Apple Music to Incentivize Artists to Make Songs Available in Spatial Audio

[MacRumors]

Apple will begin encouraging artists and record labels to adopt Spatial Audio with royalty incentives, Bloomberg reports.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg says that Apple will prioritize streams of songs mixed in Dolby Atmos technology in its streaming calculations starting next year. The change will result in higher royalty payments for artists and labels that adopt and expand the technology in their catalogs. Listeners do not have to listen to the Spatial Audio version of a song for artists to be eligible for the added benefits, with the availability of tracks in Dolby Atmos being sufficient. The new Apple Music policy is yet to be publicly announced.

Apple Music introduced Spatial Audio support in 2021, using Dolby Atmos technology to ostensibly replicate an in-person music experience with sound coming from various directions around the listener when using compatible audio hardware. In February 2022, Apple announced that over half of the service's subscribers used the feature. Amazon Music similarly provides Dolby Atmos audio at no additional cost, but Spotify has yet to adopt the format.

Article Link: Apple Music to Incentivize Artists to Make Songs Available in Spatial Audio

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

I have this turned off for Apple Music as it sounds horrible for most of the songs imo. Hopefully it doesn’t affect normal stereo sound.

 

[appleguy123]

I hope this doesn’t increase the number of old songs totally ruined by terrible Dolby Atmos mixes, but I’m sure it will.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I tried this when it came out and couldn't stand it....

 

[al0kz]

When done well and thoughtfully, Atmos sounds really good! This incentive is just encouraging implementation for the sake of implementation and that’s going to negatively affect how it’ll sound (much like Dolby Atmos @ initial launch on AM).

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm so happy I've been building and maintaining my own music library for 20+ years (and counting)

I really don't want Spatial Audio for stereo music, and I especially don't want older songs "upgraded" to SA

This is just more "trying to find a new thing" from Apple.
Very forced

 

[TheNewLou]

Apple Music introduced Spatial Audio support in 2021, using Dolby Atmos technology to ostensibly replicate an in-person music experience

You understand that ostensibly is a diss, right?

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

I'm so happy I've been building and maintaining my own music library for 20+ years (and counting)

I really don't want Spatial Audio for stereo music, and I especially don't want older songs "upgraded" to SA

This is just more "trying to find a new thing" from Apple.
Very forced

Yes, this. Apple forcing its personal vision how the people should listen the music. Isn’t that up to the people? Bad move, don’t like it at all!

 

[TurboDrooler]

I hope this doesn’t increase the number of old songs totally ruined by terrible Dolby Atmos mixes, but I’m sure it will.

I listened to a Weezer song from their first album that had been mixed into Spatial Audio. It was awful. But I have heard others, artists with cleaner sounds, where it was beautiful. I think it depends on both the source and mixing and mastering engineer.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think it depends on both the source and mixing and mastering engineer.

Agreed -- Which is why it always needs to be a separate category and choice.

I worry that Apple just wants to get to the point where they are ONLY offering SA and then they'll start to claim it's superior and try to push it as a reason for Apple Music lock-in

I mean -- I don't personally care, as I'm not a streaming subscriber...just frustrating.

 

[MVMNT]

Is this about improving the listening experience, or improving sales of more SA enabled hardware with some lovely numbers on a slide in the future?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Question - Does spatial audio do anything on non-headphones? I listen to the majority of my music on stereo speakers at home, or in the car.

 

[contacos]

I am one of these people that cannot really here a difference at all. I even tried TIDAL HiFi with optimized 360 Real audio and I didn’t hear a difference. I certainly did not feel like I am being „emerged into feeling like I am in a concert venue“ when listening to it as marketing wants me to believe

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple will begin encouraging artists and record labels to adopt Spatial Audio with royalty incentives, Bloomberg reports.

Agreed -- Which is why it always needs to be a separate category and choice.

I worry that Apple just wants to get to the point where they are ONLY offering SA and then they'll start to claim it's superior and try to push it as a reason for Apple Music lock-in

to raise Apple Music subscription prices

Apple says that prices are going up as of today due to increased licensing costs. For ‌Apple Music‌, the increase will provide artists and songwriters with additional money for their music.

 

[turbineseaplane]

to raise Apple Music subscription prices

Apple says that prices are going up as of today due to increased licensing costs. For ‌Apple Music‌, the increase will provide artists and songwriters with additional money for their music.

Uh huh
Sure

Apple is ALL about passing on price increases as increased revenue to other parties
/s

 

[kc9hzn]

Question - Does spatial audio do anything on non-headphones? I listen to the majority of my music on stereo speakers at home, or in the car.

No, it only comes into play when you’re using HomePods or AirPods (maybe also Beats headphones). Maybe on an Apple TV with an actual Dolby Atmos setup hooked up, then it might distribute Atmos sound. As far as I know, in any other context, you’ll just be using a standard stereo mix.

