Apple Music Now Playable on Amazon Echo Speakers via Alexa in United States

[Graphikos]

Anyone else struggling with multi-room audio? I have an Apple Music family plan subscription but every time I try to play across multiple rooms, Alexa apologizes and says she can’t do that. When I try the same through Amazon Music, it works.

Amazon has to specifically enable it per service. When multi-room launched for the Echo they only supported a few services. Even Spotify multi-room support came months later. I imagine as long as Apple Music on Echo becomes popular enough and the demand is high enough it will be supported.

We have an Echo of some sort in just about every room in the house so not being able to do multi-room audio might be a dealbreaker for me to switch from Amazon Music Unlimited to Apple Music. Although, Apple Music would add much better support for all the Apple devices we use so it's still tempting. I used up my "free trial" already so I might just have to pay for a month on Apple Music to see how it works with Echo.

 

[confusedpurple]

I own a HomePod and several echo dots. I never actually play music on the dots and anytime I’ve tried I can’t yell over commands at them while music is on. Meanwhile I can blast music full volume on HomePod and sori can still hear my voice commands from across the room

That'll be because the dot is a budget £30 device and the Homepod is high end - you're comparing incomparable products there.

Try the same thing with the equivalent Alexa device and it'll work. The Dot isn't meant as a loud music player, it's meant as a secondary unit.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Firstly I didn't state anything, @Shiro_Simba did. That 50 million figure also includes 8 million on free trials so 42 million paid users, hardly a million miles out is it? For context Spotify had 191 million monthly active users including their free users so lot of potential for growth there too.

Yes Apple Musics numbers are probably higher now but im sure Spotifys are too unless you think they haven't added any subscribers since the summer. Granted Apple growing theirs marginally faster and yes Apple Music is doing well in a market where the iPhone accounts for nearly 50%.

Your point was that because Apple 1.3 billion install base they don't need to worry about other platforms, in three years they've only convinced 40 million of them to pay for Apple Music.


EDIT: Spotify is at 87 million paid as of 1st November '18

But Apple Music is growing 2 times faster than Spotify even though Spotify is on more platforms, so my point still stands.

How long did it take Spotify to reach 50 million paying subscribers?

 

[Rob_2811]

But Apple Music is growing faster than Spotify even though Spotify is on more platforms, so my point still stands.

How long did it take Spotify to reach 50 million paying subscribers?

Spotify carved out the market for streaming they were converting people from downloads. The time it took them to reach 50 million paid subscribers isn't really relevant unless your looking for a comparison that paints Apple in the most positive light.

Apple Music entered an established market for music streaming in which Microsoft and Google aswell as Spotify had all been active for years.

Apple Music has done ok but nothing so extraordinary that it backs up your claim.

 

[tromboneaholic]

Spotify carved out the market for streaming they were converting people from downloads. The time it took them to reach 50 million paid subscribers isn't really relevant unless your looking for a comparison that paints Apple in the most positive light.

Apple Music entered an established market for music streaming in which Microsoft and Google aswell as Spotify had all been active for years.

Apple Music has done ok but nothing so extraordinary that it backs up your claim.

The fact remains that Apple Music overtook Spotify in the US in 3 years and is growing faster than Spotify around the world.

 

[Rob_2811]

The fact remains that Apple Music overtook Spotify in the US in 3 years and is growing faster than Spotify around the world.

Yes and the fact also remains that Spotify has more than double Apples paying subscribers. More that 40 Million more.

Sure Apples service is growing faster, growth is all well and good until you stop growing. As Apple are finding out with the iPhone.

If Apples install base is more likely to use Apples services like you say shouldn't iPhone owning Spotify users be switching over to Apple? These figures suggest they aren't in any great number.

How is Spotify still growing three years after Apple Music launched and Spotify still the number one music App on Apples app Store?

 

[apolloa]

So as per the norm, this is a US ONLY service..... perhaps in the UK we’ll be allowed the honour to link our Echos to Apple Music at some point in the future?

 

[tothemoonsands]

I just cancelled my family Spotify plan. The transition to Apple Music is complete with this Echo integration!

