Apple Music Classical Updated With Three New Features

[tennisproha]

This is very cool! Classical always feels like a world of its own so it's nice to be guided while listening. Well done Apple.

 

[skeptic68]

+1 on the folks who listen to classical music on proper speakers. I have a modest home theater setup: TV sound out to a Sony amp, then to left & right speaker columns (for music). Apple TV 4K is an external input to the TV. Apple Music app on the ATV4K. Why is there no Apple Music Classical app for ATV4K? If they can port it to iPhones & iPads, it's a trivial exercise to port it it ATV4K. More evidence that Apple staff simply do not understand classical music. We're not all 30-year-olds listening on our earbuds. Yes, I can use AirPlay to cast it from my iPhone, but I paid Apple for the ATV4K AND the Apple Music subscription. So where's the seamless integration with Apple devices. Apparently no one in Cupertino considers it worth their time.

In addition to Apple Music I also subscribe to Spotify. Why? Because Spotify makes it easy to connect to ANY smart speaker via WiFi/Bluetooth. I have Amazon Echo Studio speakers & Sub flanking the TV. I can verbally request Spotify playlists on Echo speakers or easily cast my iPhone Spotify app to Echo speakers. It doesn't sound quite as good as the column speakers but those Echo Studio speakers sound pretty darn good. Makes it easy to watch sports on TV, mute the jock talk & ads on the TV & listen instead to music over the Echo Studio speakers.

Despite there being an Alexa Skill for Apple Music, the reality is that Apple refuses to play nicely with hardware other than it's own. So wake up & smell the coffee Apple! Porting Apple Classical to ATV4K devices is low hanging fruit.

 

[VisceralRealist]

I know I sound like a broken record, but: Mac app when?

I will never use Apple Music Classical unless it's available for the Mac.

Part of me is hoping they're delaying because they're planning a major overhaul of the Music app, and Apple Classical for the Mac will be part of that. If it's not that, then I really don't understand why they can't release a Mac version.

 

[steven4570]

I produce classical music albums. Apple does not accept classical albums anymore from any distributor (I tried them all). I read somewhere that Apple pretends not making money with music distribution (lol). Don't misread me: I love the Apple Classical App - though, like others, I'd love to see a Mac version of the App. But I seem to get mixed messages from Apple. Refusing all classical music albums from distributors gave me the impression that Apple wanted to dismiss the whole idea. Then, I read this article mentioning about new features. I'm confused.

What do you mean they “don’t accept classical albums anymore?”
Like they’re not putting new albums in?

 

[Kay_Ess]

Omg *squeal* this update sounds epic!!
I’m never going back to Spotify, Apple Music Classical is just so frigging nice to have in my life🥰🥰

 

[jdavid_rp]

I think it stings even worse because of all of Apple's proclamations about how they cared about and understood music when they launched the service and brought in some big names Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre, and Zane Lowe.

As it stands, it's a good-enough, basic music streaming service with nothing particularly novel, fun, or engaging about it - and a complete dearth of any type of meaningful innovation.

Not exactly the ode to music Apple made it out to be.

Well, you have the Sing mode, Spatial Audio, the radio programs they do with artists, curated playlists… not all of them are new but I’d say it has everything a Music app needs to have but… the weekly playlists. I don’t know if I’m dumb or something but I can’t find a feature like the weekly Spotify playlists based on genres I listen to.
I mostly play my radio station but it’s annoying how it changes from modern pop music to maybe some flamenco from the 80…

 

[lotones]

As a classical music lover, I was super excited when they announced this app. But in reality, I don't use it at all. When I listen to classical music, I don't listen on my AirPods or stream it from my phone. I listen properly in my living room hi-fi connected to the Apple TV; and as long as there is no native app, it is practically useless.
I'm quite surprised they are not aware that this is the case with many potential users for this app.

While I absolutely agree with you, until Apple get's it's feces assembled you can Airplay directly to your Apple TV from your iPhone or iPad. It's a clunky workaround but it sounds excellent.

