Apple Ceases Free iTunes Radio Streaming Worldwide

[Old Muley]

I had just started using iTunes radio about a week ago. For some reason I couldn't get Pandora to stream on any home devices (ATV, iPad, iPhone) for more than about 5 minutes, so I figured it was secretly being made wonky by Apple to encourage me to switch to iTunes. I guess now I need to go back and figure out how to get Pandora to stream consistently.

 

[kevandjamie]

Guess I'll go back to Pandora and/or Google Music.

 

[Orange Computer]

That's internet radio, not iTunes Radio.

iTunes Radio had several public radio stations mixed in with it's Pandora-like offerings. These still work. Internet radio on atv is a different thing.

 

[sinsin07]

After Earnings call, and Wallstreet reaction this purely feels like a knee jerk move to try and show that they can make additional revenues to help with the prediction of decrease in device sales next year.

They're catering to Wallstreet and trying to bleed as much revenues out of their existing customer base as much as possible.

Nice try, however:
Friday, January 15 2016 Apple Ending Ad-Supported iTunes Radio Stations at End of January
Tuesday, January 26 2016 Apple Reports Record Results

 

[GizmoDVD]

Is the Radio now ad free? How many times can I skip a song?

 

[skinned66]

I just renewed my iTunes Match subscription AFTER confirming on the Apple website that the service included on-demand music stations without ads. I printed the page out - dated 1/18/2016.

Now they want to yank that away from me?

OK, I want to yank my money away from THEM!

I'll let my bank know that I've been hoodwinked and refuse to pay the charge...let's see what happens.

This actually surprises me. They took your money that late in the game. There has to be a reason - they can't be that crazy. Have you tried it? Does it still work? If not then I agree you should do exactly what you said you were going to do.

EDIT: Nevermind, explained here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...eaming-worldwide.1953415/page-5#post-22517527

Makes sense. You can still dispute the charge, but this is why Apple isn't "crazy for taking your money."

 

[iMerik]

So now we have yet ANOTHER useless button in the Music app on iOS. Thanks Apple. When I tap that my only option is Beats 1, the over other link on that page is for a radio station that won't play.

I'm so glad I went with Google Music. Now I'll do everything I can to avoid opening the Music app. I wish I could somehow uninstall it.

Honest question, at what point do you just jump ship and get a Nexus or other Android phone? I ask myself this regularly. Aside from trusting my privacy more with Apple, I generally like Google services more.

For now, I subscribe to Music family plan and use it quite often on my SONOS setup. This change won't affect me obviously, but I can see why people would be annoyed by making these stations unavailable for free, especially if people would regularly turn around and purchase songs they heard on these no longer free stations.

 

[Orange Computer]

One of the best things about the iPhone used to be the music app. They ruined it. Can those of us who don't want Apple's dumpster fire of a streaming service please have our old Music app back?

 

[Bird Brain]

The fact that iTunes Match customers received streaming music free was never a stated benefit or service of iTunes Match. They were never promised such service with iTunes Match. Just because I get girls driving a Ferrari doesn't mean I can get mad at Ferrari if I go out and don't get girls.

https://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-match/

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204962

If you're upset, request a refund. I'm sure they're happy to make it happen.

iTunes Match promised two primary features to subscribers: 1. Store your matched music collection in iCloud; 2. Listen to on-demand music stations ad-free.

Apple changed their iTunes Match web pages a few weeks ago to remove the "on-demand music stations ad-free" part

 

[skinned66]

So now we have yet ANOTHER useless button in the Music app on iOS.

One of the best things about the iPhone used to be the music app. They ruined it. Can those of us who don't want Apple's dumpster fire of a streaming service please have our old Music app back?

I just switched to Choon. It's free in the App Store this week, check it out. Much better IMO. Pretty too. Too bad I can't integrate it with control center and the lock screen.

 

[Sweetfeld28]

I think Apple should give those users that are already paying for iTunes Match the subscription for Free. $25/month and all it does is spread my music to my other devices... I get more with my Amazon Prime membership.

 

[OllyW]

iTunes Radio had several public radio stations mixed in with it's Pandora-like offerings. These still work. Internet radio on atv is a different thing.

Sorry, I didn't realise as we never got access to free iTunes Radio here.

 

[HenryDJP]

Have you tried Pandora? aka what iTunes Radio copied

iTunes Radio did not copy Pandora. They never worked anything like one another. Just quit.

 

[Richdmoore]

I loved the apple radio stations before they released Apple Music. After that, they reduced the choices available in the radio service, but I still used it. I am sad that the service is now gone.

