According to a new report from the Financial Times, Apple is expected to bundle the Beats Music streaming service with an upcoming version of iOS next year.
Apple will bundle the subscription music service it acquired from Beats into its iOS operating system early next year, instantly making it available on hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads – and ramping up pressure on Spotify, the market leader in music streaming.
The report comes amid rumors that Apple is planning to rebrand the Beats Music subscription service for a potential relaunch around February, although FT has added that the bundling is expected “as early as March.”Apple, of course, acquired the Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre-founded subscription music service alongside the Beats headphones and speaker line earlier this year as part of a $3 billion acquisition.
Since the acquisition officially closed at the end of July, Apple has since promoted the Beats Music app for iPhone and iPad on the App Store through a prompt for new customers alongside its collection of other apps.
The Beats Music service has also been made available as a pre-installed channel on Apple TV since mid-September and it plans to support it through CarPlay eventually.
Recent reports has claimed that Apple is negotiating with music labels to cut streaming music fees as it actively works to lower the subscription cost to $5/month from it’s current $10/month rate.
The Financial Times report adds the the bundled version of the Beats Music will likely exist under the iTunes brand.
Apple SVP Eddy Cue with Beats founders Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine
The paid subscription streaming music service would join the already included iTunes Store for purchasing digital downloads of music as well as the free (with ads) iTunes Radio music service.
Apple confirmed in its annual report filed last month that iTunes experienced a decline in digital music sales with one report pegging the decline as high as 14%.
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If it’s coming “early” next year, then it’s safe to assume it’ll come with iOS 8.2
Better come as part of iOS 8.3 with the ability to delete built in apps. I hate the stupid tips app.
Wish they would integrate it into one app. I iTunes radio iTubes streaming app wouldn’t be that bad., but still wish the music, iTunes store, podcast, and remote app would be one app.
I really like the ui of iTunes radio
They should combine streaming service with genius recommendation, iTunes match and first play in itunes radio.
Wouldn’t this cannibalize iTunes Store purchases?
That is “sort of” their hope considering less and less iTunes purchases are made every year. They are trying to adapt to survive.
That’s the Apple Way… Disrupt themselves internally before they get disrupted in the market…
I believe it when I see Beats music on my iPhone. Until then, you’re wasting our time with this &^% because these rumors about Apple integrating Beats into anything Apple have never been true in the past.
The only way I’m okay with this is if my iTunes Match subscription grants me access to Beats Music or if Beats Music becomes free with ads and limits.
Every since the rumors began of a apple adding a subscription service even before the Beats purchase I been hoping iTunes Match will be part of the subscription.
Lol Apple’s on a first-party app rampage…
They also need to revamp the whole design of Beats Music.
I hate the interface compared to MOG or even iTunes (shudder). It’s slow and clunky. Takes multiple swipes to find new music and the stupid sentence based playlist feature is sometimes enough to make me want to chew off a foot.
The curated playlists were supposed to be the big draw but I find them difficult to access too.
The entire app reeks of form over function.
I like iTunes Radio ui and hope it is part of the redesign for a subscription service.
Apple needs some consolidation.
Put Beats Streaming, iRadio and music playback into 1 app.
Get rid of GameCenter – Integrate it’s feature directly into supporting apps
Give me one store named “Apple Store” where I can buy media and iOS and Mac (registered) apps.
Combine Newstand into iBooks and iTunes U
Combine Calculator, Tips app and Compass
Too many apps it’s becoming nasty.
I been preaching the same forever.
My preference is for a complete rebranding, Apple Music containing iTunes Radio, subscription streaming, Music store, Music app, Podcasts, and Remote app.
Why is Apple adding bloatware to iOS? Tips, Podcasts, iBooks, and now this? It was a lot better when they were stand alone apps. I think the Apps are good, but people may not have any use for them, so why push it down their throats?
Yep, more bloatware.
The tips app is the worst bloatware.
Anyone done the calculation if you install all Apple apps including beats how much space you are left with on a 16 GB device?
Reminders and notes needs combined and those could be all part of the calendar app.
Compass needs to be part of Maps.
I already stated the different media apps that need to be combined into one app.
One reason I switched to Samsung.
Yea, there is some bloatware but I can easily expand the memory.
I prefer that Apple not bundle apps into iPhones because it’s starting to feel like bloatware… Apple can at least give the option to delete recently included first-party apps like Tips, Newsstand, and iBooks. I don’t want to read a book on such a tiny screen, nor do I want a bigger screen.
Oh, great! Apple is adding more crapware to iOS. What are they trying to do, be more like HP?
If only I cared, Apple can’t deliver on iTunes Radio in Canada…Beats will just be more bloat that’s useless unless you’re an American.