Apple Music is apparently learning a new trick, with notifications that will help you stay up-to-date on when your favorite artists release new music.
According to a report from MacRumors today, Apple is currently rolling out a new feature for Apple Music subscribers that will bring new music notifications directly into the Library tab in the app. This won’t be just for new albums either, but it will also present new EPs and new videos released by your favorite bands and artists.
The new feature first appears as a splash page in ‌Apple Music‌ on iOS, telling users that they can “see new music from artists you like.” This will let you get updates about new releases from artists you listen to, with notifications appearing above your library of albums and playlists.
This is a bit of a change for Apple Music, and it will probably be a welcomed one for most subscribers. One of the areas that Apple could get better with is keeping tabs on new releases from artists that a subscriber enjoys, and this appears to lean into that. The fact that it’s directly in the Library tab should help, too.
I say it’s an area that Apple Music could be better in because while there are certain strengths to Apple Music, I still feel like I miss out on new releases — especially singles — more often than not. Sure, the “New Music Mix” that updates every week can snag a few here and there, but I’m still finding myself adding these new music releases with notifications from third-party apps and/or services.
And then a week later, when the song is already added to my library, the New Music Mix will finally offer it up. This is just a personal experience situation, though, and your mileage may vary. Plus, the “New Releases” section for albums and EPs does do a good job for the most part, but that’s at the very bottom of the For You section, so it’s definitely not easy to see.
In any event, the report indicates that users won’t be able to micromanage which artists will have notifications for their new releases. Basically, if you’ve liked an artist in Apple Music you’ll get notifications in the Library section of the app when they release a new album, EP, or video. You will be able to turn these notifications off in general, though.
The original report notes that this feature is not widely available just yet, but Apple is rolling it out beginning today. It may take some time before you see it arrive on your devices, but, once you do, you’ll see the aforementioned splash page pop up in the Library tab.
It would make it a little easier if we could just like/follow a band or artist, which would give us all a little more control over these types of notifications, but this feels like it could be better than nothing. But what do you think? Is this a feature you’ll switch on, or will you turn it off as soon as it arrives for you?