Spotify Grows to 108M Paid Subscribers Compared to Apple Music's 60M

[atoqir]

I am an european on holiday in NY. Almost everyone I see on the subway has an iPhone and is listening Apple Music when I peak on their screen. Also lots of airpods.

In EU almost everyone from my friend, colleague and family circle uses Spotify and Android. And most people wear big Sony or Bose headphones.

Quite funny to see the differences myself between those markets.

I have an iPhone and Apple Music because of the iCloud Music library upload benefit because I have a lot of soundtracks not on services.

 

[Soccertess]

Apple music was introduced in 2015. In the first three months of 2016, they sold over 50 million iPhones. They've sold more since. And for how hard they advertise a subscription to new users, I think their subscriber count is pretty mediocre.

I hate how only Apple Watch allows for Apple Music. Not sure if it is because Spotify and Google play haven’t made apps, or because barriers caused by Apple.

Either way, I feel Apple Music is being forced upon me and that pisses me off!

 

[macpanzer]

As long as Spotify is the only choice to play in the background on Playstation/Xbox and Apple's apps continue to be mediocre at best, I'll be sticking with Spotify.

I don't have a Playstation, but on xbox you can also use Deezer and let it play in the background while gaming...

 

[now i see it]

its better to diversify services with different companies instead of relying on one to provide everything. The so called "ecosystem" really isn't any kind of ecosystem at all. Its all the same species

 

[truthertech]

A gap of 48 million between Apple music and Spotify.

Last year this time the gap was 43 million.

So the gap is growing

But you know, rather then report that, let’s fudge it and just talk about how Apple has a larger market share in the US.

All this nonsense about number of subscribers. As always, Apple's goal isn't to be number 1 in any category. Often Apple ends up number one in a category simply because it blows away the competition, but that's not what Apple sets out to do. Instead, Apple focuses on a quality experience for its customers that also produces a good profit or adds value to its ecosystem, often both.

If Apple wanted to have its numbers soar, it could simply offer a free, ad supported tier like Spotify, but again, that's not how they operate. They don't want to offer an ad interrupted experience for music listening. Spotify, on the other hand, was created by venture capitalists who were focused on running up the numbers and then selling out in an IPO. That's why they ran up massive losses and created a broken business model for the company that lives on.

The public Spotify is now doomed with a service that, despite paying artists about half what Apple Music does, and having by far the largest number of subscribers in the world, can't raise prices to keep up with costs and make a decent profit. That's because music streaming, despite some people defending their "tribal" choice, is now essentially a "commoditized " product where they all offer essentially the same product, so most consumers will make their choice based on price.

Spotify can't raise prices, but they are competing against Apple, Amazon and Google, who can leverage their music streaming businesses as part of many revenue streams, which is why Spotify is desperately trying to get something going with podcasts, and why they are desperately running to the EU with a laughable claim that they have been hurt by the App store. Spotify is again trying to hold on in the hopes that someone buys them out and adds them as a "feature" to their line up, Disney maybe? as they are petrified at the prospect that Apple will bundle Apple Music with other services.
[doublepost=1564585558][/doublepost]

I hate how only Apple Watch allows for Apple Music. Not sure if it is because Spotify and Google play haven’t made apps, or because barriers caused by Apple.

Either way, I feel Apple Music is being forced upon me and that pisses me off!

Let us save you some money on your anger management classes- the Apple Watch has allowed you to use Spotify for some time, and recently Spotify finally released their own App for the watch to add more features.

 

[InnocenceMyth]

Some of y’all are a little too emotionally invested in which music service is “winning”.

 

[Tazadrt]

All this nonsense about number of subscribers. As always, Apple's goal isn't to be number 1 in any category. Often Apple ends up number one in a category simply because it blows away the competition, but that's not what Apple sets out to do. Instead, Apple focuses on a quality experience for its customers that also produces a good profit or adds value to its ecosystem, often both.

If Apple wanted to have its numbers soar, it could simply offer a free, ad supported tier like Spotify, but again, that's not how they operate. They don't want to offer an ad interrupted experience for music listening. Spotify, on the other hand, was created by venture capitalists who were focused on running up the numbers and then selling out in an IPO. That's why they ran up massive losses and created a broken business model for the company that lives on.

