Apple's iTunes Radio Becomes Third Most Popular U.S. Music Streaming Service

MacRumors · Mar 11, 2014

Less than six months after its launch alongside iOS 7 last September, Apple's iTunes Radio has become the third most popular music streaming service in the United States, according to a new report from Edison Research and Statista (via Fortune).

While Pandora and iHeartRadio took first and second place with a 31% and 9% share of the market respectively, iTunes Radio accounted for an 8% share with over 20 million users, passing Spotify's 6%. Apple's streaming service also passed the likes of competitors such as Google Play All Access, Rhapsody, Slacker, and TuneIn Radio.

While users can hop between services freely (and at least one report has suggested that 92 percent of iTunes Radio listeners also find time for Pandora), that figure would suggest that iTunes Radio is growing at the fastest rate of the top three services, and is likely to overtake iHeartRadio in the next quarter or two.

Apple launched iTunes Radio in Australia last month, as the company looks to ultimately have the service "in more than 100 countries," according to senior vice president of Internet software and services Eddy Cue. The company will be able to roll out its service to additional countries more quickly than competitors due to its existing international rights deals with Universal Music Group and other record companies.

Article Link: Apple's iTunes Radio Becomes Third Most Popular U.S. Music Streaming Service

Lapidus · Mar 11, 2014

Not in Belgium.

RoelJuun · Mar 11, 2014

Yeah the US, now make it available in other countries please.

Rudy69 · Mar 11, 2014

Now if only they could launch in Canada....

keterboy · Mar 11, 2014

Is pandora really that strong? I seem to see that everyone uses spotify. Thought spotify was much stronger in the numbers...

SvP · Mar 11, 2014

Where's the love for the netherlands?

As early founders of at least parts of the U.S, we expected and hoped for a bit more love from you people. Years and years go by, and the hope for a dutch speaking Siri, or the release of iRadio, are painfully absent.

We're disappointed, people.

Imory · Mar 11, 2014

keterboy said:
Is pandora really that strong? I seem to see that everyone uses spotify. Thought spotify was much stronger in the numbers...

To be fair though, Pandora and Itunes Radio don't really offer what Spotify does. Spotify is the biggest streaming service in terms of letting you listen to exactly what you want. It's not an internet radio unlike the previously mentioned services.

Spotify should be compared to Google Play All Access and Rdio.

bushido · Mar 11, 2014

why did i think Spotify would be number one for sure ^^ guess the US prefers to skip through random songs

Menel · Mar 11, 2014

bushido said:
why did i think Spotify would be number one for sure ^^ guess the US prefers to skip through random songs

1. Takes too much effort to build a specially catered playlist.

Pandora's algorithms are second to none in mine and many people's experience. And they've developed a reputation around this. I rarely felt the need to skip.

Still I have dropped it, for iTunes Radio...

2. Spotify is incredibly expensive. Even for people who pay the 'Apple Tax'. And have the ability and time to dedicate to building their own playlists... In order to build a playlist from songs and store for offline usage on your mobile, Spotify wants $120/yr... and you lose it all if you ever stop paying.

iTunes Match with ad free iTunes Radio is $25/yr and leaves you a leftover $95 budget for 73-95 new DRM free songs licensed to you, perpetually and not tied to a subscription service.

That's 2, maybe 3 whole completely new playlists.

In reality, can spend a fraction of that to merely bolster, rework and refresh current playlists.

bpcookson · Mar 11, 2014

This is just a snapshot. It would be interesting to see User Base vs. Time for each of these services.

DudeDad · Mar 11, 2014

I had been using Slacker, but I'm enjoying iTunes radio. I will not renew Slacker in the fall.

RabbitLuvr · Mar 11, 2014

Interesting. I spent a lot of time rating songs, and Pandora still played a lot of music I didn't want to hear. I deleted it from my phone the day iTunes radio was announced.

Unfortunately, iTunes Radio doesn't register scrobbles with my Last.fm account, so I listen to either my own library or Spotify 98% of the time.

dragje · Mar 11, 2014

Not in Holland

I'm pretty sure Spotify is nr1 in Holland as the pictures shows out, and the rest falls very very deep when it comes to second place in the charts, including iTunes which I found one the worst music apps ever made.

