Apple's New Streaming Music Service and Revamped iTunes Radio to Debut Next Week

[MacRumors]

Apple's much-rumored streaming music service is set to debut at the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8 alongside a revamped iTunes Radio, The Wall Street Journal confirmed today. Apple's Beats-based streaming music service will not include a free listening tier like Spotify, but it will include unlimited on-demand streaming for $10 per month.

Rather than offering its music catalog for free, Apple will supplement its upcoming streaming music service with free music available through iTunes Radio. As has been rumored, iTunes Radio will be gaining new channels created by and hosted by DJs. Apple has made several hires for iTunes Radio, most notably snatching DJ Zane Lowe from BBC Radio in February.

The radio push is said to be aimed primarily at users who are not located in the United States, and has been rumored earlier, Apple has plans to debut its streaming music service and iTunes Radio in multiple countries around the world. Apple is hoping that users outside the U.S. who do not have access to Pandora will use the radio service and later subscribe to Apple's streaming music service.

According to The Wall Street Journal's sources, Apple is fully prepared to cannibalize its iTunes music downloads with its new streaming service and it plans to promote it heavily to iTunes customers. For example, a customer purchasing a $10 album may be encouraged by Apple to subscribe to the music service instead.

Apple has not yet closed deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, or Warner Music Group, but the negotiations are expected to be completed in the near future. Because deals are not complete, there's a possibility that the new service will not debut at WWDC, but the WSJ's sources say this is "unlikely."

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off next week, with a keynote event taking place on Monday, June 8. Along with its new streaming music service and updated iTunes Radio, Apple is also rumored to be debuting a new Apple TV set-top box, a streaming television service, and updates to HomeKit and Apple Pay. iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 will also be announced.

Article Link: Apple's New Streaming Music Service and Revamped iTunes Radio to Debut Next Week

 

[k1121j]

10 bucks no way I'm lucky if i spend 1.29 per month on music ill listen to the radio for free first give me add supported i would rather that

 

[TsMkLg068426]

So instead of making the Beats streaming service part iTunes Match Apple will keep on annoying us with ads when we purchase music from iTunes to sign up to Beats. Apple it is okay you got a long way until you get all of Spotify or Amazon Prime Music customers.

 

[tigertazz]

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Apple has not yet closed deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, or Warner Music Group, but the negotiations are expected to be completed in the near future. Because deals are not complete, there's a possibility that the new service will not debut at WWDC, but the WSJ's sources say this is "unlikely."

I would just like a unvamped version of iTunes radio for the UK let alone a subscription service that we won't see for 2 years

 

[Dilster3k]

This all seems a bit shaky, hopefully they'll be able to put my concerns to rest during that keynote! Like they have in the past.

 

[lowercaseperson]

I really want to like this - but I'm afraid it won't be worth it.

 

[Jack Delgado]

 

[Smith288]

I'll continue with Spotify.

 

[TMRJIJ]

I can't wait!!!

 

[sw1tcher]

$10 a month when you can get Spotify and Pandora for free? No thanks.

 

[kmj2318]

I'm looking forward to it. I like the Beats service but the app has a lot of problems (like having to load content when scrolling music that's on my device). Apple's music app will be much improved.

 

[JPIndustrie]

If the service offering is on full feature parity with Spotify (downloadable/offline playlists, last fm scrobbling, etc) and there is nearly the same amount of artists/content then I will very much switch over as the integration with iOS should be a lot better. Apple is usually good at anticipating what customers want especially since Spotify/Beats/Tidal has had such a head start.

They've already convinced me to spend $10/month on music, please Apple give me a reason to use the 'Music' app - I haven't since 2011.

 

[TMRJIJ]

$10 a month when you can get Spotify and Pandora for free? No thanks.

As well as robbing the Artists that take the time to make the music.
Edit: oh my mistake thats the music labels fault.