The public Spotify is now doomed with a service that, despite paying artists about half what Apple Music does, and having by far the largest number of subscribers in the world, can't raise prices to keep up with costs and make a decent profit. That's because music streaming, despite some people defending their "tribal" choice, is now essentially a "commoditized " product where they all offer essentially the same product, so most consumers will make their choice based on price.

Spotify can't raise prices, but they are competing against Apple, Amazon and Google, who can leverage their music streaming businesses as part of many revenue streams, which is why Spotify is desperately trying to get something going with podcasts, and why they are desperately running to the EU with a laughable claim that they have been hurt by the App store. Spotify is again trying to hold on in the hopes that someone buys them out and adds them as a "feature" to their line up, Disney maybe? as they are petrified at the prospect that Apple will bundle Apple Music with other services.
[doublepost=1564585558][/doublepost]


Let us save you some money on your anger management classes- the Apple Watch has allowed you to use Spotify for some time, and recently Spotify finally released their own App for the watch to add more features.

Nice rebuttal.

Except you missed my point.

My critique was of how macrumors was reporting the numbers, not the numbers themselves.


But, you have to say what you have to say.

 

[Ludatyk]

Yep, at first I didn't think it would be a big deal, but after using it a few times I realized how much I love having music playing in the background. I wonder if Spotify quietly paid MS and Sony for exclusivity on their platforms. If not, Apple should get on that ASAP.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Spotify paid MS and Sony for exclusivity... because it just doesn't make sense for Apple or Google to not be on Playstation/Xbox platform.

Granted, Apple and Google are trying to push their gaming services forward, but we all know Playstation/Xbox is the echelon when it comes to gaming. That's the standard by which Apple and Google compare themselves to. I'm not looking to pay for AirServer to use with my Xbox, I just prefer AppleMusic or YT Music to be on the platform.

I tried using Groove Music, upload some music. But for some reason... it's no longer working. I wouldn't be surprised its Microsoft doing... pushing users toward Spotify.

 

[69Mustang]

I wonder if Spotify’s “paid-subscriber” metric includes those who sign up for a free trial, or are they considered non-paid subscribers?

Read the article.

In total, there are 232 million monthly active users on Spotify, including the ones on the free version of Spotify.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

108M paid subscribers and they still teeter on the edge of profitability?

So sue them for actually paying artist royalties.

 

[itsmilo]

I am an european on holiday in NY. Almost everyone I see on the subway has an iPhone and is listening Apple Music when I peak on their screen. Also lots of airpods.

In EU almost everyone from my friend, colleague and family circle uses Spotify and Android. And most people wear big Sony or Bose headphones.

Quite funny to see the differences myself between those markets.

I have an iPhone and Apple Music because of the iCloud Music library upload benefit because I have a lot of soundtracks not on services.

my cousin in school was mobbed for using an iPhone. The classmates are basically like „look at this idiot spending so much money on this overpriced „crap““

Not to say that what I witness is in any way a good sample size but it’s funny, when I started university, everyone was using an iPhone. Now I am the only one in my group of people left with an iPhone.

last year I went to SF on vacation and I was like omg everyone has an Apple Watch and AirPods!

It really is a cultural thing. Just like we tend to buy everything out right cuz „buy now, pay later“ just means you can’t afford something. So offering an iPhone for „only“ 299€ with a half page of foot note doesn’t fly here.

 

[Ludatyk]

So sue them for actually paying artist royalties.

According to Apple, it's not enough.

 

[cinq2]

The metric of Apple Music success should be the Android App.
This would mean that Apple did a good job offering better features and value for money.

But I don’t hear good reviews on that front and don’t see much Marketing either. Most people think that if it’s Apple it shouldn’t work on Android.

 

[nburwell]

I'm sure it helped Spotify that they bundled their premium service + ad-supported Hulu plan all for $9.99/month.

 

[alpi123]

Apple should buy Spotify lol

 

[tegranjeet]

I hate how only Apple Watch allows for Apple Music. Not sure if it is because Spotify and Google play haven’t made apps, or because barriers caused by Apple.

