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
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Billboard on Spotify payouts; Steve Albini talks copyright; Deezer not worried about Apple rivalry. 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
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: YouTube’s Kyncl says all’s well with Music Key; who could Apple buy next?; Potential Sony class action following contract leak. Continue Reading
Apple has teamed with some impressive celebrity talent in the recent months, and according to the New York Post, Apple’s latest interest seems to be finding popular performers to work with its new music services. The top artist who has caught the tech company’s eye appears to be Drake. The rapper has allegedly been approached with a $19 million deal to work with Apple, including as a guest DJ for iTunes Radio, the Post reported Continue Reading
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: BMI wins lawsuit vs. Pandora; new streaming advertising report; Apple/Beats rumors; Rdio’s new plan Continue Reading
Today brings a fresh batch of rumors and sneak peaks into Apple’s forthcoming music service, as usual courtesy of 9to5Mac. Unnamed industry sources told the site that despite being based on Beats Music, the new platform is likely to be called Apple Music. It is also expected to integrate social features similar to ones that Apple previously experimented with in the form of Ping. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Report on music services and social engagement; infographic of Grooveshark legal fees; latest iOS 8.4 beta shows more music updates. Continue Reading
The early buzz about Apple’s redesigned take on Beats Music was that the service would have no free listening options. That made sense, especially with the ensuing rumors that Apple was potentially pushing for other streaming platforms to eliminate their freemium tiers. According to the latest reports from Re/Code, though, the no-free-listening approach may have a few exceptions. Continue Reading
This was an eventful week, and RAIN News readers told us, through their article choices, what the most important topics were. Call it RAIN News “Share of Eye.” Continue Reading
The music industry has been waiting for Apple to unveil its new vision for Beats Music, and the streaming service’s debut is expected to happen during the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference next month. However, Billboard has reported that Apple allegedly may not have any of the licensing deals with major labels that are necessary for the service to meet that launch date. Continue Reading