Apple launches music streaming and 24-hour radio service Apple Music

Apple has arrived on the music streaming scene with the announcement of its new service Apple Music.

The service, which combines a music streaming subscription service with a 24 hour internet radio station and music video library, is coming to iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC in 100 countries from June 30, and on Apple TV and Android phones this autumn.

The app has been described as Apple’s answer to similar music offerings from the likes of Spotify, Rdio and Deezer. 

As well as millions of tracks and curated playlists from iTunes’ library being made available to stream, Apple Music has developed a live radio station called Beats 1, which will broadcast around the globe 24 hours a day from LA, New York and London and hosted by DJs including Zane Lowe.

Announced at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco last night (June 8), co-founder of Apple exec Jimmy Iovine, said: “Apple Music is really going to move the needle for fans and artists.

“Online music has become a complicated mess of apps, services and websites. Apple Music brings the best features together for an experience every music lover will appreciate.”

The Apple Music service will cost $9.99 a month for American users or $14.99 for a family plan for up to six people, and will be free for the first three months. Pricing for other territories has yet to be confirmed.

One of Apple Music’s other features is called For You, which will serve users with relevant recommendations based on their current music collection as well as a layer of human curation.

The service will also support Siri on iPhone, allowing users to request tracks or songs from a specific year or artist via vocal commands.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, added: “All the ways people love enjoying music come together in one app - a revolutionary streaming service, live worldwide radio and an exciting way for fans to connect with artists.”