Either way, I feel Apple Music is being forced upon me and that pisses me off!

Actually, it is a barrier that Apple implemented on the watch. The Apple Watch API doesn't supply methods for making HTTP requests and opening up streaming sockets. At least they didn't for a while. You had to sync with the phone app to get data. Although that might be changing in watchOS 6.

 

[MecPro]

Numbers are good and I probably will never go to Apple Music until they implement continuous play between devices and Apple Music connect, so other applications like PS4 or my Bose soundbar can play music from it

 

[Marshall73]

108M paid subscribers and they still teeter on the edge of profitability?

This is because their business model is broken.

 

[Stevez67]

So sue them for actually paying artist royalties.

Apple pays royalties. And, FYI, royalties get paid to the music labels and publishers. If the money doesn't trickle-down blame the labels and publishers. Place blame where it's deserved.

 

[malexandria22]

I'm sure it helped Spotify that they bundled their premium service + ad-supported Hulu plan all for $9.99/month.

that’s dumb. The promotion only lasted a month and wasn’t widely spread. 108 million people didn’t sign to Spotify because of Hulu.
[doublepost=1564590336][/doublepost]

Apple pays royalties. And, FYI, royalties get paid to the music labels and publishers. If the money doesn't trickle-down blame the labels and publishers. Place blame where it's deserved.

who is blaming anyone for anything?

 

[hexum23]

All this nonsense about number of subscribers. As always, Apple's goal isn't to be number 1 in any category. Often Apple ends up number one in a category simply because it blows away the competition, but that's not what Apple sets out to do. Instead, Apple focuses on a quality experience for its customers that also produces a good profit or adds value to its ecosystem, often both.

If Apple wanted to have its numbers soar, it could simply offer a free, ad supported tier like Spotify, but again, that's not how they operate. They don't want to offer an ad interrupted experience for music listening. Spotify, on the other hand, was created by venture capitalists who were focused on running up the numbers and then selling out in an IPO. That's why they ran up massive losses and created a broken business model for the company that lives on.

The public Spotify is now doomed with a service that, despite paying artists about half what Apple Music does, and having by far the largest number of subscribers in the world, can't raise prices to keep up with costs and make a decent profit. That's because music streaming, despite some people defending their "tribal" choice, is now essentially a "commoditized " product where they all offer essentially the same product, so most consumers will make their choice based on price.

Spotify can't raise prices, but they are competing against Apple, Amazon and Google, who can leverage their music streaming businesses as part of many revenue streams, which is why Spotify is desperately trying to get something going with podcasts, and why they are desperately running to the EU with a laughable claim that they have been hurt by the App store. Spotify is again trying to hold on in the hopes that someone buys them out and adds them as a "feature" to their line up, Disney maybe? as they are petrified at the prospect that Apple will bundle Apple Music with other services.
[doublepost=1564585558][/doublepost]


Let us save you some money on your anger management classes- the Apple Watch has allowed you to use Spotify for some time, and recently Spotify finally released their own App for the watch to add more features.

In regards to the Spotify Apple Watch app, the issue is that you cannot stream with it. You are still forced to be tethered to your phone due to current WatchOS not allowing third party apps to use cellular or WiFi streaming. I frequently go biking and to the gym and I prefer to leave my phone at home. It is very nice being able to stream music over cellular with the watch. I pay for both Apple Music and Spotify. I prefer Spotify and will gladly ditch Apple Music the moment I can stream Spotify on my watch. Hopefully this will change with the next WatchOS.

 

[MacNut]

108M paid subscribers and they still teeter on the edge of profitability?

Blame that on the record companies extravagant fees.

 

[Mayostudent]

And to think all these people pay for compressed audio. Hahaha.

 

[MacNut]

And to think all these people pay for compressed audio. Hahaha.

Unless you are listening to the master recordings everything has been compressed or processed in some way.

 

[bpp85]

Some of y’all are a little too emotionally invested in which music service is “winning”.

I agree, unless you have a very specific way of listening to music, all of these services (Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music) offer almost the same thing for the same price. You search for a song, play it, add it to your playlist or search for a playlist. I don't see that much of a difference tbh.