Radio

Pandora’s subscription service in testing, “redefines what premium could and should be”

After recently refreshing its brand identity, the popular Internet radio service Pandora today officially announced its upcoming on-demand music service, simply called Premium, which the company says is going to redefine what “premium” could and should be.

Pandora Premium, “an effortless and flexible experience for all subscribers,” includes features that tune into each listener’s individuality while leveraging its deep knowledge of musical data.

iHeartRadio launches two on-demand subscription tiers in beta

iHeartRadio started out in April 2008 as a simple Internet radio service at the website iheartmusic.com before becoming both a music recommendations system and a radio network that aggregates content from hundreds of local radio stations across the U.S. On Thursday, the company stepped into on-demand streaming with a pair of subscription tiers, launching in beta, that let listeners create playlists from tracks, listen to music offline, play songs in any order, skip tracks and more.

Beats 1 Radio now has official Facebook page

Apple has created the official Facebook page for Beats 1, its 24/7 radio station that broadcasts in more than a hundred countries via the Internet. The new Facebook page is in addition to the service's presence on other social media channels, like Twitter. Before today, Beats 1 Radio posts were published through Apple Music's own Facebook page.

Apple Music launches in Israel, gains free Bloomberg Radio news channel in 100 countries

The Apple Music service has expanded to Israel this morning, allowing users in the eight million people country to sign up for the music-subscription service in exchange for 19.90 ILS per month (about $5.2) for individual accounts. A family of six can subscribe to Apple Music for 29.90 ILS, or about $7.81.

A free three-month trial is available as well.

The news comes 24 hours after the news gathering organization Bloomberg announced that its radio service is now available on Apple Music in over a hundred countries.

Beats 1 hosts are permitted to play whatever they want, DJ Zane Lowe reveals

In an interview yesterday with Vice's music channel Noisey, Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe said that Apple permits Beats 1 hosts to play whatever they want in their designated slot.

Apple's official policy, Lowe said, doesn't call for any restrictions pertaining to shows by Beats 1 hosts such as Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Major Lazer, and other hip-hop artists who have regular shows on the service.

A native of New Zealand's Auckland, Lowe revealed how Apple executive and former Beats 1 founder Jimmy Iovine gave him an important career advice, talked life in Los Angeles, having his own show on Beats 1 and more.

Beats 1 to debut new show by artist ‘deadmau5’

Apple yesterday announced via the official Beats 1 Twitter handle that the service will debut a new show by Joel Thomas Zimmerman, the popular music producer and performer also known under his stage name 'deadmau5'.

The upcoming show is named “Mau5trap Presents” and is scheduled to debut on Apple Music's Beats 1 radio station this coming Friday, March 18, at 3pm PST / 6pm ET.

Apple Music Radio tab enhanced with live schedule, show details and other new features

Apple has refreshed the Radio tab within the stock Music app on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad with a dynamically updated Beats 1 banner along with live schedule, show details, host biographies, show artwork and other perks.

As first noted by 9to5Mac, the Beats 1 banner in the Radio section now updates automatically to show the currently-airing live radio show along with information like the show's airing location and artwork.

iTunes Radio now requires Apple Music subscription

Keeping true to its promise, ad-supported iTunes Radio, which launched in 2013, is no longer available for free and now requires an Apple Music subscription, leaving Beats 1 as the lone free-to-stream radio service on iTunes.

Starting today, non-subscribers who attempt to access iTunes Radio on iOS or via iTunes for Mac or Windows are greeted with a “Get on Our Wavelength” prompts, asking them to subscribe to Apple Music in order to continue enjoying Apple's selection of streaming radio stations.

Apple killing off ad-supported iTunes Radio stations this month

Apple on Friday began sending out emails to listeners of legacy iTunes Radio stations, informing them that it will be shuttering all ad-supported stations on Apple Music this month. The move will take place on January 29, leaving Beats 1 as the only free music stream available to non-subscribers.

All-new iHeartRadio app coming to Apple TV soon with live stations and podcasts

iHeartRadio Media announced today at CES 2016 in Las Vegas that a whole new radio-streaming app will be coming to the fourth-generation Apple TV. In addition to a redesigned interface, it will allow users to experience all of the core elements of the service and let them access thousands of live and custom stations, including podcasts.

Both registered and unregistered users will be able to play live and custom radio stations, view For You recommendations, save favorite stations to a brand new My Favorites Radio feature and more, all from the comfort of their couch.

Rdio just brought 500 traditional AM/FM live radio stations to its iPhone and iPad app

Internet radio services like Pandora, Rdio, iHeartRadio, Deezer and many others have been feeling the heat following the launch of Apple Music with free 24/7 Internet radio, called Beats 1. Responding to competitive pressure, Rdio announced Wednesday that it is bringing live-broadcast radio stations to its iOS app, beginning with 500 stations owned and operated by its partner, Cumulus Media.

Apple’s streaming music deals include permissions for additional Beats stations

Beats 1 may not be the only live radio station on Apple Music for long, reports The Verge. Citing sources with knowledge of the agreement, the outlet says that Apple's current music licensing contracts include permissions for up to five additional Beats radio stations.

"As part of the deal it struck with the major labels for Apple Music Radio," says The Verge's Micah Singleton, "Apple has licenses for up to five additional stations like Beats 1." So it could essentially create a lineup of 6 radio stations without needing to renegotiate.