 

[appleguy123]

Right? I no longer see a reason for an Amazon Unlimited sub with this move. It may be cheaper, but Apple Music is well worth the cost difference (especially if you have an iPhone). Maybe this was a behind-the-scenes trade for allowing Prime Video on Apple TV.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense in that light.

Keeping Apple TV from amazon storefront = good for amazon(more Fire TVs sold), bad for Apple
Keeping prime video from the Apple TV = good for amazon bad for Apple

So Amazon traded that for allowing Apple Music in echos, which is great for Apple and bad for amazon (unless it is literally losing money on its music streaming service and doesn’t want people to subscribe, which could be the case)?

Probably more to do with the more recent decision of allowing Amazon to be an official Apple reseller. It’s good for both companies, but Amazon made other major concessions to Apple (like removing unauthorized refurbishers from their store) to facilitate this. Wouldn’t surprise me if Apple Music on amazon hardware was a throwaway concession Apple asked them to make to help their goal of stomping out the unprofitable Spotify from the market to reduce competition.

 

[DNichter]

Great for Echo users. I’ve been very happy with my HomePod’s. I do have a few Echo’s in a drawer though so I’m tempted to put them in the bathrooms now.

 

[RoadRunner505]

Can anybody in the US with access to this confirm if this now enables Alexa to control Apple Music on Sonos speakers? Or is it Echo-exclusive?

Not yet :-( And of course, crickets from Sonos about when they will roll it out.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

Wow! Just Wow!

This is equivalent to the iTunes app being offered to Windows platforms.
This is the first instance, under Cook's regime, where Apple hardware gets unbound from a major, Apple service.

[This also may portend the unbundling of the Apple TV hardware from the future Apple Movie/Channel Service.]

no, Apple Music has been available to Android for a long time.

 

[friedmud]

This is actually not very surprising. Apple Music is one of the most "promiscuous" services Apple has... they are trying to spread it everywhere... including Android!

 

[stafil]

Echo exclusive. For now.

Echo’s sound quality is crap

 

[schmidt65]

So as per the norm, this is a US ONLY service..... perhaps in the UK we’ll be allowed the honour to link our Echos to Apple Music at some point in the future?

Even more annoying is the fact the amazon article saying Apple Music was coming to echo devices said NOTHING about it being US only, meaning the 3 echo devices I bought during the amazon sale (purely for Apple Music) was a complete waste of money.

 

[WhiteHawk]

Maybe I missed it but I saw absolutely nothing about this being US only when it was first announced, I’m really annoyed that all of a sudden it’s announced that it won’t be available in the UK. I just set up an Echo dot and was looking forward to this on Monday being available and with two more on the way next month, guess I’ll be cancelling them now.
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Even more annoying is the fact the amazon article saying Apple Music was coming to echo devices said NOTHING about it being US only, meaning the 3 echo devices I bought during the amazon sale (purely for Apple Music) was a complete waste of money.

Yeah, once again a case of a US site not bothering to mention those particular details because they think they are the only country in the world, seen it so many times.

 

[rajid]

Is this only for Apple Music Subscription service, or does it work to access a personal itunes music library as well?

 

[chelsel]

My wife has the Echo Plus and I have the HomePod. She's jealous of mine for two reasons:
1. The HomePod plays Apple Music
2. The HomePod sounds much better

This at least addresses one of the reasons. Perhaps now she'll stop moving my HomePod to listen to her music.

I'm using the Amazon Fire TV Cube with HDMI output to a high quality soundbar. I can't imagine the audio being better with any of the mini speakers, Sonos or HomePod included... definitely something to check out.

 

[AndyTSj]

Even more annoying is the fact the amazon article saying Apple Music was coming to echo devices said NOTHING about it being US only, meaning the 3 echo devices I bought during the amazon sale (purely for Apple Music) was a complete waste of money.

That's why I've cancelled Apple Music now as of today.

 

[4jasontv]

That is why they have a "Default" music service in settings, where you don't have to *name* which service you want to use unless it's one other than the default.

