Apple Ceases Free iTunes Radio Streaming Worldwide

[warrior2000]

If Apple keeps abandoning things like this after a couple of years and without warning, their brand is going to deteriorate. I understand why they wouldn't want to give out free music, but if so, they shouldn't have done it in the first place. Yeah, I know, it was just a gimmick to get people to buy iTunes Music.
[doublepost=1454100878][/doublepost]
Free > $10
There's free listening on Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube. I liked iTunes Radio because of how nicely it was integrated with Apple products, but anything iTunes-related has been so buggy and confusing that I'm going to stop dealing with it.
[doublepost=1454101090][/doublepost]
I think it stops doing that if you disable "show me iTunes Music" in your settings.

You need to understand that when Match began Apple still felt that many people would still want to buy music. They thought they could use iTunes Radio to sell more music. But the landscape has changed. Most people don't want to buy music anymore. They just want to stream it. Just like most people don't want to buy DVD's/Blurays anymore. They want to stream it through iTunes/Netflix.

Apple had to change their strategy from selling music to streaming music. Giving free radio was no longer viable as a strategy. Apple also decided to get out of the ad business, which made free music even more impossible.

Business plans and services change all the time. Customers cannot expect things to stay the same forever. Companies that adjust survive. Companies that don't like Blockbuster die. Apple is trying to keep up with the changes in music.
[doublepost=1454101484][/doublepost]

I'm quite convinced that this is just the first step to getting rid of iTunes match all together. Next thing will be Apple emailing us, and letting us know, that if we want our songs in the cloud, we'll have to subscribe to Apple Music.

Doubt it. I think eventually they will wrap up iTunes match with the standard iCloud service.

 

[Avenged110]

Do you subscribe to cable television?

Personally, I don't understand some peoples' animosity over subscription streaming services. If it's a purely fiscal decision, such as the fact that the subscription would cost you more money in the long run that's fine.

But making it about some sore[sic] of philosophical choice is kind of dumb, IMO. Take my situation, as an example. Before Apple Music came along I had well over 3,000 songs in my library. Probably 40% of them purchased from iTunes. I was spending on average more than $10 a month for songs that I was buying, and I have been doing so for years. With Apple music, for less per month I get to download and listen to any one of literally millions and millions of songs on a whim. The fact that I can put up to six people on the account for $15 a month (there are currently 3 on my account) makes it even more economical.

To use you example about listening and discovering new music, Apple Music shifts that in your favor. Now, when you hear a song or an artist that you like you can, for no additional money go out and find more of their music, and download and listen to it.

Apple Music has helped me discover music from artists I had already known by allowing me to download much bigger portions of their catalog, thereby showing me music of theirs that I would have never otherwise seen or heard.

I've never liked subscription models for content wherein such content is effectively leased. I hate paying for something and not owning it (differing from, say, cell service). Particularly for content I thoroughly enjoy. Discovery or not, some people (myself included) don't want to lose our entire music catalog because - for one reason or another - we aren't subscribers anymore.

I have nothing against people who prefer streaming services for any reason they choose, but it's rather irritating for them to imply there's no argument against it or that everyone who doesn't subscribe to such opinions is somehow wrong.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Just another straw stuck directly into the wallet...sucking.

 

[MrGuder]

So is Apple going to release an update deleting this wasted tab??

 

[warrior2000]

Just another straw stuck directly into the wallet...sucking.

If 50 cents a month is all it takes to break your back then maybe Apple product isn't for you. Not trying to be mean or rude, just telling the truth. If you want premium products and services you need to be willing to pay premium prices.
[doublepost=1454102445][/doublepost]

I've never liked subscription models for content wherein such content is effectively leased. I hate paying for something and not owning it (differing from, say, cell service). Particularly for content I thoroughly enjoy. Discovery or not, some people (myself included) don't want to lose our entire music catalog because - for one reason or another - we aren't subscribers anymore.

I have nothing against people who prefer streaming services for any reason they choose, but it's rather irritating for them to imply there's no argument against it or that everyone who doesn't subscribe to such opinions is somehow wrong.

