Apple always brings something new to its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Yesterday’s WWDC wrapped up with the introduction of Apple Music, a fresh streaming offering that merges your personal iTunes library with Apple’s curated music selections.
This subscription-based platform from Apple includes several features that create a distinct listening environment. But how does it measure up against the other streaming music services that have appeared over the last one, five, or even 15 years?
First, a rundown of Apple Music, which launches June 30. Then, a comparison of some of the other major streaming options so you can decide where it’s smartest to spend your money.
What Apple Music Offers
Apple Music’s standout feature may be For You: When you tap the Music icon on your iPhone or open iTunes on your computer, For You will recommend artists and tracks based on what you’ve been listening to lately. Apple says these picks will be hand-selected: “Anytime you want to find out what’s going on in the world of music, our experts are there to give you their take on the freshest and most relevant stuff around.”
Apple Music also includes Beats 1, a 24/7 radio station broadcasting from studios in LA, New York, and London, plus a revamped lineup of Apple Radio channels. You can customize your own stations by choosing an artist or genre and rating the songs you hear. With Connect, fans can view and listen to material shared directly by artists, regardless of label affiliation. “Unreleased demo tracks, an acoustic version of the latest hit, a video shot in the studio — it’s right here and straight from the source,” says the Apple Music page.
Apple bought the Beats Music subscription service last August, and Beats subscribers appear likely to transition to Apple Music when the trial period begins.
Apple Music arrives on June 30, and anyone with iTunes (on computer, phone, watch, etc.) can get three months free. If you decide to stick with it, membership costs $9.99 per month, or $14.99 for a family plan covering up to six people.
Membership perks include unlimited skips on Apple radio channels and the ability to download songs for offline playback. A subscription syncs across your various devices.
If you prefer the free tier, you’ll still be able to access Beats 1 and ad-supported streaming stations. Android users will get Apple Music in the fall — an uncommon move for Apple, which rarely supports Android platforms.
How Apple Music Stacks Up Against Other Streaming Platforms
Many music lovers likely already use one or two competing streaming services on their computers or phones. Each service has its own quirks and pricing that reflect what it offers.
Pandora has been around since 2000, meaning there’s probably someone at work with a decade-plus of stations organized by artist, song, or genre playing quietly in their cube. You can stream Pandora for free all day, provided you don’t mind a brief ad every few tracks. Use your skips sparingly: you get six per station per hour and a maximum of 24 skips daily.
Pandora One is $4.99 per month for ad-free listening and improved audio, or $54.89 for an annual prepay.
Spotify became popular because you can listen to friends’ playlists as well as your own; you can also play only one artist if you want. Spotify Free permits all-day listening with ads and a six-skip-per-hour limit on mobile devices.
New users can try Spotify Premium for three months for $0.99, which adds offline listening, no ads, unlimited skips, and better sound. After the trial, Premium costs $9.99 per month unless you qualify for a student rate ($4.99/month) or a family discount (reduced price for additional accounts).
Spotify made headlines when Taylor Swift pulled her music from the service, arguing the model was experimental and didn’t fairly compensate artists.
Supported by Jay Z, Madonna, Jason Aldean, and many other musicians, Tidal launched this spring with 25 million tracks and 75,000 music videos. Tidal has no free tier: after a 30-day trial you choose the standard plan ($9.99/month or $8.49/month with a six-month prepay) or Tidal HiFi with lossless, high-fidelity audio for $19.99/month ($16.99/month if you prepay six months). Membership also grants access to Tidal X, member-only streaming concerts.
Google provides radio stations tailored by mood, activity, or artist and curated by its own experts for unlimited listening. Google Play Music Standard includes cloud storage and playback for up to 50,000 songs from your personal collection. After a 30-day trial, the $9.99 All Access plan unlocks tailored stations, unlimited streaming, and unlimited skips.
Google purchased Songza in 2014, but Songza’s mood- and genre-based playlists remain distinct: it’s free with light advertising (you’ll typically see a single short video ad at the start of about half your sessions). If you listen all day, you’ll want to rotate playlists regularly to avoid repetition.
Amazon Prime subscribers get access to Prime Music, which includes curated Prime Playlists that work alongside music you’ve purchased or streamed through Prime.
The kicker? Prime Stations allow unlimited skips. If you already pay $99 per year for Amazon Prime, its music library is worth a look — and if you’re not a member, you can try it free for 30 days. Also see amazon music free prime members for details on Prime music perks.
Bottom Line on Apple Music
OK, it’s not the definitive verdict — we’ll reserve final judgment until at least July once we’ve lived with Apple Music for a while.
For now, our recommendation: if you own several Apple devices and are invested in iTunes, give the free trial a spin on June 30.
If you only need background playlists for work or chores, sticking with the free version of the service you already use may be the easiest choice. And if you’re hoping to earn money while you listen, there are a few options worth exploring.
Your Turn: Which streaming service do you prefer? Will you give Apple Music a shot?
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