iOS 16.3 Code Reveals Apple Continues to Work on Classical Music App

[MacRumors]

Apple continues to work on a standalone classical music app, according to hidden code changes discovered by @iSWUpdates in the iOS 16.3 Release Candidate today. The software update is in the final stage of beta testing and is expected to be released to the public next week, but it is unclear if or when the app will launch.

For example, Apple changed a line of text that will appear in the iPhone's standard Music app from "A Shortcut to Apple Classical" to "Open in Apple Music Classical," suggesting that Apple has changed the name of the app, at least tentatively. Another line of code says "Explore this artist in the app designed for classical music."

In August 2021, Apple announced it acquired classical music service Primephonic and planned to release a dedicated classical music app in 2022, but the app has yet to launch and Apple has remained silent about the plans. Primephonic shut down in September 2021, with subscribers receiving a free six-month Apple Music subscription.

"Apple Music plans to launch a dedicated classical music app next year combining Primephonic's classical user interface that fans have grown to love with more added features," said Apple's press release in 2021. Apple promised that it would incorporate the best features of Primephonic, including "better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire" and "detailed displays of classical music metadata."

Hidden references to the classical music app were discovered in a beta version of the Apple Music app for Android and in the iOS 15.5 beta last year. More references to the app were discovered in an XML file on Apple's servers last year.

Article Link: iOS 16.3 Code Reveals Apple Continues to Work on Classical Music App

 

[JM]

Oh boy! Pretty soon a line of code will say “please confirm if you would like to open Apple Music Classical and play classical music”

Exciting times.

 

[krebphone]

Happy to hear they are still working on it.

 

[cflem]

Crazy enough, I'm looking forward to this.

 

[giggles]

I wanna watch the Met opening night from the front row in VR + spatial audio, Apple make it happen.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

I know it's not as simple as slapping a new icon on the regular Apple Music app, but I've really got to wonder what the big challenge is here that's taking 2+ years to iron out.... esp when they have an existing starting point after acquiring an existing service.

 

[xalea]

I know it's not as simple as slapping a new icon on the regular Apple Music app, but I've really got to wonder what the big challenge is here that's taking 2+ years to iron out.... esp when they have an existing starting point after acquiring an existing service.

The challenge is that the larger a company/institution/organization gets, the slower it gets. The more protective and less innovative it becomes - it's the nature of the beast, apparently.

 

[ginkobiloba]

It's a a good thing, because classical music is a complete mess on Apple Music / iTunes. I'm not sure however about the necessity of having a separate app for it instead of just a dedicated tab with a different interface , but on the already existing app.

 

[gank41]

Interesting that they're not just making the Classical Music section of Apple Music better, they're just making another app? Hopefully it's not an app that never sees updates...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Really looking forward to the Classical Music App. Apple Music App needs to be re-designed tho.

 

[JohnApples]

It's a a good thing, because classical music is a complete mess on Apple Music / iTunes. I'm not sure however about the necessity of having a separate app for it instead of just a dedicated tab with a different interface , but on the already existing app.

I’m guessing that the reasoning for it being a separate app is that only the people who want classical music will leave it installed and use it. Those who don’t would just remove it and not have to worry about it.

Having a separate tab would probably draw complaints from those who never listen to classical and now have a “useless tab clogging up the Music app further”, or something.

 

[chrono1081]

I feel like this is iTunes LP and Ping all over again. I can't name a single person who listens to classical music. I feel like it's just not something a lot of people listen to anymore.

EDIT: Too many people not understanding what I wrote I see.

 

[MacWiz_007]

One thing is for sure, Apple Music needs a lot of work!

 

[Jerus]

It's a a good thing, because classical music is a complete mess on Apple Music / iTunes. I'm not sure however about the necessity of having a separate app for it instead of just a dedicated tab with a different interface , but on the already existing app.