So you don't subscribe to cable/satellite TV?
So you don't stream movies on Netflix?
So you don't watch movies at theaters?

Personally I quit buying music. Maybe 10 songs a year. I noticed that most songs I bought 10 years ago are crap now. Maybe 5% of the songs I bought I still listen to now. Same with movies. Most of my bluray's I never watch more than once. I'm all for music streaming and buying a couple songs a year.

This might be a generational thing because my older friends all keep buying hundreds of dollars of music a year.

 

[SmileyDude]

If 50 cents a month is all it takes to break your back then maybe Apple product isn't for you. Not trying to be mean or rude, just telling the truth. If you want premium products and services you need to be willing to pay premium prices.

What are you talking about? 50 cents a month? iTunes Match is ~$2/month, Apple Music is $10/month or $15/month for the family plan.

 

[warrior2000]

What are you talking about? 50 cents a month? iTunes Match is ~$2/month, Apple Music is $10/month or $15/month for the family plan.

No one is complaining about AppleMusic here.

People are complaining about iTunes Match. That cost $2. But the bulk of the service is to have all your music available on all devices. The free radio stations was just an add-on they included later. That's why I gave it a value of 50 cents or 25% of the price.

Now if losing that breaks your back maybe Apple isn't for you.

 

[SmileyDude]

No one is complaining about AppleMusic here.

People are complaining about iTunes Match. That cost $2. But the bulk of the service is to have all your music available on all devices. The free radio stations was just an add-on they included later. That's why I gave it a value of 50 cents or 25% of the price.

Now if losing that breaks your back maybe Apple isn't for you.

It was a feature they included right from the start, actually. They clearly felt it was necessary to offer ad-free radio as a part of iTunes Match right from the beginning.

The problem here isn't losing 50 cents or whatever made up numbers we want to come up with for what portion of iTunes Match was paying for radio versus the matching functionality. The problem is that Apple sold a service on a yearly plan that now no longer matches up with what they currently have enabled.

Yes, we can all go and cancel our service -- we know that. But a lot of us signed up for both matching *and* ad-free radio, since those were things Apple advertised the service as being able to do. Canceling the service would only fix the problem of paying for something that is no longer there. It would not fill the hole left by not having the matching service as well.

Again, Apple is a big enough company that they knew what they were doing here. They could've announced this months ago, before people renewed again for another year. They could grandfather in current Match accounts to the ad-free radio until the next renewal period. For whatever reason, they chose not to.

The cost of supporting a few iTunes Match users with ad-free radio (which wasn't some hidden ad-on -- it was a headline feature of the service) over the next year until those subscriptions run out has to outweigh the negative story of just dropping something that people paid for without warning. Apple can afford to do the right thing here and still be able to adjust to changes in the marketplace for the future.

 

[warrior2000]

It was a feature they included right from the start, actually. They clearly felt it was necessary to offer ad-free radio as a part of iTunes Match right from the beginning.

The problem here isn't losing 50 cents or whatever made up numbers we want to come up with for what portion of iTunes Match was paying for radio versus the matching functionality. The problem is that Apple sold a service on a yearly plan that now no longer matches up with what they currently have enabled.

Yes, we can all go and cancel our service -- we know that. But a lot of us signed up for both matching *and* ad-free radio, since those were things Apple advertised the service as being able to do. Canceling the service would only fix the problem of paying for something that is no longer there. It would not fill the hole left by not having the matching service as well.

Again, Apple is a big enough company that they knew what they were doing here. They could've announced this months ago, before people renewed again for another year. They could grandfather in current Match accounts to the ad-free radio until the next renewal period. For whatever reason, they chose not to.

The cost of supporting a few iTunes Match users with ad-free radio (which wasn't some hidden ad-on -- it was a headline feature of the service) over the next year until those subscriptions run out has to outweigh the negative story of just dropping something that people paid for without warning. Apple can afford to do the right thing here and still be able to adjust to changes in the marketplace for the future.

