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Apple Music Sleepy Time
So if you managed to make it all the way through Apple’s WWDC 2015 keynote last night (I know that us boys at BTN found it a struggle) then you’d have heard them announce their new streaming service Apple Music.
If you did fall asleep before the Cupertino crew were able to enlighten you about their new service let me tell you more. Apple music consists of three features. There’s the unlimited streaming music service that gives you all you can eat access to Apple’s enormous iTunes library. Then there’s Beats 1, a live radio station broadcasting 24/7 across the globe from New York, Los Angeles and London hosted by real human beings. The final part of this Ménage à trois is entitled Connect which is basically another attempt by Apple to create a social network based on music and as we know that went so well last time. Connect allows artists to post videos, photos as well as other related media for their fans delectation and delight.
One of the other main features is the curation of music by real people. Apple music prides itself on being able to provide the next song that is just as relevant as the song that came previously which could be a pretty nice feature if you’re trying reach that musical enlightenment.
Apple Music comes in at $9.99 a month or you can buy a family plan for $14.99 a month that allows up to six users to have accounts which if you think about is pretty good value for money.
But if you think about it what does Apple Music actually gives compared to services like Spotify which have been with us for years and are engrained in our psyche? I’ve been a Spotify customer for quite a while now and was just waiting for Apple to give me the killer feature that would make me switch but that moment never came. I’m pretty happy with the playlists and music discovery that Spotify has provided me over my time with them. The idea of Apple’s 24/7 radio station may be a pull for some but I gave up on the wireless some years ago, maybe it's for the kids.
Then there’s the social network aspect. Spotify allows you to follow artists as well as like minded users but to my mind there’s already enough ways to share what you like rather than throwing another penny into the fountain.
Then there’s the price. $9.99 matches what a lot of the other services are charging but Apple family pricing option is tempting but what stops others offering this in light of the announcement? Then there’s the Apple Music three month free trial? Nothing big really. A couple of days before Spotify upgraded their previous month free trial to two months and I can see them matching this very quickly as well as the pricing for you nearest and dearest.
So what do you think? Will you be switching and if so, why so? It would be really great to hear from you.
Author
Paul Wright