Move over Spotify and watch out Flipboard, Apple is poised to enter the streaming music and news worlds in a big way with the upcoming launch of two new apps meant to take a bite of the existing competition’s market share.
First up is Apple Music, a new subscription-based, ad-free streaming music app that will enable iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac users to access more than 30 million songs.
The app, anticipated to come on the market June 30, will also be available for PC and Android users.
Music lovers who want their iTunes library, ripped CDs and other tracks to live alongside the Apple Music catalog and the company’s new Beats 1 live radio station will find the app will make it possible.
Apple Music will also enable users to stream any song, playlist or album while drawing on “Siri” technology for song searches. Users can also pull in curated radio playlists to mix up their tunes a bit.
The new music app comes with a feature that enables artists to reach out directly to their fans. Through the “Connect” service, artists will be able to share videos, photos, lyrics and their latest songs. Fans can even comment and share the content.
Apple Music goes live with free three-month memberships for music lovers on June 30. After that trial period, fans can keep the music alive by signing on for a $9.99 monthly subscription or a family plan for $14.99.
Apple’s entry into the streaming music scene is a late one with competition already fiercely entrenched. With players in the market including Google, Amazon, Pandora and Spotify, the success of Apple Music isn’t guaranteed.
Even so, Apple gets the credit for pioneering the legitimate online music game and has plenty of major label backing to provide it wind for its sails.
News junkies aren’t being left out in Apple’s expansion push. The company also plans to launch its News app service with iOS 9 later this year.
The app looks like a hybrid of Facebook Instant Articles and Flipboard that will be powered by such publications as Wire, ESPN and the New York Times.
These publishers will be able to publish content straight to the platform while earning revenue from ads placed on the app. Publishers will also be able to sell ads to the platform. The introduction of the News app will see the retirement of the Newsstand app.
With competition already entrenched in this arena, as well, courtesy of platforms such as Facebook and Flipboard, time will tell if the News app will take off where Newsstand failed.
With heavy hitters such as ESPN signed on to supply the platform’s juice, Apple’s new entry into the news market may resonate with readers.
