Apple is expected to announce its long-awaited music streaming service during the WWDC keynote later today, and despite tough competition from the likes of Spotify, the company has incredibly ambitious plans to sign up 100 million subscribers.
“A person familiar with its plans” revealed the goal to The New York Times, as well as some of Apple’s plans for the service. As previous reports have claimed, it is to cost $10 a month, but users will enjoy a lengthy three-month trial period before they have to pay up.
The NYT also corroborates a recent report from the New York Post that claimed Apple is looking to sign A-list guest DJs, including former BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe — who now works at Apple — as well as stars like Drake, Pharrell Williams and David Guetta.
Subscribers to the existing Beats Music service, which Apple acquired with its $3 billion Beats buyout last year, will reportedly be migrated over to the new service. Beats Music as we know it will then be closed down.
NYT adds that Apple will advertise its new service — which is likely to be named Apple Music — through iTunes. When customers purchase new tracks and albums, they will be given the option to take out a subscription instead.
Apple is hoping that those A-list guest DJs, the lengthy free trial, and other benefits will persuade those already subscribed to rival services like Spotify, Rdio and Google Play Music to switch. The company is even said to be working on an app that will allow Android users to enjoy Apple Music.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
8 responses to “Apple hopes to secure 100 million subscribers with new music streaming service”
Hopefully complimentary for iTunes Match subscribers!
lol here’s hoping! it’s a great idea…
Make that 10 bucks the family price and they’ll hit those numbers.
I really don’t want them to kill the Beats app but it now looks unavoidable… At least, I hope they work on their Music app as it’s currently an abomination… old fashioned, tired looking… counter-intuitive… ugly…
This just in Apple hopes Apple Watch is a hit like iphone or ipad too
So far I like what I see. The design looks good, it has the features I want, and the price is definitely right.
no way on earth! I had enough with iTunes Match. This looks worse.
I love my iTunes Match but I am curious as to how Apple Music is really any different than iTunes Radio w/ iTunes Match? It’s already ad free, only thing I can see that we’re missing is the DJs, human curated lists and Ping.