 Music

[Bozza]

Apple's Spotify competitor launches at the end of June and will even be coming to Android (some time later).

$9.99 per month but with a very nice looking family plan for $14.99, which I believe Spotify have already moved to match. You will probably be able to swap those dollar signs for pounds to make us feel like we're being ripped off a bit.

The biggest music streaming service in terms of number of subscribers within a year? Probably.

http://www.apple.com/music/membership/

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

This is going to be an interesting one to watch, as is the whole streaming thing in general.

 

[El Presidente]

Is there a half price student discount as there is for Spotify?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Daft question but what music will it have on it? Will it have the more obscure end if the spectrum?

 

[Husty]

Daft question but what music will it have on it? Will it have the more obscure end if the spectrum?

I think this is crucial, I'm sure they'll do well off of the people who just want chart music etc because ZOMFG its Apple (although will people be willing to migrate from Spotify or w/e where they've spent years building up their playlists?) but if you're of a more discerning taste and want to use it to browse and discover music both new and old that doesn't exist within the mainstream, how useful can yet another service really be?

 

[Hyperion]

Apple's Spotify competitor launches at the end of June and will even be coming to Android (some time later).

$9.99 per month but with a very nice looking family plan for $14.99, which I believe Spotify have already moved to match. You will probably be able to swap those dollar signs for pounds to make us feel like we're being ripped off a bit.

The biggest music streaming service in terms of number of subscribers within a year? Probably.

http://www.apple.com/music/membership/

Will that be available on a Windows phone?

 

[middletoenail]

Quite simply, it will do well because it is by Apple.

 

[Wilko]

Daft question but what music will it have on it? Will it have the more obscure end if the spectrum?

This will be the deal breaker for me. Not enough underground techno and deep house artists for me on Spotify. I tend to only use it for my more commercial playlists.

 

[Rookie]

Be good to hear zane Lowe again when beats 1 launches.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Spotify "radio" playlists are awful, seem to continuously play songs I either don't like or are an obviously linked choice. Pandora had a great radio station that seemed to throw up consistently good new music if never heard of before. If Apple can improve on the Spotify radio station feature I'm sure they'll be on to a winnet

 

[clippedgull]

I can't see any compelling reason to move over from my sub at Spotify.

I will give the 3 month trial a full test though!

No current web player from Apple.

No doubt this will be another Apple success story, but Spotify still has a significant advantage in that you can listen to the full service ( with the occasional ad ) for free.

 

[narly101]

Will certainly take the free trial for all the family. Not entirely sure it will be for me though.

 

[Ernest]

Haven't said whether you have to be online to listen or can download like Spotify and listen elsewhere

 

[clippedgull]

Haven't said whether you have to be online to listen or can download like Spotify and listen elsewhere

Yep! Offline available just like Spotify

 

[spring hall convert]

And what's the artists cut?

 

[clippedgull]

And what's the artists cut?

Will be interesting once the numbers are released. I would think it will be on a par with Spotify.

But don't they all make their money touring these days anyway!

 

[spring hall convert]

But don't they all make their money touring these days anyway!

Maybe if your Muse or Radiohead. Isn't that what people say to make themselves feel better, despite the fact they know the artist is being ripped off?

 

[Bozza]

That's me out, initially at least: http://www.cultofmac.com/325660/sorry-sonos-lovers-apple-music-wont-work-with-your-speaker/

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

That's me out, initially at least: http://www.cultofmac.com/325660/sorry-sonos-lovers-apple-music-wont-work-with-your-speaker/

Me too.
All very well Sonos making out they are in a position to pick and chooses which streaming providers they use. They probably don't want to play hardball for too long against the Apple machine or they might find themselves squeezed out altogether.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

But don't they all make their money touring these days anyway!

Main income is touring (or t-shirts if it's a metal band), because they get **** all from platforms like Spotify.