Use your phone to tune in to radio broadcasts all around the world. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac/Arianit/Wikimedia Commons
Most people don’t really use AM and FM radios anymore, but streaming live content is hardly dead. Lots of podcasts do live streams — and you can still tune into radio stations online. Broadcasts, an app by independent developer Steven Troughton-Smith, makes listening to live music and streaming radio on your iPhone very easy.
Artists like Kanye West helped drive music video downloads past 1 million in less than 20 days. Photo: Rodrigo Ferrari/Flickr CC
October 31, 2005: Less than three weeks after launching video downloads with iTunes 6, Apple reveals that it has already sold more than 1 million music videos.
Apple’s dive into the online digital video market — with 2,000 music videos, Pixar short films and a selection of hit TV shows for $1.99 — looks like the logical next step after selling individual songs on iTunes. Passing the 1 million download benchmark so quickly suggests the plan is a roaring success.
Better than iTunes in every single way. Image: Cider Collective
iTunes has become a slow and bloated mess over the years — which is why it no longer exists on Mac. But for those who are stuck with Windows, suffering iTunes is necessary if you want to enjoy Apple Music. Or is it?
There are other ways to take advantage of your Apple Music subscription on third-party machines. You could use the web app in a browser of your choice, or you could download Cider, a new and far greater iTunes alternative.
Cider, which is also available on Mac if you aren’t happy with the default Music app, offers a clean and simple user interface and almost all of the features we’ve come to expect from Apple’s streaming service — plus extras.
Apple's Shazam app has added detailed concert and ticket notes to help artists. Photo: Shazam
You may know the Shazam app, owned by Apple, for its ability to recognize songs and artists. But a new update to the app for iOS now also helps you “explore upcoming live music shows.” This comes from a Shazam integration with Bandsintown. Apple and Shazam said the new feature will help increase exposure for artists.
Bands didn't get much artier than The Velvet Underground, and this new documentary does the group proud. Photo: Apple TV+
In The Velvet Underground, the coolest band of the ’60s finally gets the biodoc treatment from a director who engaged with the group’s legacy throughout his career. Todd Haynes and Apple TV+ finally bring you the story of The Velvet Underground, the band that created punk rock and broke rock ‘n’ roll.
Doppler for Mac makes listening to your own music collection easy. Photo: Doppler
If you like listening to your own library of music and want support for hi-res file formats, Doppler for Mac could be for you. It’s now available, joining the popular Doppler for iPhone app.
Mark Ronson breaks down the elements of music on the hugely enjoyable new Apple TV+ docuseries. Photo: Apple TV+
In the latest docuseries from Apple TV+, the world’s most in-demand producer takes a step out from behind the boards to lead us on a meditative quest to better understand the elements of music and music production that inspire him. Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson serves as a master class in mixing, mastering, experimenting and breaking it down.
Don't let songs take up all your space. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
If you like to store music locally on your iPhone so you don’t need a data connection to listen to your favorite tracks while you’re on the go, you may find that, over time, your music takes up too much space.
You can prevent that from happening by optimizing music storage on your device so the songs you don’t listen to anymore are automatically deleted to make room for other content. We’ll show you how.
Jump back 50 years to take a deep dive into “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything.” Photo: Apple
Music fans rejoice! 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything is an upcoming Apple TV+ documentary series exploring the musicians and soundtracks that shaped the culture and politics of 50 years ago.
It’ll premiere on Apple’s streaming video service on Friday, May 21.