Apple Music Reduces Free Trial Period to One Month

[lovehateapple]

This is just another example of shrinkflation that isn't captured in the CPI, which is why the CPI is a lousy metric for measuring inflation. The government has a vested interest in understating the true amount prices have increased due to all the new currency it has created.

 

[bushman4]

While Apple changed its free trial to one month from three maybe they’ll be offering the trial more often or with the purchase of more products
In any case it’s still one month which is better than nothing

 

[DeepIn2U]

For $10/month, I get a sports/entertainment package from my cable provider.
The only channel I watch is Turner Classic Movies.
That is worth paying for, but no music service is worth my money.
If Apple Music had an ad based version, I’m in.
Turner Classic Movies is commercial free, except for all the self promos they run between movies.
I purchased Apple TV and have ignored the free trials.
They assume I will keep and pay for all those extras.
They aren’t worth it to me.

You said nothing about extras in AppleTV, the other stuff is irrelevant. What is extra in AppleTV and what is valuable within AppleTV to you?

 

[applicious84]

The good news is people have choices. Don't like Apple Music or Apple's value or policies? Or feel that Apple is not offering enough free listening time and that 30 days to make a decision is not enough time? Simply go with a competing product that offers more decision-making time and better value. And find happiness.

Meh, I’m cheap, and I’ve spent enough on Apple, Amazon, and Netflix. I’d rather save those $20 and spend it on books from a local bookshop, flowers from a florist, coffee at a coffee shop, real cooks at a restaurant, or really, donate it to a cause that helps children. They’re better choices, and I’m not exactly loaded. I’d rather have my money make a bigger difference than benefit shareholders. That makes me happier than appeasing a car salesman who demands fast decisions

 

[supercoolmanchu]

I get it. You want free stuff. Simply vote with your wallet for a better value. Maybe you can find a streaming music service that offers a free six month trial.

No. I have music from various parties on Apple Music.

Not only is this less value for Apple Music customers, it also makes for less value for artists, as it makes customer attraction and retention less attractive and more difficult.

It changes the mechanics of the deal Apple made with artists.

But sure, I get it, you want to keep shaming the average person over money you think they can afford. Classy.

 

[citysnaps]

No. I have music from various parties on Apple Music.

Not only is this less value for Apple Music customers, it also makes for less value for artists, as it makes customer attraction and retention less attractive and more difficult.

It changes the mechanics of the deal Apple made with artists.

But sure, I get it, you want to keep shaming the average person over money you think they can afford. Classy.

Shaming? Average person? Oh please... Nice try.

I would like to own a new Honda automobile. But affording one is tough right now. Guess I should go to a Honda forum and stomp my feet hoping they'll bow to my wishes offering a more affordable model. Or maybe offer a free three month trial program to see if I really really like the car.

Don't like the value Apple Music or other Apple services offer, simply go with a competitor that offers better value. Easy.

One month FREE trial not long enough to make such a weighty decision? Sock away 30 cents a day and purchase an extra month.

Not able to muster that kind of cash up for that? No worries, you'll likely not be able to afford an Apple Music subscription anyway. Find a competitive music service that offers the right value for your situation.

I know...taking personal responsibility is tough. Much easier to blame someone else or some company.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

Shaming? Average person? Oh please... Nice try.

I would like to own a new Honda automobile. But affording one is tough right now. Guess I should go to a Honda forum and stomp my feet hoping they'll bow to my wishes offering a more affordable model. Or maybe offer a free three month trial program to see if I really really like the car.

Don't like the value Apple Music or other Apple services offer, simply go with a competitor that offers better value. Easy.

One month FREE trail not long enough to make such a weighty decision? Sock away 30 cents a day and purchase an extra month.

Not able to muster that kind of cash up for that? No worries, you'll likely not be able to afford an Apple Music subscription anyway. Find a competitive music service that offers the right value for your situation.

Your entire argument is:
People should be happy that they are getting less value now for what they pay, because exploitive megacorp now wants to save a few pennies.

 

[citysnaps]

Your entire argument is:
People should be happy that they are getting less value now for what they pay, because exploitive megacorp now wants to save a few pennies.

