Apple expanded its acclaimed Apple Music Classical service to web browsers, allowing desktop users another way to access the world’s most comprehensive classical music library, the iPhone giant said Thursday.
“Apple Music Classical continues to innovate and expand on its mission to bring great musicians and their recordings to music lovers around the world all in one app,” said Anjali Malhotra, global director of Apple Music Classical. “Now that the app is available on the web, Apple Music Classical’s catalog of over 5 million tracks and 50 million data points are now available for those who primarily use their desktops to listen to music.” Meanwhile, recent developments have raised questions about Apple TV plans, especially after Sonos decided to scrap its own streaming device ambitions. Learn more about it here.
Apple Music Classical on the web
The expansion marks a significant milestone for the service, which quickly became the most successful classical music application globally since its launch, according to Apple. Along the way, it expanded to Android devices, iPad and CarPlay with Siri support. The new web-based option at at classical.music.apple.com eliminates the need for a dedicated app on desktop computers. That creates a more seamless listening experience for classical music enthusiasts who prefer desktop listening.
Exclusive launch music
To celebrate the web launch, Apple secured an exclusive release from one of classical music’s most respected institutions. The Cleveland Orchestra, under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst, recorded new interpretations of Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, available exclusively on Apple Music Classical for six weeks.
For Apple ecosystem users, the web expansion represents another touchpoint in Apple’s growing music services portfolio. Subscribers already enjoying Apple Music can access the Classical service at no additional cost.
Specialized search functionality
The platform distinguishes itself through features specifically tailored to classical music. Unlike general streaming services, Apple Music Classical offers specialized search functionality optimized for classical works. That allows users to find specific recordings by composer, work, conductor, orchestra, instrument or even opus number. So that addresses a long-standing pain point for classical listeners on digital platforms.
Technical excellence remains at the forefront. Apple Music Classical offers high-resolution lossless audio and immersive Spatial Audio capabilities. That ensures listeners experience performances with unprecedented clarity and dimensionality. These audiophile-grade features are particularly valuable for classical recordings, where subtle nuances and acoustic qualities are especially important.
Apple Music Classical on the web: Rich curation
Beyond the music itself, the platform provides contextual enrichment. It does that through expertly curated playlists, detailed composer biographies and more than 50,000 digital booklets containing liner notes and translations. Apple Music Classical also maintains the only global classical music chart. It offers insights into listening trends across the genre.
The web expansion arrives as classical music continues to find new audiences through digital platforms, with streaming services increasingly recognizing the unique requirements of the genre and its listeners. Desktop users can begin exploring the service immediately by visiting the official website with their existing Apple Music credentials.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