I was told it has to do with different ways of searching and indexing for the music you like. Composer is very important in classic music but not very much so in popular music where the artist is much for important. It's a lot more complicated than that but it will give you an idea.

 

[1557750]

I feel like this is iTunes LP and Ping all over again. I can't name a single person who listens to classical music. I feel like it's just not something a lot of people listen to anymore.

I can’t name a single person that listens to newer music anymore or the radio. Maybe because everyone I talk to about music is in a different age group and have different tastes. Doesn’t mean there aren’t millions that do listen to it.

 

[gank41]

I feel like this is iTunes LP and Ping all over again. I can't name a single person who listens to classical music. I feel like it's just not something a lot of people listen to anymore.

👋 Hi, here's one. So, between you and me, that's 50%.....

Maybe make a poll and find out for yourself

 

[Gnik Nus]

I feel like this is iTunes LP and Ping all over again. I can't name a single person who listens to classical music. I feel like it's just not something a lot of people listen to anymore.

You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about 🙄
The classical music market is huge. Millions of people around the world listen to classical music and attend classical music concerts. And classical music does have specific data (like the difference between composer and performer to begin with) that justifies a stand alone app.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I’m curious to see what this will be like, as a classical music listener, but I still think they should focus on improving the Music app. Will this app allow downloads for purchase or only streaming? Will the Music app continue to have classical music? Will the iTunes Store continue to offer classical music albums that aren’t available for streaming? I see the possibility of convolution between the two apps.

 

[DrV]

"Explore this artist in the app designed for classical music."

”Explore this composer in the app designed for classical music.”

Any chance?

 

[gank41]

As someone who's favorite album of all time is Black Sabbath Vol 4, and also enjoys weird newer spacey rock and odd folk music, Classical Music will ALWAYS be near the top of my favorite genres.

To the folk that just don't listen to or care about Classical Music, imagine Black Sabbath Vol 4 being played by like 200 different bands, sometimes in a studio or sometimes live, and now needing the Composer View to sort thru stuff... Something like that. Look up Beethoven, any of his works, and you'll find a TON of albums, all for the same composition.

 

[nutmac]

I know it's not as simple as slapping a new icon on the regular Apple Music app, but I've really got to wonder what the big challenge is here that's taking 2+ years to iron out.... esp when they have an existing starting point after acquiring an existing service.

I am guessing the app itself is mostly done. But updating the meta data and improving the curation can take much longer.

 

[krebphone]

I feel like this is iTunes LP and Ping all over again. I can't name a single person who listens to classical music. I feel like it's just not something a lot of people listen to anymore.

Maybe you need new friends... I don't know a single person that doesn't enjoy classical.

 

[trhoffmann]

Interesting that they're not just making the Classical Music section of Apple Music better, they're just making another app? Hopefully it's not an app that never sees updates...

If you look at the main page of the Classical music category on Apple Music, you will see that since the acquisition, it is looking more and more like the Primephonic home page and that the playlists and “essentials“compilations have been greatly expanded as in the Primephonic experience. These playlists and “essentials“ compilations now carry the tag of Apple Music Classical whereas they used to be tagged as simply Apple Music.

I don’t think there will be a stand-alone Classical music app.

Apple Music Classical is still missing an improved search capability and digital booklets (aka liner notes) for Classical albums that were part of the Primephonic experience.

 

[ifxf]

I know it's not as simple as slapping a new icon on the regular Apple Music app, but I've really got to wonder what the big challenge is here that's taking 2+ years to iron out.... esp when they have an existing starting point after acquiring an existing service.

It takes work to incorporate the necessary amount of bugs into the app /s

 

[anthogag]

If Apple has a standalone classical app then it should have a streaming/internet-radio section; curated music with play-logs.

My primary way of listening to classical is the CBC Listen app (CBC Music). You can choose different timezones. The classical hosts provide context and stories before music is played, there is a play-log, and I assume they try to play the best music. I also Shazam music I like and usually find it in Apple Music.