 

[lotones]

What do you mean they “don’t accept classical albums anymore?”
Like they’re not putting new albums in?

I assume that means Apple is dealing directly with the record labels. No need to go through a distributor.

 

[lotones]

I produce classical music albums. Apple does not accept classical albums anymore from any distributor (I tried them all). I read somewhere that Apple pretends not making money with music distribution (lol). Don't misread me: I love the Apple Classical App - though, like others, I'd love to see a Mac version of the App. But I seem to get mixed messages from Apple. Refusing all classical music albums from distributors gave me the impression that Apple wanted to dismiss the whole idea. Then, I read this article mentioning about new features. I'm confused.

See above.

 

[baculum]

As a classical music lover, I was super excited when they announced this app. But in reality, I don't use it at all. When I listen to classical music, I don't listen on my AirPods or stream it from my phone. I listen properly in my living room hi-fi connected to the Apple TV; and as long as there is no native app, it is practically useless.
I'm quite surprised they are not aware that this is the case with many potential users for this app.

Not sure why people need this as a standalone Apple TV app. Very simple to stream via AirPlay from iphone....I send to an old Gen 1 Apple TV, digital output to my Topping DAC into my integrated amp.

 

[lotones]

Not sure why people need this as a standalone Apple TV app. Very simple to stream via AirPlay from iphone....I send to an old Gen 1 Apple TV, digital output to my Topping DAC into my integrated amp.

Really? Just for starters it's a major PITA if the phone rings while I'm Airplaying Apple Classical through my large speakers. Not to mention the rushing to turn down the volume and fumbling with the lock screen to answer the call. Not ideal. Sure I could just ask Siri to answer the call (at full volume), but I tend to not want to broadcast personal calls.

Also, more to the point, as great as it sounds, Airplay will never sound as good as a physical connection to a sound system.

 

[BuddyRich]

I think it stings even worse because of all of Apple's proclamations about how they cared about and understood music when they launched the service and brought in some big names Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre, and Zane Lowe.

As it stands, it's a good-enough, basic music streaming service with nothing particularly novel, fun, or engaging about it - and a complete dearth of any type of meaningful innovation.

Not exactly the ode to music Apple made it out to be.

Agree on the lack of innovation in terms of streaming part. But this classical music specific app *is* novel. Amazon, Tidal, Spotify don't have it. But its definitely niche.

The other thing Apple has going for it, is quality. They were not the first to do lossless or hi-res... but their "Apple Digital Master" (formerly Mastered for iTunes) program is a step above everyone else. More of a benefit of being a digital seller of music first, where quality mattered rather than a purveyor of an all you can eat music buffet first but that legacy that AM streaming inherited from itunes makes it stand out for me despite the relative lack of features of the client. Apple Music just sounds better than the competition. And I don't mean the codecs used, bitrate, etc. but the standards for mastering music for itunes and now Apple Music are not as high on the other streamers.

They did also heavily promote Atmos/Multi-channel music stream (technically not the first, I think Amazon beat them) but very close behind... so there is that.

 

[thefrost]

Apple should expand the app to the Mac.

 

[neuropsychguy]

The listening guides are great. I've just sampled a couple so far, but they are quite interesting.

 

[allenvanhellen]

Not going to pay more to switch from iTunes Match to Apple Music until Classical is on Apple TV, Mac, and Watch (I assume it’s available to HomePods).

 

[nathansz]

as others have mentioned I find it quite baffling that this is not available on apple tv

I feel like my set up of Apple TV connected to a decent hi-fi system (with a decent DAC) is pretty common for "audiophile" Apple Music users

 

[svish]

Good to see the changes to the app. Also Apple should consider releasing a Mac app soon. Hopefully it will come as a part of the next version of macOS.

 

[wanha]

Agree on the lack of innovation in terms of streaming part. But this classical music specific app *is* novel. Amazon, Tidal, Spotify don't have it. But its definitely niche.

