Your Guide To Apple Music

Apple recently unveiled Apple Music during the recent Worldwide Developers Conference held in the city of San Francisco. Officially announced together with iOS 9, the newest version of Apple's iOS mobile operating system, Apple Music is the company's first ever music streaming subscription service. Upon its launch, it should contend with other music streaming subscription services offered by Spotify, Pandora, and Tidal. 

The Basics

Subscribing to Apple Music basically means you get to listen to any track that is available in iTunes' extensive library of songs. But because it is a subscription service, it is obviously not free. Apple Music costs $9.99 a month, but if you have a family or have friends and you want to subscriber as a group, you can avail of the family plan which goes for $14.99 per month. However, please do note that the family plan is good for a maximum number of 6 people, and it requires iCloud Family Sharing. Apple Music is expected to be launched on June 30th for Mac, PC, and iOS users. Some time in the fall, a version that works for Android and Apple TV will be released.

Comparing Apple Music To Other Music Streaming Providers

Not much really, but it might boil down to what songs you like that Apple Music offers that other providers do not. And the iTunes library is pretty much well stacked. It even has the complete discography of the Beatles. And you can stream it unlimited. 

What Happens To iTunes

iTunes will still be there. As a matter of fact, if you want to buy tracks, you can still purchase music from iTunes, regardless if you are subscribed to Apple Music or not. As for iTunes Radio, Apple is keeping it. But do note that Apple Music will have its own separate radio stations, and you will enjoy unlimited skips if you subscribe to the new service. If you are into music syncing, you might be delighted to know that iTunes Match remains untouched. 

For Subscribers Of Beats Music

Apple got Beats Music when it acquired Beats Electronics last year, and the tech giant is planning to ease Beats Music into Apple Music. If you signed up for Beats Music, you will be able to transition your membership into Apple Music upon its launch. This means that you will be able to migrate your username, playlists, and song library without any foreseeable problem.

About Beats 1

Apart from introducing Apple Music, Apple also unveiled Beats 1. This is basically a radio station you can listen to for 24 hours, 7 days a week. It is based in New York, Los Angeles, and London, and it will be hosted by high profile radio personalities as well as other selected celebrity guests. According to Apple, Beats 1 will air music that has been selected by music experts.

Connect

Apple also introduced a new feature called Connect, which basically serves as social media platform in which users can interact or get updates directly from the recording artists themselves. 

Downloading Music

Yup, you can download music from Apple Music for offline listening. 

Compatibility And Availability

As an Apple product, Apple Music will work on iOS devices. As for Android users, Apple has stated that it will launch an Android version of the app some time in fall. Regarding availability, Apple Music is expected to be launched in more than 100 countries, but the specific list has not been released though.