How many people use iTunes Match? A few million? How many use the radio feature regularly? A few hundred thousand?

Hate to sound harsh but lightly supported products regularly get the shaft. Apple is probably LOSING money on each iTunes Match subscription when they include free radio.

Should have Apple given more warning? Probably.

iTunes Match came out in Nov 2011. iTunes Radio did not launch till 2 years later.

 

[BlandUsername]

If 50 cents a month is all it takes to break your back then maybe Apple product isn't for you. Not trying to be mean or rude, just telling the truth. If you want premium products and services you need to be willing to pay premium prices.
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So you don't subscribe to cable/satellite TV?
So you don't stream movies on Netflix?
So you don't watch movies at theaters?

Personally I quit buying music. Maybe 10 songs a year. I noticed that most songs I bought 10 years ago are crap now. Maybe 5% of the songs I bought I still listen to now. Same with movies. Most of my bluray's I never watch more than once. I'm all for music streaming and buying a couple songs a year.

This might be a generational thing because my older friends all keep buying hundreds of dollars of music a year.

Bad questions to ask in today's world.

So you don't subscribe to cable/satellite TV? Nope cut the cord, thats what apple tv is for. To play my match library and stream what I may feel like listening to. Though That now pandora.

So you don't stream movies on Netflix? Actually NO! Binge Tv series only, Movies are too old or too plain uninteresting to watch on that platform. Itunes rentals or purchases, Then convert to format to play through PLex.

So you don't watch movies at theaters? GODS NO! My home sound system (Bose Soundtouch 130) is just fine for my needs. No brats, no overpriced snacks, No trailers and cell phones, No People!

This might be a generational thing because my older friends all keep buying hundreds of dollars of music a year.[/QUOTE]
Still buying music and converting as needed, Music evolves yes, but a collection of only 15K files still has holes in it, even @ 1 song at a time. Albums arent the same anymore, used to be able to listen to whole product and enjoy, not so much anymore.

 

[vvebsta]

This is really a game of user experience. Their UI needs to compete with Spotify to win people over. It doesn't matter what playlists or radio stations you have until your interface works as good or better than your competition.

 

[SmileyDude]

How many people use iTunes Match? A few million? How many use the radio feature regularly? A few hundred thousand?

Hate to sound harsh but lightly supported products regularly get the shaft. Apple is probably LOSING money on each iTunes Match subscription when they include free radio.

Should have Apple given more warning? Probably.

iTunes Match came out in Nov 2011. iTunes Radio did not launch till 2 years later.

Again with the guessing -- nobody outside of Apple knows how many Match users there are and what percentage of them use the radio functionality. But guess what? It doesn't matter. If Apple didn't want to support ad-free radio for Match users, they shouldn't have been advertising it earlier this month.

If the numbers are indeed as low as you say they are, it will cost Apple literally nothing to keep the few Match users using iTunes Radio happy. It's not like people are expecting them to keep a service around just for them -- Apple is already keeping the service around for Apple Music subscribers!

Regarding Match being out before iTunes Radio, I had forgotten that they debuted at different times. But Apple clearly made ad-free radio a big selling part of Match once iTunes Radio debuted.

 

[Plutonius]

The free radio was just an added bonus. Do you really expect Apple to give that for free for all eternity?

Nope but I expect them to honor their agreements for those that paid for iTunes Match.

 

[Avenged110]

So you don't subscribe to cable/satellite TV?
So you don't stream movies on Netflix?
So you don't watch movies at theaters?

Personally, I quit buying music. Maybe 10 songs a year. I noticed that most songs I bought 10 years ago are crap now. Maybe 5% of the songs I bought I still listen to now. Same with movies. Most of my bluray's I never watch more than once. I'm all for music streaming and buying a couple songs a year.

This might be a generational thing because my older friends all keep buying hundreds of dollars of music a year.

No.
Yes, but just mailed DVDs and I buy Blu-Rays for films I enjoy (and watch them regularly).
All the time. But that's an experience, not a subscription.