Nope. Wrong again. And again, nice try.

Always easier to be aggrieved and blame someone else. It's the new normal. Mean Apple!

 

[applicious84]

Nope. Wrong again. And again, nice try.

Always easier to be aggrieved and blame someone else. It's the new normal. Mean Apple!

Lol

Makes sense. If you can't make a decision if Apple Music (or any other Apple service) is right for you within 30 days, it's time to seek professional help.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

Nope. Wrong again. And again, nice try.

Always easier to be aggrieved and blame someone else. It's the new normal. Mean Apple!

Do you even read?

I’m not aggrieved in this situation. I make money based on how many plays my music gets, whether Apple covers it during free trials or whether it comes from paying customers like yourself.

It’s new customers that aren’t getting the same value anymore.

And there’s the potential that this will affect longer term customer retention to Apple Music. Spotify growth is already happening faster, and my quarterly royalties (as have many others) have been reflecting this phenomenon.

You’re happy new customers get less value? By all means, if enjoy your existing Apple Music subscription, stop wasting time here, go run along and make me some more money.

 

[jimimac71]

You said nothing about extras in AppleTV, the other stuff is irrelevant. What is extra in AppleTV and what is valuable within AppleTV to you?

I purchased a new Apple TV box, which came with a number of 3 month free trials. Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music and maybe even Apple Fitness.
The $10 Xfinity package is relevant to me as it is $10 very well spent.
I regret having blown $200 on Apple TV when it is no better for me than Roku, which has the Xfinity app now, not coming this summer, and there is an Apple TV app on Roku.
I’m also dissatisfied with my iPad. $ for $, Samsung and Android are better for me.
I’m not bashing Apple with unfounded options from others, but my own experience.
I like this forum. Years ago, these kinds of comments on the AI forum got me booted off with all kinds of name calling.
By now I would be called a Chrome fanboy.

 

[citysnaps]

Do you even read?

I’m not aggrieved in this situation. I make money based on how many plays my music gets, whether Apple covers it during free trials or whether it comes from paying customers like yourself.

It’s new customers that aren’t getting the same value anymore.

And there’s the potential that this will affect longer term customer retention to Apple Music. Spotify growth is already happening faster, and my quarterly royalties (as have many others) have been reflecting this phenomenon.

You’re happy new customers get less value? By all means, if enjoy your existing Apple Music subscription, stop wasting time here, go run along and make me some more money.

Not happy with Apple Music, rather than whine about it, simply find a service that offers superior value.

 

[jimimac71]

I enjoy being a part of this forum, but don’t have any use for all things Apple.
Kind of like the TV commercial where the guy tosses money out his car window.
Anything I want is more affordable and fits my needs better than Apple products and services.

 

[Shirasaki]

it.

Can Cupertino, just for an experiment, try not pulling this shady stuff for a while? Is that really such a tall order? It's reeking of pathetic desperation, and makes no sense considering their sales.

Stakeholders say no. And Timmy says HELL NO. He wants yacht fleet.

Oh no worries, listen now can't even be disabled in the latest version lol

Well, there’s not even an option to disable “listen now” on iOS whatsoever from the get go. Everyone prolly should look at iOS feature set on specific products a bit closer to see where Apple will go.

 

[SFjohn]

Remember when Steve Jobs said it was stupid to rent music? MysticCow remembers...but times also change.

It’s still stupid to rent music.

 

[Shirasaki]

It’s still stupid to rent music.

It’s just stupid to rent everything aside from house and a select few stuff.

 

[genovelle]

Remember when Steve Jobs said it was stupid to rent music? MysticCow remembers...but times also change.

It still is, but choices are becoming more limited and will become much more expensive before you know it. On the other hand physical albums are becoming more popular.

My son can inherit my music collection including digital purchases. Rented music not so much.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

What Spotify exodus?

I know, right? And what “exclusive” when they’re available on services OTHER than Apple Music?

 

[Killbynumbers]

You can still get 3 months through Shazam.

Click on the 3 months free and it says it's two months free.

 

[Thebrochure]

Remember when Steve Jobs said it was stupid to rent music? MysticCow remembers...but times also change.

