I am truly not trying to criticize for the sake of it, but between Apple Music and Apple TV+, nothing I am reading or hearing about sounds remotely exciting. Every exclusive on Apple Music is by some pop star or rapper I'm not even mildly interested in, and all the Apple TV+ shows sound boring at best. The first year being free, I hope I'm pleasantly surprised because I want to like the exclusives, but nothing I'm hearing sounds very exciting. It reminds me of Steve Jobs saying how other people do certain things better than them, and to let them do it. I hope their venture into original content isn't an example of that.
I understand your perspective.
With Apple Music, I'd offer that it is just a tool - can be used for good or evil, can rock or suck. Kind of falls into that "you get out why you put in" approach. Meaning... While it is
clearly set up, and more easily caters to, a very specific type of music user, I do think it worth stating aloud that it
can be a powerful tool in the right hands. Just requires a little effort or thinking about the tool's potential a little differently than maybe what is presented. For me, it has played a central role in helping me reconnect with music in a very meaningful way.
Example: I have chosen taken a more active role in leveraging the power of having nearly any song at my disposal. More purposeful hunting and gathering than passively relying on Apple's algorithms - I mean people - and other tactics (which likely works just fine for the vast majority). I have a small morning and evening commute. In that space, I have stumbled across a really great radio station (yes, I did say
radio). About 90% of the time, I find myself asking Siri "what song is this?" In one touch, that new-to-me tune is added to my Library for later consumption/focus. I also have a reoccurring, scheduled evening (hey, I have 2 young kids) where a few friends will gather and we take turns spinning vinyl. I'm lucky: this crew has impeccable taste and have turned me onto so much amazing music that is A) happening right now and B) typically won't show up in Apple's force-fed buffet. There, I'll do the same - adding albums to my Library for later consumption/focus. Then when I have that consumption/focussed space, I crack open Apple Music and start digging into my recent haul. The really, really fun stuff, I will seek out the vinyl. But most will find air time via Airplay to my home system.
All of this is to say (reiterate) that it might simply require you we consider other potentials with these tools we're presented. YMMV. Have fun!
p.s. - I'm struggling to see how TV+ is going to fit into my world, but I'll have a year to openly explore.