The other thing Apple has going for it, is quality. They were not the first to do lossless or hi-res... but their "Apple Digital Master" (formerly Mastered for iTunes) program is a step above everyone else. More of a benefit of being a digital seller of music first, where quality mattered rather than a purveyor of an all you can eat music buffet first but that legacy that AM streaming inherited from itunes makes it stand out for me despite the relative lack of features of the client. Apple Music just sounds better than the competition. And I don't mean the codecs used, bitrate, etc. but the standards for mastering music for itunes and now Apple Music are not as high on the other streamers.

They did also heavily promote Atmos/Multi-channel music stream (technically not the first, I think Amazon beat them) but very close behind... so there is that.

I agree with everything you say. Apple definitely also has good things going in their music endeavors and I appreciate you pointing them out; they make clear that my take was too one sided

It occurs to me that the improvements and innovation that Apple are doing with music mainly exist outside the app - the mastering of the music, Atmos, music bit rate, etc.

Inside the app, however, there doesn't seem to be any meaningful forward movement whether in terms of the UI, music consumption, or discoverability, let alone in terms of any social component between the artists and the listeners.

 

[wanha]

Well, you have the Sing mode, Spatial Audio, the radio programs they do with artists, curated playlists… not all of them are new but I’d say it has everything a Music app needs to have but… the weekly playlists. I don’t know if I’m dumb or something but I can’t find a feature like the weekly Spotify playlists based on genres I listen to.
I mostly play my radio station but it’s annoying how it changes from modern pop music to maybe some flamenco from the 80…

Those are all valid points, David

 

[Galley]

This appears to be a text-only version of Grammofy’s audio commentaries, which was one of their main features.

 

[JippaLippa]

As a classical music lover, I was super excited when they announced this app. But in reality, I don't use it at all. When I listen to classical music, I don't listen on my AirPods or stream it from my phone. I listen properly in my living room hi-fi connected to the Apple TV; and as long as there is no native app, it is practically useless.
I'm quite surprised they are not aware that this is the case with many potential users for this app.

Same with the mac, where I have a good dac and a decent pair of headphones.

I'm sure an apple tv and iphone app will come eventually, but I fail to understand the holdup...

Still, I'll enjoy this app during my walks on my phone, for the time being.

 

[JippaLippa]

Pound for pound Apple Music is the most disappointing thing to come out of Apple in the Tim Cook era.

Had so much potential..

I don't get it.
Apple music has a pretty rich offering for the price.

I understand the algorithms might not be as refined as in Spotify, but I fail to understand how apple music needs to innovate.

It has "lossless", lyrics, music videos, the icloud library (invaluable for me, as not all my music is available on streaming), interviews, music podcasts, deep integration within the OS, dolby atmos and the classical variant of the app, all at a competitive price.

I think the only problems apple music has are some lingering bugs (even though I finally started experiencing less of them) and some annoying quirks of the interface (for example the menu navigation not being the best).

Do other services (such as tidal or spotify) really provide any meaningful innovations in this space?

 

[Mcaparula]

As a classical music lover, I was super excited when they announced this app. But in reality, I don't use it at all. When I listen to classical music, I don't listen on my AirPods or stream it from my phone. I listen properly in my living room hi-fi connected to the Apple TV; and as long as there is no native app, it is practically useless.
I'm quite surprised they are not aware that this is the case with many potential users for this

Can I please get the ability the exclude classical music from the regular Music app?

Would be even better if it was granular and let me choose separately for crossover and actual classical music. But that I’m sure is not Apple’s style.

I get it, but this would be a deal breaker for me. Personal libraries are through Apple Music and if they separated classical out, I would lose all my classical music.

 

[alfonsog]

I don't really need listening guides but that's pretty cool. Seems like the Apple Classical programming team is doing some good work. I'm pretty sure there will be a Mac and Apple TV app soon. It's such a niche market though; I'm the only one I know that actually uses Apple Music Classical.

 

[Kay_Ess]

I don't really need listening guides but that's pretty cool. Seems like the Apple Classical programming team is doing some good work. I'm pretty sure there will be a Mac and Apple TV app soon. It's such a niche market though; I'm the only one I know that actually uses Apple Music Classical.