Hold the phone, I can set any music platform as default?

 

[stockcerts]

I just added my Apple music subscription to my 3rd generation Echo Dot. Super easy! I'll now be using my Dot much more, and the speaker sounds great for such a small size!

 

[stanhope]

Apple Music can now be streamed on Amazon Echo speakers via Alexa in the United States, a few days ahead of schedule.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, it is now possible to link Apple Music with your Amazon account in the Alexa app for iPhone and use Alexa voice commands to control playback of songs, playlists, and Beats 1 on Apple Music on Amazon Echo speakers.

To access this feature, simply use a voice command such as "Alexa, play music by Ed Sheeran on Apple Music" or "Alexa, play today's hits on Apple Music." Apple Music can also be set as the default music service in the Alexa app, so that "Apple Music" does not need to be specified each time.

Other streaming music services supported on Echo speakers include Spotify, Deezer, Vevo, SiriusXM, Tidal, and Pandora.

Apple and Amazon announced this new partnership in late November, with Amazon saying it is "committed to offering great music providers to our customers," and referring to Apple Music as "one of the most popular music services."

Apple Music playback on Amazon Echo speakers is currently limited to the United States.

Article Link: Apple Music Now Playable on Amazon Echo Speakers via Alexa in United States

[doublepost=1544906823][/doublepost]I played the same music in the same room on echo and homepod...like a DC-3 vs the Concorde.

 

[DotCom2]

That's why I've cancelled Apple Music now as of today.

Hold the phone, I can set any music platform as default?

Yes, of course!
ON the Alexa App just go to Settings>Music>Default Services> and pick Apple Music or whatever you want as the default service.
That way you don't have to say "Alexa, play xxx on xxxMusic! EASY!

 

[Shanghaichica]

I love my dots, but I find Amazon’s implementation of third party commands annoying. Why would I need to say “Alexa, play music by Ed Sheeran on Apple Music” when Alexa already knows what music services I subscribe to. I should be able to say “Alexa, play Ed Sheeran” and she should sync each platform and either ask me which one she should use, or she should mix streaming songs from different platforms.

I got a dot for Destiny 2, and the extra commands made making requests a chore. I expect music playback to be even simpler.

You can say play Ed Sheeran and it will play it on whatever music streaming service you have set as your default. If you set Apple Music as your default service. It will play from Apple Music and you won’t need to add on Apple Music at the end. You only need to say the name of the music service if you want to use one which isn’t your default service.
[doublepost=1544911154][/doublepost]

Even more annoying is the fact the amazon article saying Apple Music was coming to echo devices said NOTHING about it being US only, meaning the 3 echo devices I bought during the amazon sale (purely for Apple Music) was a complete waste of money.

I know it didn’t say anything about it being a US exclusive. I ordered 2 echo dots during the sale but they are out of stock until the end of January so they have until the end of January to get it working in the UK otherwise I’ll cancel the orders.

 

[burgman]

The two don’t really compete.

The people buying a cheap amazon echo or google home device are not in the market for a HomePod. Likewise, the people willing to pay for a HomePod have shown that they value sound quality first and foremost and are willing to pay a premium for it, hence an echo or home device is not going to appeal to them.

It’s possible that Apple is doing this to prevent users from defecting from Apple Music. I am actually a bit confused on the motivation though. Apple Music isn’t profitable any more than Spotify is, so this doesn’t feel like a push to chase revenue. Could Apple be chasing music streaming subscribers to retain influence with record labels, and to possibly push its video streaming and news service next year (easier to sell a bundle when your users are already using one of them)?

Do you own an Echo dot?, plug in nice speakers, that are cheaper than a Homepod they sound far better. Plus in stereo without extra purchase.That Apple elitism is bleeding through.
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This is actually not very surprising. Apple Music is one of the most "promiscuous" services Apple has... they are trying to spread it everywhere... including Android!

Unlike, Spotify, Tidel, Deezer, Slacker, Qobuz, Google Music which limit one platform... Oh wait everybody is multi platform now.