Times may change, but renting things instead of owning things will always be stupid imo.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

Not happy with Apple Music, rather than whine about it, simply find a service that offers superior value.

It’s weird… it’s like I really don’t care what you think I should do.

I also think I’ll do everything exactly the same, while also making this point:

Apple is still getting cheaper and stingier with product offerings and value.

Apple Music is still worth less for new subscribers than it was last week.

This continues the trend of decreasing value in Apple’s platform and falling effort and innovation coming out of Cupertino. The motivation behind this is laziness, greed and a falling appreciation of their customer base.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

Stakeholders say no. And Timmy says HELL NO. He wants yacht fleet.

Well, there’s not even an option to disable “listen now” on iOS whatsoever from the get go. Everyone prolly should look at iOS feature set on specific products a bit closer to see where Apple will go.

Yep. Apple services nags have become transparently obnoxious and greedy, that’s another good example. And you also make a great point, that shoppers can’t trust Apple anymore and need to take a deeper look for gotchas and clunkier marketing impediments to functionality.

This is a disease happening across Apple’s entire ecosystem, a deaf ear towards user functionality, and an increase in totally petty update/upgrade/advertisement nags.

This is what happens when once great platforms become bloated with middle management and talented employees that leave/retire are replaced with less capable and passionate hires.

Tim Cook has a big Human Resources problem, he can’t hire talent as good as the ones leaving, and he also seems to be having trouble finding coders among the million Uyghurs he’s helped put in concentration camps.

Like literal segregation, slavery, forced labor, forced sterilization and genicide? This is Apple now? Totally silent while cashing in on this since at least 2014? Seriously what the hell happened?

Marketing nags are a minuscule thing in comparison, but the general disdain for humanity including it’s users, is a highly disturbing trend in Cupertino. What a stain on Apple users, and as a group, we’ve got some serious soul searching to do. Apple is becoming a pariah in ways it’s fans and customers never could have imagined, nor do they deserve.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

I know, right? And what “exclusive” when they’re available on services OTHER than Apple Music?

Don’t know about exodus, but I know many artists who have been seeing growth in royalty rates happening faster on Spotify than Apple Music this last year.

I think Spotify is specifically the worst company for artists, but it’s where the talk and focus is.

There could be many factors on why royalty rates are getting better over there, that don’t include increased user market share. It will take a bit more time to see exactly what the cause of the trend is, maybe Spotify users just listening more or the company paying out better/more responsibly.

But for any musicians, I offer a little advice you can take to the bank…

Outside of the very top handful of artists, Apple Music is a distant number two priority compared to Spotify for fan discovery of new music. If you are a new artist/band or most existing with new releases, and want to see the best possible growth, spend more of your time on Spotify and getting into user playlists.

Apple Music is a formality, and of course upload there, but there’s nothing that can be realistically done there to promote, and sales there will materialize alongside any Spotify promotion efforts. But the opposite is true as well, primary focus and linkage to Apple Music, does not reward as much growth in Spotify plays.

Also, Apple Music users are typically older by a demo or two.

 

[citysnaps]

It’s weird… it’s like I really don’t care what you think I should do.

I also think I’ll do everything exactly the same, while also making this point:

Apple is still getting cheaper and stingier with product offerings and value.

Apple Music is still worth less for new subscribers than it was last week.

This continues the trend of decreasing value in Apple’s platform and falling effort and innovation coming out of Cupertino. The motivation behind this is laziness, greed and a falling appreciation of their customer base.

I get it. You want free stuff from Apple; something you couch as value. The introductory period is so customers can determine if Apple Music meet's their needs. One month is plenty to decide, even if you/people feel entitled to an extra two months, just because you want it. Calling it "value" does not legitimize your argument. I'd like free groceries and gas for my car. I guess I should whine about not getting it.

Don't like where Apple is going? Stand up and cease being a customer and support a company that is inline with your views of free stuff entitlement

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Times may change, but renting things instead of owning things will always be stupid imo.

Subscriptions were embedded in “how we do business” long before subscription music (water, electricity, cable, movies) so the idea of paying regularly for a thing the purchaser finds valuable will always be a thing.