 

[bushido]

no deals yet in places but supposed to debut next week???

however i am fine with Spotify Premium for 5€ as a student anyway.

i am surprised it took Apple so long to jump on board. very late to the party

 

[joshen]

I don't see a reason to switch from Spotify at the moment. Maybe if they adopt some really compelling features.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

For those of you complaining about the price, where else can you hear Soft Cel's S*x Dwarf on the 80's Alternative?

From listening to 91X and KROQ in Southern California during the 80's, the only place is iTunes Radio.

(and yes, this is written as if iTunes Radio isn't worth $10/month, as it stands now.)

 

[joshen]

As well as robbing the Artists that take the time to make the music.

Oh please, they can pull their music from streaming services if they really feel robbed and direct their complaints to their music labels.

 

[Foxer]

Pardon my ignorance on this whole streaming radio thing. In what way are any of these services different than the existing iTunes radio? I've never used Spotify or Pandora or any of these since I prefer to "curate" my own music, so who is attracted to these plans? It seems to me like the 21st century version of a radio station.

 

[Dekema2]

It would be ludicrous of me to do this if I pay $4.99 for a student subscription with Spotify. If Apple can't offer this, it's a no go for me!

 

[avanpelt]

Integration with Siri to be able to play most albums or songs in the iTunes catalog by simply telling Siri what I want to listen to would be nice. I suspect it will also tie in with the Sonos system as the Beats Music service already does (even though I've never used the Beats service).

The thing that would make me switch from Spotify would be if $10 per month includes all members of your household that are participating in Family Sharing. I'm currently paying Spotify $15 per month for both me and my wife to have Spotify Premium. If I could save $60 a year, gain Siri integration, and keep Sonos integration, that'll be a no-brainer. Being able to download music to listen to offline would also be nice; although I've only needed that only a handful of times with Spotify since Wi-Fi is so ubiquitous these days in areas where cell signals can't reach.

 

[tkukoc]

I don't pay for streaming music services, I want to keep the music I like. I'll continue to purchase mp3's and CD's. Streaming is vastly overrated.

 

[kmj2318]

Pardon my ignorance on this whole streaming radio thing. In what way are any of these services different than the existing iTunes radio? I've never used Spotify or Pandora or any of these since I prefer to "curate" my own music, so who is attracted to these plans? It seems to me like the 21st century version of a radio station.

The point for me is that I can have my own library. Any album I want I can save to my phone as if it's my album. This is for paid plans. The free plans are basically radio stations. I don't really care for curation. I don't like playlists. When I listen to music, I put on an album and listen to the whole thing.

 

[Traverse]

Well, iTunes Radio was short lived.

 

[playaproved]

Integration with Siri to be able to play most albums or songs in the iTunes catalog by simply telling Siri what I want to listen to would be nice. I suspect it will also tie in with the Sonos system as the Beats Music service already does (even though I've never used the Beats service).

The thing that would make me switch from Spotify would be if $10 per month includes all members of your household that are participating in Family Sharing. I'm currently paying Spotify $15 per month for both me and my wife to have Spotify Premium. If I could save $60 a year, gain Siri integration, and keep Sonos integration, that'll be a no-brainer. Being able to download music to listen to offline would also be nice; although I've only needed that only a handful of times with Spotify since Wi-Fi is so ubiquitous these days in areas where cell signals can't reach.

This... I've been waiting to see Apple's offering before actually subscribing to a music service. I'm currently using a Spotify 3 mos/.99 trial and I was bummed to see that my wife and I couldn't share a login without paying more. Hopefully apple's solution is tied to Apple ID and my wife can stream as well.

Next Monday is going to be interesting to say the least.

 

[Foxer]

The point for me is that I can have my own library. Any album I want I can save to my phone as if it's my album. This is for paid plans. The free plans are basically radio stations. I don't really care for curation. I don't like playlists. When I listen to music, I put on an album and listen to the whole thing.

OK, so if you pay for one of these plans, you can pick the specific song you get to listen to? That makes sense, I guess, for some people. I thought it was just the same genre- or artist-based playlists but without ads and the ability to skip tracks as often as you like.