While I subscribe to iTunes Match service for the ability to play any of my music library songs without having to keep them all stored in my phone's limited storage, the ad free radio was a nice perk while it lasted.

Apple should offer a prorated refund to anyone who no longer wants to keep using iTunes Match now that the ad free radio has been eliminated. I will still keep using it, but I understand others subscribed simply for ad-free radio only, which is now unavailable.

 

[Bird Brain]

Apple was accepting iTunes Match money as recently as Jan 15 and promising "on-demand music stations ad-free" as one of the two reasons to pay the annual subscription fee. I am guessing that most subscribers assumed that promise would be good for the entire subscription period!


https://web.archive.org/web/20160115062617/http://www.apple.com/itunes/music/

 

[HenryDJP]

I assumed everyone hated iTunes Radio. At least that's the feeling I got from comments here and on other tech sites.

LOL, HERE and OTHER tech sites? You truly think all of Apple's customers are made up only of internet dwellers and tech sites? Lordy. Get off the computer keyboard and step into the real world.

 

[ProVideo]

So have they improved these Radio station's song selections at all with their inclusion in only Apple Music? I have iTunes match and would put on the classical radio stations, but stopped after a month because it seems like they just repeat the same songs over and over again. I probably would get Moonlight Sonata 1/20th of the time or some other predictable piece that I've heard enough to not want to hear it ad nauseam. It was like listening to a Classical Rock station and hearing Stairway to Heaven over and over again. The hell if I am going to sign up to Apple Music for that or Beats 1.

 

[tallscot]

Downloading Pandora ...

 

[HenryDJP]

I'm not sure it's a good move. Ultimately, I don't think it will make much of a difference. Apple's not one of the biggest players in this particular field / service.

Disagreed. It took Apple only months to achieve 10 million subs. The 20 million subs Spotify has took them many years to achieve. Apple is most certainly a big player and in doubt 5 years from now will be the largest streaming service worldwide.

People just like to freak out because, they like to freak out.

Completely agreed.

 

[GhostRaider]

Today marks the day that Apple shot itself in the foot with Apple Music. Spotify nor Pandora didn't even have to do anything lol

 

[bbeagle]

After 10 years of paying $10 a month of music, what will you have if Apple ends AM? You would have spent crap loads of money, and nothing to show for it.

I would have 10 years of music listening enjoyment for $1200. A lot more music than I could buy.

The same as buying a car for $25,000 - I get maybe 10 years out of it before I sell it for like $1,000. That's $24,000 wasted over 10 years according to your argument.

You fail to realize the benefit of having what you purchased or rented for all those years. That factors in the equation as well.

In fact, we're leasing my wife's car for $289 a month. It's well worth it to pay $10 a day for her to have a car, and it's worth the inconvenience of not having the 2nd car.

 

[sualpine]

Apple giveth, Apple taketh away - as usual.

We call this "the free market".

 

[tallscot]

I canceled a month ago. i liked it but rarely used it. I find myself listening to SiriusXm much more. I also can't even remember the last time i actually bought any music, whether it be from iTunes or from another store. Spending money on music these days is rare. if there is a song id like to hear at home i find myself looking it up on youtube

Im also an iTunes match subscriber but barely listen to my collection these days. I'm considering canceling that service too

Sirius is going to disappear as more people get unlimited streaming on their phones. I have unlimited and used my phone on a 14 hour drive. Flawless playback that goes into homes, offices, etc.

 

[MacLawyer]

Because Apple has to monetize down to the last particle of dust.

 

[Rogifan]

LOL, HERE and OTHER tech sites? You truly think all of Apple's customers are made up only of internet dwellers and tech sites? Lordy. Get off the computer keyboard and step into the real world.

No, you misunderstand. It's people here and on other tech sites complaining about this....the same people that supposedly hated iTunes Radio in the first place.

Apple was accepting iTunes Match money as recently as Jan 15 and promising "on-demand music stations ad-free" as one of the two reasons to pay the annual subscription fee. I am guessing that most subscribers assumed that promise would be good for the entire subscription period!

https://web.archive.org/web/20160115062617/http://www.apple.com/itunes/music/

This is where Apple's communication sucks. iTunes Match didn't launch with internet radio and the price was always $24.99. No doubt though some people have signed up for it because they thought iTunes Radio was part of the service. Apple's iTunes page didn't make it clear that iTunes Radio was a completely separate service, not part of iTunes Match.

https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/06/06Apple-Introduces-iCloud.html