Congratulations, some of us prefer our music experiences differently; that's all I was arguing. Me personally, I enjoy all of my music - I wouldn't have otherwise bought it. I buy more that a couple songs yearly, but far less than "hundreds of dollars."

Usually these things do seem to be divided between certain age brackets. Although fwiw, I certainly don't fall in the "older" category.

 

[orbital~debris]

Or option 3. Use the free option from any of the other music services.

Or option 4. Listen to OTA radio.

Or option 5. Buy songs/albums from other music services that make it easier to explore and discover music and are less customer hostial.

Sorry, I could have been clearer. I meant options as far as getting music from Apple.

I hate paying for crappy music. A good preview/discovery system helps avoid that.

Yes, you could technically say I'm paying for "crappy" music. But I'm also paying for what's considered 'good quality' music, along with music that I personally think is good. I guess I'm sort of presuming that Apple have set up a system whereby the 'Loves' or 'Add this to my music' interactions that a user makes have some effect on the share of money the artist receives in payment for being on Music.

If you think paying for Apple Music or buying songs/albums from the iTunes store pays musicians (and all the other talent involved in producing music, which you don't seem to care about but definitely deserves to be paid) for their creative endeavours, all I can say is wow, please go educate yourself.

Again, sorry - I didn't intend to disparage the other essential parts of music production. I'm a music fan and have great appreciation for all of the elements that come together to form a musical recording.

Good for you. I have a fairly small library of music (under 1000 songs), to which I currently add 2-3 songs a month. Apple music or any premium service is not a good fit for me. It's not a problem with the services, I'm just not the right customer for them. At least I understand that and don't rant like a lunatic that all services should only fit my specific usage case.

I love trying out things I've never heard before, or albums I've only ever heard the 'hit' from. I'm pretty sure many would say I'm undiscerning, but I do appreciate the breadth of choice offered by Music. It's exhilarating!

 

[Kar98]

It's like saying: After 10 years of paying for coffee at Starbucks, you would have spent crap loads of money, what will you have to show for it?

Diabeetus?
[doublepost=1454108895][/doublepost]

If 50 cents a month is all it takes to break your back then maybe Apple product isn't for you. Not trying to be mean or rude, just telling the truth.

Are you aware of the phrase "nickel and diming somebody to death"? Even if it was 50 cents a month (it's not), there's this $20 charging cable, that $79 battery replacement few, those $30 lightning adapters... and of course the annual "oh, yuck, no, we don't support those ancient six month old devices anymore, what are you, poor?"

 

[HAudidoody]

Disappointing as an iTunes Match subscriber.

I can easily imagine where this is going as handset sales start to really decline.

I think no more singular investments in the Apple ecosystem for me.

 

[Madoka Kyono]

I don't see how this goes well for Apple and the iTunes Store. I listened to several stations to hear new music that I would later buy. Now I can't listen to new music so I guess I won't discover or buy much now. And I will not subscribe - I pay once only for a song. The drug dealer model, I will not support.

The drug dealer motto is- first is free everything after cost money. the exact opposite of what you just said.

 

[Luis Ortega]

I don't see how this goes well for Apple and the iTunes Store. I listened to several stations to hear new music that I would later buy. Now I can't listen to new music so I guess I won't discover or buy much now. And I will not subscribe - I pay once only for a song. The drug dealer model, I will not support.

Like the drug pusher that gives you a free sample to get you hooked and then forces you to pay through the nose after they get you hooked.

 

[Gruntersdad12]

Prime Membership cost $99.
There is no such thing as a free lunch (I have Prime by the way)

But Prime is also for Movies and free 2 day shipping not just radio.

 

[citysnaps]

Diabeetus?
[doublepost=1454108895][/doublepost]

Are you aware of the phrase "nickel and diming somebody to death"? Even if it was 50 cents a month (it's not), there's this $20 charging cable, that $79 battery replacement few, those $30 lightning adapters... and of course the annual "oh, yuck, no, we don't support those ancient six month old devices anymore, what are you, poor?"

Apple products and services are not for everybody. That's why there are tons of choices out there. Apple's are considered by many to be premium products.

