. But Apple Insider has posted some screenshots from the beta of iOS 11 showing the social tools in action, and so far it seems like a more manageable and less obtrusive implementation. Continue Reading
Personalized playlists are one of the big highlight features for streaming services, and the offerings frequently wind up overlapping. Apple Music has a new addition to its playlists called My Chill Mix. This list of 25 tracks will be updated weekly on Sundays. Continue Reading
Dave Allen has stepped down from Apple Music’s artist relations team. The Gang of Four bassist spent three years with the streaming service, and was one of the artists involved at launch. He was with Beats Music before the company’s acquisition by Apple. Continue Reading
Apple is reportedly looking to renegotiate its deals with record labels in a move that could reduce the share of revenue it needs to pay out to those industry players. Unnamed sources told Bloomberg that the talks cover both Apple Music and iTunes. The current deals are slated to expire in June, but could be extended if new terms are not reached, according to the sources. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: A deep dive into composing podcast music. A year of Apple Music for $99. Apple hires Breaking Bad duo. Continue Reading
Bozoma Saint John has left her role as global head of consumer marketing at Apple Music and iTunes, marking a major departure for the streaming service. Neither Saint John nor Apple have commented on the exit or what her next move will be and whether it will still be in music at large or digital platforms more specifically. Continue Reading
This year’s WWDC announced Apple’s foray into WiFi speakers, bringing it into direct competition once again with Google and Amazon for control over music and audio in your home. The new device is called HomePod, and it will retail for $349. The initial launch is this December for the U.S., the UK, and Australia, with a broader global rollout next year. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Podcasts at WWDC; Carpool Karaoke release date; Adult Swim Singles gets another 52 weeks. Continue Reading
Apple is reportedly now charging listeners in some markets for what was previously a completely free trial of its streaming music service. According to AppleInsider, people in Australia, Spain, and Switzerland will be charged 99 cents for three months of preliminary access to the Apple Music platform. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Apple Music shifts focus on exclusive music releases; Amazon building up multiple music strategies; Gimlet Media podcast getting a TV season. Continue Reading