Apple Music

Apple Music
Name	Apple Music
Developer	Apple Inc.
Released	30 June 2015
Genre	Music streaming service
Operating system	iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, Android, Windows

Apple Music. It is a music and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. and launched worldwide in June 2015. The service combines a curated, subscription-based streaming platform with integrated access to a user's personal music library and a global radio station known as Beats 1. It represents Apple's strategic move into the competitive music streaming market, building upon the legacy of the iTunes Store and integrating deeply with the company's ecosystem of devices and software.

History

The service was announced on June 8, 2015, at the WWDC keynote by Tim Cook and executives including Eddy Cue and Jimmy Iovine. Its development was significantly influenced by Apple's 2014 acquisition of Beats Electronics, which included the Beats Music streaming service. Key figures from Beats, such as Iovine and Dr. Dre, played instrumental roles in its early creative direction. At launch, it featured the live Beats 1 radio station hosted by prominent DJs like Zane Lowe in Los Angeles, Ebro Darden in New York City, and Julie Adenuga in London. A major revision in 2016 with iOS 10 introduced a redesigned interface, and subsequent updates have integrated features like spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and lossless audio in 2021. The service has expanded through partnerships, such as the inclusion of Shazam and exclusive content deals with artists like Taylor Swift and Frank Ocean.

Features

The platform offers access to a catalog of over 100 million songs, alongside curated playlists and music videos. Key features include personalized recommendations via the "For You" section, human-curated playlists by its editorial team, and thousands of radio stations, including the flagship Beats 1. It supports music videos, exclusive artist content, and original video programming. Integration with Siri allows for voice-controlled playback across devices like the HomePod and Apple Watch. The service also includes social features through user profiles and shared playlists, and it incorporates Shazam music identification directly. Advanced audio features include support for spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and Apple Lossless Audio Codec at various resolutions.

Availability

It launched in over 100 countries and is accessible on a wide range of operating systems, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. It is also available as an application for Android devices and via the iTunes application on Windows. The service is supported on hardware such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and CarPlay-enabled vehicles. Regional availability varies, with expansions into markets like South Korea and additional Latin American countries occurring in subsequent years. Certain features, like lossless audio and spatial audio, have specific hardware requirements, such as devices running iOS 14.6 or later.

Technology and integration

The service is deeply integrated into Apple's operating systems, appearing as a native app on devices like the iPhone and Mac. It utilizes the Apple Music API to allow third-party developers to integrate its catalog into their applications. Audio delivery employs the AAC codec for standard streams, with high-resolution tiers using the ALAC codec. The Shazam audio recognition engine is built-in for song identification. Playback seamlessly integrates with a user's personal library stored in iCloud, merging purchased iTunes tracks, ripped CDs, and streamed content. It also supports advanced frameworks like Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking on devices such as AirPods Pro and is a core component of services like the HomePod smart speaker and Apple One subscription bundles.

Business model and pricing

It operates primarily on a subscription revenue model, offering individual, student, family, and annual plans. Pricing varies by region but is generally competitive with services like Spotify and Amazon Music. The company offers a free trial period for new subscribers and often includes access as part of Apple One bundles, which combine it with other services like Apple TV+ and iCloud+. It does not offer a permanent, ad-supported free tier. Apple pays royalties to record labels, music publishers, and independent artists based on stream share, a model that has been part of industry-wide discussions led by organizations like the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Special pricing is available for students through verification partners like UNiDAYS.

Reception and impact

Upon launch, reviews from publications like The Verge and TechCrunch praised its curation and integration but criticized its initial user interface. Its growth has significantly impacted the music industry, contributing to the shift from digital downloads to streaming as the dominant revenue source, a trend reported by the Recording Industry Association of America. The service has been a major competitor to Spotify, often engaging in exclusive album releases and high-profile artist partnerships. It has received awards for its design and marketing, including Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity accolades. Criticisms have included its royalty payment structure and the initial complexity of its interface. Its introduction of lossless audio and spatial audio at no extra cost was widely noted within the audiophile community and press.

Category:Music streaming services Category:Apple Inc. services Category:2015 software