 

[lilbukka]

Apple will begin encouraging artists and record labels to adopt Spatial Audio with royalty incentives, Bloomberg reports.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg says that Apple will prioritize streams of songs mixed in Dolby Atmos technology in its streaming calculations starting next year. The change will result in higher royalty payments for artists and labels that adopt and expand the technology in their catalogs. Listeners do not have to listen to the Spatial Audio version of a song for artists to be eligible for the added benefits, with the availability of tracks in Dolby Atmos being sufficient. The new Apple Music policy is yet to be publicly announced.

Apple Music introduced Spatial Audio support in 2021, using Dolby Atmos technology to ostensibly replicate an in-person music experience with sound coming from various directions around the listener when using compatible audio hardware. In February 2022, Apple announced that over half of the service's subscribers used the feature. Amazon Music similarly provides Dolby Atmos audio at no additional cost, but Spotify has yet to adopt the format.

Article Link: Apple Music to Incentivize Artists to Make Songs Available in Spatial Audio

I hope this won’t interfere with their creative process just to make a bit more.

 

[GermanSuplex]

This is hit or miss for me. I do like Spatial Audio with no head-tracking on - that sounds pretty good to me as an equalizer. Not sure exactly what magic its working on the music but it results in a good sound for most types of music for me, and I leave it turned on.

For Spatial Audio, I don't really hear the 3D sound, but I definitely hear a 180-degree soundstage that's pretty neat - things like audio panning from one ear to the other sound really good in Spatial Audio. But many times, it just sounds like a remix/remastered version of the song. Which is kind of what it is, I guess. Years ago, I used to rip surround sound multi-tracks from music concert DVDs and Blu-Ray and remix them on my own. That's sort of what the sound reminds me of.

Not a bad feature, but the Spatial Audio mixes of songs I'm used to are sometimes really good and other times change the dynamic of a song so much I prefer the regular stereo mix.

 

[kc9hzn]

This is hit or miss for me. I do like Spatial Audio with no head-tracking on - that sounds pretty good to me as an equalizer. Not sure exactly what magic its working on the music but it results in a good sound for most types of music for me, and I leave it turned on.

For Spatial Audio, I don't really hear the 3D sound, but I definitely hear a 180-degree soundstage that's pretty neat - things like audio panning from one ear to the other sound really good in Spatial Audio. But many times, it just sounds like a remix/remastered version of the song. Which is kind of what it is, I guess. Years ago, I used to rip surround sound multi-tracks from music concert DVDs and Blu-Ray and remix them on my own. That's sort of what the sound reminds me of.

Not a bad feature, but the Spatial Audio mixes of songs I'm used to are sometimes really good and other times change the dynamic of a song so much I prefer the regular stereo mix.

As I understand it, a pretty similar thing happened when stereo sound was introduced back in the late 50s and early 60s, where companies that wanted to put out stereo tracks (to be able to slap “Stereo” on the cover and get more sales) but only had existing mono tracks would do tricks like hard-panning parts of the mono track to one side or the other.

 

[alexhardaker]

They should offer the audio upgrade for iTunes Store purchases too. I’d happily pay to upgrade them.

 

[sloheim]

You understand that ostensibly is a diss, right?

What's funny is, the author of this article has used "ostensibly" in each of his/her last couple of articles. Must've been a "Word of the Day" on their desktop calendar this week!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Yes, this. Apple forcing its personal vision how the people should listen the music. Isn’t that up to the people? Bad move, don’t like it at all!

Wait until you find out how record labels have been working for decades.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

No, it only comes into play when you’re using HomePods or AirPods (maybe also Beats headphones). Maybe on an Apple TV with an actual Dolby Atmos setup hooked up, then it might distribute Atmos sound. As far as I know, in any other context, you’ll just be using a standard stereo mix.

Incorrect.
The entire point of Dolby Atmos is that it’s adaptable, meaning no matter how many speakers you’re listening to it on, it’s still a different mix than the stereo mix.
Even on stereo speakers, it’s a different mix, usually done by a different mixing engineer, using the original multi-track tape or whatever kind of format it was stored in at the time.
Even on stereo headphones and stereo speakers, you are still not listening to the original stereo mix if you have Atmos/spatial audio enabled.

 

[CarAnalogy]

You understand that ostensibly is a diss, right?

Not necessarily. Audio stuff is so subjective, in this case it's appropriate. "Purportedly, but perhaps not actually."

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Question - Does spatial audio do anything on non-headphones? I listen to the majority of my music on stereo speakers at home, or in the car.

Somewhat long story short: The Beatles Love Soundtrack (Cirque Du Solei) was mixed for surround sound to play at the Mirage. I've seen the show a few times and it sounds fantastic.

When it (the soundtrack) was rolled out as optical disc (maybe 10+ years ago) one could buy the CD for stereo version and DVD-Audio for the 5.1 surround version. I've had both since originally released but could only play the latter on disc players. The latter sounds great on surround sound systems.

I keep hoping for a way to convert DVD-Audio "surround" to Apple Spatial Audio so I can drop it into Apple Music and enjoy it... but I don't think there is a consumer way to do that yet??? Is it still "stream only"? If there is some (own it, store it locally) option, I'd love to know about it. I do know a way to get approx. there by using FCPX to make a video for the TV app, but would love to have my own Apple Music version as a spatial audio track.