7 things which sum up Apple Music's first year
The music streaming service continues its battle against Spotify and YouTube
- Application is due to be updated and unveiled at the company's recent WWDC event
Apple Music celebrates its first birthday on Thursday as it plans to release its newest update, having set out the design during the recent WWDC event.
There are 7 things that we have learned about the service, according to the Guardian:
1. You don't need a free plaform to succeed
Rival streaming service Spotify has said that offering a free option often allows people to become aware of the services and eventually sign up for a paid membership.
2. Healthy competition
There’s a temptation – in the tech world as much as the music industry – to always look for the winner and the loser. Yet the rivalry between Apple Music and Spotify may be win-win. Two variants on streaming – one with a free tier and one without – both appear to be working.
3. Clutter to be done away with
Music inherited most of the same problems that came with iTunes, but the company appears to be listening as it has provided a new programme with more space. "Apple Music is heading in the right direction, which can only help it appeal to mainstream music fans," according to the Guardian.
4. People care about their music libraries
Streaming is still not the most-used method of listening to music, as people still prefer to have a music library on their devices,
5. Humans v algorithms
Apple put a huge premium on the human element of the programme and were "keen to compare this to rivals, which at worst were just “utilities” and at best were curated by algorithms lacking the human touch," the Guardian said.
6. Star power more important than ever
Apple Music has been able to rope in some high profile targets to help boost their brand, including Drake and Taylor Swift, thus flexing its financial muscles. This allows users to be the first to listen to arists who have signed up to the service.
7. Connect has flopped, but it may not be finished yet
The Connect feature looked like it could be a great addition to the apple software. "Twelve months on, and Connect looks more of a Ping (remember that?) - Apple’s first, unsuccessful attempt at a music-focused social network." However with a possible rejig on the way it could make a comeback.