Apple's Beats Music relaunch might hurt Spotify more than others, data suggests

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited May 2015
Swedish music streamer Spotify has more to lose from Apple's anticipated Beats Music revamp than its competition, according to new usage data, as iOS accounts for a majority of Spotify's active users.




Nearly 11 percent of iOS device owners in the U.S. use Spotify on a weekly basis, data published by The Information shows. On Android, that number falls to just 7 percent.

The disparity "reflects the reality that Apple users have more money to spend on a subscription service," the publication noted. In contrast, Android ruled the roost for Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.

Beats Music is by far the smallest streaming service for now, seeing use on less than one percent of devices, no matter the platform. That is expected to change -- primarily at Spotify's expense -- once Apple unveils the new version, which will likely be tied more closely to iOS, much like iTunes Radio.

Many believe that the revamped service will bow at Apple's upcoming developers conference next month, but that may not be the case. A report earlier Tuesday suggested that the company was having difficulty securing the necessary licenses, though sources did concede that there is still time for Apple to strike the deals.

"If any company can pull it off, [Apple] can," according to one insider.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 21
    nobodyynobodyy Posts: 377member

    IMO, Spotify's UI sucks and is incredibly hard to navigate without explicit attention on iPhone.

     

    While it might be dated, the Music App is super easy to navigation and after a decade of using it, I can fine tweak Smart Playlists and Genius to make my iTunes library enjoyable and not lose tracks to time, a problem I often have with Spotify. 

     

    The moment Apple relaunches Beats, I will be jumping ship. If it's heavily and well integrated into iTunes and Music.app (which 8.4 looks like it is prepping for), I will be throwing my money at them. 

  • Reply 2 of 21
    richlrichl Posts: 2,213member
    <p>Beats would have to do something amazing to make me swap from Spotify. For me, Spotify wins for the same reason that Netflix wins - ubiquity. I can get Spotify on all of my devices, whether they're Apple-branded or not (e.g. Sonos).</p>
  • Reply 3 of 21
    rogifanrogifan Posts: 10,669member
    I'm not sure I agree with this. Apple will have to provide a compelling reason to switch. I currently use Spotify and have no plans to switch to Apple's offering unless it's much better than anything they currently offer.
  • Reply 4 of 21
    applezillaapplezilla Posts: 941member

    I've tried Beats Music and I could easily jump from Spotify, once the relaunch happens.

     

    Looking forward to it.

  • Reply 5 of 21
    propodpropod Posts: 67member
    It took 1 Viking to steel the music crown???? It will not be easy to get that back. Look at Google trying to compete with Facebook as an example. Let the best service win. And let's hope all artists get their deserved share.
  • Reply 6 of 21
    chelinchelin Posts: 106member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by propod View Post



    It took 1 Viking to steel the music crown???? It will not be easy to get that back. Look at Google trying to compete with Facebook as an example. Let the best service win. And let's hope all artists get their deserved share.

    That is something between the label and the artist, the streaming service cannot dictate the amount that is payed out.

  • Reply 7 of 21
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,926member
    Competition from Apple hurts competitors. DOJ to investigate.
  • Reply 8 of 21
    sirlance99sirlance99 Posts: 1,293member
    <div class="quote-container" data-huddler-embed="/t/186132/apples-beats-music-relaunch-might-hurt-spotify-more-than-others-data-suggests#post_2720064" data-huddler-embed-placeholder="false">Quote:

    <div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>RichL</strong> <a href="/t/186132/apples-beats-music-relaunch-might-hurt-spotify-more-than-others-data-suggests#post_2720064"><img alt="View Post" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" /></a><br />
     
    <p>Beats would have to do something amazing to make me swap from Spotify. For me, Spotify wins for the same reason that Netflix wins - ubiquity. I can get Spotify on all of my devices, whether they're Apple-branded or not (e.g. Sonos).</p>
    </div>
    </div>

    <p>Same for me except I use Google Play Music. </p>

    <p style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">My requirements are: Able to use it on what ever platform I want (iOS/Android), have a web based interface that I don't have to download a program to run it, and a good enough UI. The first two are a must.</p>

