Music

GarageBand for Mac gains Force Touch and Apple Music Connect support, new content and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 30, 2015

Tuesday, Apple issued a substantial update to GarageBand for Mac, its own application that allows users to create music or podcasts. In GarageBand 10.1, users can take advantage of built-in Apple Music Connect support to share directly from GarageBand to Apple Music's Connect feature, basically a repository for artists to share content with music lovers like lyrics, behind-the-scenes videos, photos, concert recordings, studio sessions and more.

In addition, the application now takes advantage of a third dimension provided by pressure-sensing trackpads on the new twelve-inch MacBook and fifteen-inch MacBook Pro while providing several other enhancements.

SoundHound for iOS now plays nice with Apple Music and Beats 1

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 30, 2015

SoundHound, an audio recognition service, today announced a refresh for its iPhone and iPad application with Apple Music integration, a new Beats 1 Radio row within song pages and other enhancements.

With Apple Music and Beats 1 integration, users can stream music discovered through SoundHound on Apple Music and enjoy the ability to listen to the streaming radio broadcast provided by Beats 1.

These new features will go live in over a hundred Apple Music countries via a free update to Soundhound's iOS app, which will be rolling out later today.

Beats 1, Apple’s new global Internet radio, starts broadcasting with DJ Zane Lowe

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Beats 1, Apple's 24/7 radio station, has just started broadcasting live in over a hundred countries around the world following the release of iOS 8.4 with a much improved and revamped Music app with Beats 1 and Apple Music integration.

Available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad with iOS 8.4 (and soon on Mac and Windows PCs with an impending iTunes update), Beats 1 is hosted by former BBC Radio DJ Zane Lowe in Los Angeles, with additional actors Ebro Darden in New York and Julie Adenoma in London.

Beats Music app receives an update with playlist migration to Apple Music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

Shortly after releasing iOS 8.4 for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and OS X 10.10.4 for the Mac, Apple refreshed the mobile Beats Music application in the App Store so you can transfer your existing playlists and library over to Apple Music. Release notes accompanying the update make no mention of other changes beyond playlist migration.

The app is available at no charge in the App Store.

iOS 8.4 with Apple Music, Beats 1 and revamped Music app hits iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 30, 2015

As promised, Tuesday morning Apple released the free iOS 8.4 software update which introduces an all-new Music app with Apple Music and Beats 1 built-in. The over-the-air update is now available for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. As these things take some time to propagate, the software update may not show up in your region yet.

“This update introduces Apple Music—a revolutionary music service, 24/7 global radio, and a way for fans to connect with their favorite artists—all included in the redesigned Music app,” release notes accompanying the update explain. “iOS 8.4 also includes improvements for iBooks and bug fixes,” Apple states.

To apply the update over-the-air, open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and choose Software Update in the General section. Alternatively, connect your device via USB cable to a Mac or Windows PC running the latest version of iTunes and an update prompt should pop up automatically.

If you enjoy jailbreaking as much as we do, you're wholeheartedly advised to read this first in order to prepare for iOS 8.4 properly.

You can now see recently Shazamed songs from artists you follow

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 11, 2016

With Apple Music launching in just a few hours, media identification service Shazam on Tuesday announced a new version of its mobile app focused on the ability to check out all the songs that artists you follow are discovering on Shazam.

This new feature is in addition to lists of most-often Shazamed songs by region, genre and overall that were available before.

The update is rolling out today on iOS and Android.

Apple Music to exclusively stream Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ album

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2016

Apple Music will exclusively stream 'The Chronic,' Dr. Dre's 1992 debut studio album, Rolling Stone reported Monday. As a matter of fact, the seminal album will actually make its streaming debut when Apple Music launches tomorrow morning.

This is newsworthy because 'The Chronic' has not yet been available on digital platforms like the iTunes Store, Beats Music, Spotify or Rhapsody due to legal disputes regarding distribution rights.

iOS 8.4 launching at 8am Tuesday, iTunes Match song limit increasing to 100,000 with iOS 9

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 28, 2015

Former Beats Music CEO Ian Rogers wrote in a blog post yesterday that iOS 8.4 with Apple Music will release for public consumption on Tuesday, June 30, at 8am Pacific / 11am Eastern. A few hours later, however, Rogers has updated his post removing mention of the specific timing.

“Tuesday morning we’ll be unveiling the next chapter,” reads the post. “Please make a note to upgrade to iOS 8.4 Tuesday, June 30 and listen to our first day of broadcasting.”

Rogers is now a Senior Director of Apple Music.

Beats 1 celebrity hosts to include Drake, Dr. Dre, Elton John and others

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple's Beats 1 streaming radio service will feature celebrity hosts such as Pharrell Williams, Drake and Elton John, reports The New York Times. In a profile of Apple's newly recruited D.J., Zane Lowe, the outlet says a number of well-known stars have been given spots.

Other well-known stars on the menu for Beats 1 programming include Dr. Dre, who will host a show called "The Pharmacy," teen actor Jaden Smith, and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. Apparently, each of them will be hosting and planning the shows themselves.

Taylor Swift’s blockbuster album ‘1989’ will stream on Apple Music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 6, 2017

Well, good PR doesn't get any better than this. Following a week of back and forth between Apple and Taylor Swift over royalty payments during Apple Music's free trial, the popular pop musician and actress said her top-selling album “1989” will stream on Apple's service, which launches next Tuesday.

“After the events of this week, I've decided to put '1989' on Apple Music,” she wrote on Twitter.

The newsworthy development bears special significance as “1989” won't be available on any streaming service, at least for the time being, with the sole exception of Apple Music.

Spotify responds to Apple Music by extending free trial to 60 days for non-US users

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Following Apple Music ad blitz with a massive Beats 1 billboard on Times Square ahead of the service's public launch next Tuesday, the world's leading music-streaming service Spotify has decided to extend its Premium trial from 30 to 60 days for users outside the United States, as noted by Android Authority.

Like Apple Music, Spotify Premium costs $9.99 per month, but Apple's service offers a three-month free trial period before charging users' credit cards. It was also revealed this morning that Apple Music pays an industry-standard royalty rate for free users of 0.2 cents per stream, comparing roughly to Spotify's 35 percent revenue share during the trial period.

Apple Music free trial pays record labels industry-standard 0.2 cents per stream royalty rate

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2015

Lots of ink was spilt regarding Apple's decision to not pay artists during the free trial only to reverse course after Taylor Swift raised a stink about it. Apple's said it'll pay for free users and keep the royalty a bit higher for subscribers but stopped short of specifying the exact sum paid during the free trial.

According to unnamed record label executives who spoke to The New York Times newspaper, Apple is paying an industry-average royalty rate of 0.2 cents per each streamed song during the free three-month trial, roughly on par with Spotify.