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Apple Ceases Free iTunes Radio Streaming Worldwide
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Given that anything remotely connected to music has not been produced since c1975, I remain serene.
I just realized something, I bet Apple gives this back to the customers but only if you purchase the new iPhone 7. I can see it now...we've listened to our customers who want radio back well here it is free only on the iPhone 7. It won't work on previous iPhones due to a whole resigned software of music app only on iPhone 7 and guess what it's better than ever, get the new iPhone 7.
Of course I'm now going to stop subscribing to iTunes match when my year is up.
I paid for iTunes match for the year (you pay by the year). Even if I cancel now, I will not get my money back.
If you belonged to a fitness club that has a pool and paid for a year of service, wouldn't you be upset if they told you that you can no longer use the pool without paying more money ?
I'm usually against class action suits but, I think it's warranted in this case.
I agree, having used Apple products since almost the beginning.
I think they are starting to forget what Apple is (has been).
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.
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You will lose. They are offering a full refund if you cancel.
I think Apple really mishandled this in regard to iTunes Match paid subscribers.
Apple had identified users willing to pay Apple for streaming music, as those users subscribed to iTunes Match. Wouldn't it have made sense for Apple to target those users for Apple Music? Instead, Apple removes the feature from their already paid subscriptions without notice, making those users upset and less likely to even try Apple Music.
Apple could have simply informed iTunes Match subscribers that iTunes Radio is going away and that subscribers will be allowed to use the new and more expensive Apple Music service for the remainder of their paid subscription term.
Most users would have been fine with that, and Apple would have instantly had their targeted users getting used to having Apple Music.
Apple had identified users willing to pay Apple for streaming music, as those users subscribed to iTunes Match. Wouldn't it have made sense for Apple to target those users for Apple Music? Instead, Apple removes the feature from their already paid subscriptions without notice, making those users upset and less likely to even try Apple Music.
Apple could have simply informed iTunes Match subscribers that iTunes Radio is going away and that subscribers will be allowed to use the new and more expensive Apple Music service for the remainder of their paid subscription term.
Most users would have been fine with that, and Apple would have instantly had their targeted users getting used to having Apple Music.
I tried Apple Music and I didn't like it. The problem wasn't the cost. Like you, I have several thousand purchased songs. What I didn't like about Apple Music is that I can't easily keep track of which songs I've *purchased* versus which songs I've *borrowed* (Apple Music).
Why is this important? Because I may not want to subscribe to Apple Music for the rest of my life. Let's say I add a couple of songs a month to my collection from Apple Music. They're hidden among all my purchased tracks. I now go to cancel Apple Music. Poof - a bunch of my music is gone.
The other issue I have is that I don't *want* all the music in the world. I've put years into curating a collection that I enjoy and gradually add to. The entire iTunes catalog is overwhelming.
And unfortunately, I used to listen to iTunes Radio stations every day. Back to Pandora I guess.
The issue is I paid for a year of iTunes match for the ad free radio. If Apple is going to do this, they should refund my iTunes Match subscription fee.
I don't see cable TV and a Music Streaming subscription the same. People - or at least most people I know - don't listen to music the way they watch TV or Movies. TV and movies, you might find something you really like, so you buy it usually after already watching it. Music I listen it over and over and over again. I love listening to music. There are artists that I love and I listen to constantly. I always have music on. To me, I see Apple Music as a way to download music I love for one price, $10 a month. That's great. However I will fall in love with an artist or tracks and want to own them. Sure, I can still buy them, but why since I have Apple Music?
Well, now Apple Music goes by the wayside like iTunes Radio did. All that music I paid to listen to and download is gone. I now must repurchase all the music I loved because half my library is just gone. I only download music I love, and even then my library is huge. It has multiple genres, artists, albums. From classical, to R&B, to pop and yes even some country. I would rather keep buying music monthly - even if it totals up to more then Apple Music - to know that I own it and the loss of a subscription service is not going to make me loose it.
Maybe I listen to music differently then most, but Apple Music isn't the end-all, be-all for everyone. Same could be said for any service. Netflix and Hulu work better then cable for me, but someone might see differently for themselves. I loved iTunes Radio. It helped me discover artists and songs that might not be played very often on the local radio, and if I liked the song I would actually buy it.
That said, I appreciate the time I had with iTunes Radio. It was actually one of the better services Apple offered in my opinion, one that actually worked well - even after they tried to cripple it when Apple Music came out. Some may have had problems but iTunes Radio was usually trouble free for me. I have already moved back to Pandora and Spotify's free tiers.
When it comes to music, yes people can get greedy. I know I am. Music was the first real home media before TV and movies. We were first able to play movies at home in the 1970's maybe, but music at home has been around since the 1800's (if you were rich enough). I will keep my stack of CDs in my room for the artists I love and buy singles through iTunes. You can use Apple Music to your hearts content, but it doesn't mean that it works for me.
I hope this now practically dead Radio tab is removed because I know I am not putting up with Zane Lowe and lackluster music they play on Beats One. It's just not my taste.
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Where did you read that your purchased music would disappear if you cancel AppleMusic? I have AppleMusic and one of the playlists is purchased music. I doubt they would delete the music you already purchased.
Bummed to lose iTunes Radio as part of my iTunes Match subscription. Todays events had the unintended consequence of showing me that I have access to Amazon Prime Music, which I've never really looked at before... so now I'm using that for radio and it's already paid for for the year.
Lackluster? You're too kind - noise pollution is more apt, I believe.
I have Amazon Prime and Apple Music. Amazon Prime Music selection is extremely limited.
Keep in mind that many of the services that are 'free' on Amazon prime may not be in the near future. Wall Street is putting extreme pressure on Amazon to increase profitability. They are not happy with the meager profits Amazon is making. So don't expect Amazon Prime Music to be free for much longer.
Well, then it sounds like you've made your decision based on economics, and not on some ideology. And that is good. But your original statement that you "won't pay for subscriptions" seemed a little dogmatic to me.
I will take one exception to what you said in your reply, though. I don't think that companies typically "figures out what on average a typical person uses and then charges you more than that so they can profit." I believe the smart companies figure out a place where it makes sense for most people to subscribe versus not subscribing, and tries to make that sweet spot profitable. This is especially true when a new service is coming into being. The last thing a smart company wants is subscribers who feel like they're being pinched, and it's hard to get subscribers to sign up to begin with if they don't think there is a value to them.