RichardI · Mar 11, 2014

Why is Pandora not available in Canada??

This country is run by IDIOTS!!!!!

Nevaborn · Mar 11, 2014

well I don't have access to Apples offering. I have always happily used Tunein and find it really good.

gluckett · Mar 11, 2014

Like everyone else, I'm surprised Spotify is as low as it is compared to the rest. Oh well, those of us who use it know better

Janichsan · Mar 11, 2014

Lapidus said:
Not in Belgium.

or most other parts of Europe.

BJMRamage · Mar 11, 2014

I tried Pandora a year or two back...hated it. I had to skip too often with it.

I started Spotify last year but when trying to use my headphones to pause it, I'd end up starting iTunes. (this is on a Mac)

Then switched to iTunes Radio once it came out...that has been really good, much better than Pandora. I still like Spotify when I actually want to hear a Specific song. and can easily save a playlist/album and listen FREE on the Mobile App.

Mockenrue · Mar 11, 2014

keterboy said:
Is pandora really that strong?

And yet Apple didn't put it in CarPlay. Of course we don't know what kind of negotiations did or did not happen, but it makes you wonder. I hope this isn't another example of Apple telling people what they should want, rather than allowing people to pick what they DO want.

That said, I much prefer a service like Spotify where I can listen to algorithm radio, curated playlists, or any album that I pick. I use all three regularly.

Imory · Mar 11, 2014

Menel said:
1. Takes too much effort to build a specially catered playlist.

Pandora's algorithms are second to none in mine and many people's experience. And they've developed a reputation around this. I rarely felt the need to skip.

Still I have dropped it, for iTunes Radio...

2. Spotify is incredibly expensive. Even for people who pay the 'Apple Tax'. And have the ability and time to dedicate to building their own playlists... In order to build a playlist from songs and store for offline usage on your mobile, Spotify wants $120/yr... and you lose it all if you ever stop paying.

iTunes Match with ad free iTunes Radio is $25/yr and leaves you a leftover $95 budget for 73-95 new DRM free songs licensed to you, perpetually and not tied to a subscription service.

That's 2, maybe 3 whole completely new playlists.

In reality, can spend a fraction of that to merely bolster, rework and refresh current playlists.

I've never used Itunes Radio, seeing as it's not available in where I live. Nevertheless, correct me if I'm wrong but you can't listen to a specific song whenever you want, right?

How is $120/yr expensive for listening to exactly what you want whenever and wherever you want? I honestly don't get the point of iTunes Radio. How is it different to Pandora and what does it do that other simplistic internet radios don't already offer?

cwwilson · Mar 11, 2014

I have been a subscriber to both Pandora and Spotiify for years and I put them way ahead of iTunes Radio. There is no diversity on iTunes Radio and it consistently plays the same tracks over and over. I picked one particular "featured station" once and it literally played Song A followed by Song B and back to Song A and then back to Song B. Are you serious? If it's one thing that annoys me, it's when streaming music repeats tracks.

It just doesn't seem like iTunes has the library some other services have.

crsh1976 · Mar 11, 2014

I don't get why Pandora and Spotify are so popular, they were innovators back then but they've been lagging behind - I'm surprised Rdio isn't even mentioned on that chart, too.

JerryCards · Mar 11, 2014

For those outside US, you can create a free US iTunes account and get access to iTunes Radio. Create US account is easy and no credit card necessary

RobertMartens · Mar 11, 2014

SvP said:
As early founders of at least parts of the U.S, we expected and hoped for a bit more love from you people. Years and years go by, and the hope for a dutch speaking Siri, or the release of iRadio, are painfully absent.

We're disappointed, people.

Was that you guys? I thought they were from Holland. We named a tunnel after them.

JerryCards · Mar 11, 2014

Create a US itunes account, problem solved.

Lapidus said:
Not in Belgium.

Apple's iTunes Radio Becomes Third Most Popular U.S. Music Streaming Service

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