If you cannot afford Apple's products/services, the solution is easy. Vote with your wallet and purchase products from somebody else that you can afford. I'm certain you can find something that makes you happy from Lenovo, HP, Samsung, Microsoft, Asus, or Sanyo. Just do it. Vote with your wallet, get on with your life, and be happy!

 

[Gruntersdad12]

The chill station was the best! I was wondering why it wouldn't play this morning. Bummer, I'll have to find another station. Pandora maybe?

Slacker has a few chill stations, 12 actually. Give them a try.
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In this case, people did buy Apple's services because they liked what Apple was offering. Apple changed it midway through (in my case, about 2 months after I renewed). Why should Apple be allowed to take away a feature that they advertised as being a part of the service? Just because you didn't use the feature or think it shouldn't be there doesn't mean that other people agree with that stance.

Personally, I paid for the service for both the ability to match tracks *and* the ability to listen to the radio stations ad-free. Why should I have to cancel my service now because Apple decided to stop offering that feature?

Apple certainly has the ability to grandfather in iTunes Match accounts that were in effect before they announced the change. Why would anyone object to Apple doing the right thing for their customers in this case?

There is absolutely no reason this could not have been gradually ended depending on your expiration date. Maybe they should have hired a computer company to show them how to do it.

 

[\-V-/]

Apple can't please everyone. Good luck.

I think Apple is doing fine. They just reported the biggest profitable quarter in the history of business (over $18 billion in profits) and have 1 billion active devices.

Thank you for the pointless post regarding Apple's success.

 

[slvfx]

Apple today officially ended free streaming of its iTunes Radio channels worldwide, incorporating the catalogue of stations into its subscription-based Apple Music service.

The change follows Apple's announcement earlier this month that its free radio-listening feature would be discontinued at the end of January but would remain available to Apple Music subscribers.

As of this morning, iOS Music app users who tap on a radio station are bounced to a screen prompting them to join Apple's premium streaming music service.

Likewise, iTunes users on a Mac who attempt to access the stations or create their own are met with a dialog window asking them to "Get on Our Wavelength" and join Apple Music.

Users with an iTunes Match subscription are also no longer able to access the stations. However, Apple's Beats 1 radio channel remains available to iTunes users worldwide as a free listening option.

Apple had quietly continued to offer ad-supported iTunes Radio stations in the United States and Australia even after the launch of Apple Music on June 30, 2015. However, after the company's decision to wind down its mobile iAd platform, the feature was already being limited in other regions to those who pay for Apple's streaming music service.

iTunes Radio was originally released with iTunes 11.1 and iOS 7 as a free ad-supported service, offering music discovery through featured and genre stations provided by Apple or through the creation of new stations based on a specific artist or song.

Article Link: Apple Ceases Free iTunes Radio Streaming Worldwide

[doublepost=1454112190][/doublepost]Have used iTunes forever - and was very disappointed on the approach for removing this service. I guess 'those who give - can taketh away'. Just like 'FlipAlbum' one of the best features given then taken away.

Would have appreciated an email with some notice - on this!

The future is not all about MONEY - and streaming services - what gives - Vinyl is making a comeback! So what about people's own music libraries? Compiled over many years - will go like the DoDo bird!

 

[sudo1996]

You need to understand that when Match began Apple still felt that many people would still want to buy music. They thought they could use iTunes Radio to sell more music. But the landscape has changed. Most people don't want to buy music anymore. They just want to stream it. Just like most people don't want to buy DVD's/Blurays anymore. They want to stream it through iTunes/Netflix.

Apple had to change their strategy from selling music to streaming music. Giving free radio was no longer viable as a strategy. Apple also decided to get out of the ad business, which made free music even more impossible.

Business plans and services change all the time. Customers cannot expect things to stay the same forever. Companies that adjust survive. Companies that don't like Blockbuster die. Apple is trying to keep up with the changes in music.

I see what you're saying, but this was the case long before iTunes Radio came out. I don't believe they were that slow to catch on.