Apple Music for Android leaks ‘Apple Classical’ app ahead of launch

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Apple Classical
Will next month's Apple event bring a new music service?
Photo: Julio Rionaldo/Unsplash/Apple

A reference to the unreleased “Apple Classical” service this week appeared in a new Apple Music beta for Android. The discovery suggests that the service is nearing its official debut ahead of an Apple event in March.

Apple last year acquired (then closed down) Primephonic, the streaming platform for classical music. Fans have been waiting for it to be integrated into Apple’s services lineup ever since — and that wait could soon be over.

Apple Music for Android spills Apple Classical app

Apple told Primephonic users shortly after its acquisition that they should use Apple Music, for which they were given a free six-month subscription, until a new app that would deliver the best of both services was ready in early 2022.

“Apple Music plans to launch a dedicated classical music app next year combining Primephonic’s classical user interface that fans have grown to love with more added features,” Cupertino said.

It now looks like that dedicated classical music app is inching closer to its debut. Digging around inside the latest Apple Music beta for Android, 9to5Google found a reference to brand-new app dubbed “Apple Classical.”

Coming next month?

The string “reveals the name ‘Apple Classical,’ and the upcoming ability to open a compatible track directly in the optimized service,” reads the report. Of course, that name could change before Apple makes the app official.

Apple is next month expected to host its first event of 2022, during which it is likely to announce a new iPhone SE and its next-generation iPad. It could use this opportunity to announce Apple Classical, too.

It’s not yet clear whether Apple Classic will come bundled with an Apple Music subscription. It looks like the two will work closely together, but we wouldn’t be too surprised if Apple asks users to pay for Classic separately.

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