    <p style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)"> </p>

    <p style="color:rgb(24, 24, 24)">So for me, right now I use Google Play Music. I got in early when it started so I only pay $7.99 a month. I logged into my girlfriends iPhone and she can listen to it as well. No ads ever, unlimited skips, any song/album at any time, YouTube videos built in, web interface, plays on  my iPhone 6 Plus and Note 4 and iPad Air 2, or any one of the many devices I have which also includes my Chromecast, ATV, Roku. For me it's perfect right now. </p>
  • Reply 9 of 21
    auxioauxio Posts: 2,717member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SirLance99 View Post

     

    My requirements are: Able to use it on what ever platform I want (iOS/Android), have a web based interface that I don't have to download a program to run it, and a good enough UI.


     

    Funny, but I've always had the reverse experience: in most cases, web-based interfaces feel completely random to me as there's no UI guidelines or standardization.  Whereas native applications tend follow the UI standards set by the platform/OS creator, and so there's a level of consistency and familiarity once you get used to the platform.  I simply don't have time to fumble with and learn how to use a dozen apps which are all designed differently, and which are often sluggish because they need to pull content from the web, so I prefer native apps.

  • Reply 10 of 21
    schlackschlack Posts: 719member
    Beats is not bad, but not as good as spotify. I have used both.

    Thing is Beats costs me $6.50/month*. Spotify costs me $10/month. So I went with Beats.

    *$100/yr, paid for with a $100 iTunes card from eBay bought for $75.
  • Reply 11 of 21
    cmdacoscmdacos Posts: 2member
    Of the usage percentage, how many are paid subscribers. I use spotify above all by won't pay for it or any service.
  • Reply 12 of 21
    thewhitefalconthewhitefalcon Posts: 4,453member

    I love the other platform complaints. You guys realize iTunes has been on Windows since 2003 right? And Beats Music is on Android?

  • Reply 13 of 21
    f1turbof1turbo Posts: 257member

    I prefer free service of Spotify. 

  • Reply 14 of 21
    pfisherpfisher Posts: 758member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by F1Turbo View Post

     

    I prefer free service of Spotify. 


    Free is good.

  • Reply 15 of 21
    cash907cash907 Posts: 893member
    Or I could just stick with Pandora, which has always been good to me.
  • Reply 16 of 21
    mcdavemcdave Posts: 1,927member
    $3bn for the smallest service (or is that iTunes Radio). They must have high hopes.
  • Reply 17 of 21
    relicrelic Posts: 4,735member
    rogifan wrote: »
    I'm not sure I agree with this. Apple will have to provide a compelling reason to switch. I currently use Spotify and have no plans to switch to Apple's offering unless it's much better than anything they currently offer.

    Agreed, I've spent a long time building my playlists and learning the ins and outs of Spotify. Beasts would have to redefine the way I listen to music before I would even consider moving, even than though it won't be for another year until all of kinks are worked out. Basically I won't be going anywhere, Spotify also works on every platform that I use so Beats would need to be crossed platform, that includes Linux.
  • Reply 18 of 21
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    rogifan wrote: »
    I'm not sure I agree with this. Apple will have to provide a compelling reason to switch. I currently use Spotify and have no plans to switch to Apple's offering unless it's much better than anything they currently offer.

    Fully agree, Spotify is very good at what it offers, even though they only have 4 record labels onboard. It's extremely popular here in The Netherlands. The fact that people get a premium account for free when upgrading their Internet speed helps.

    I really like it, don't use iTunes anymore.
  • Reply 19 of 21
    pepe779pepe779 Posts: 84member

    Not to mention what I already commented in the other Beats Music article - Beats Music IS NOT and most likely will not be available globally in the foreseeable future. If Cook's Apple really only cares about US customers, then be it, but then Beats Music will definitely not hurt any other service, let alone Spotify, because believe it or not, there are significant markets outside of the US too.

  • Reply 20 of 21
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by PhilBoogie View Post





    Fully agree, Spotify is very good at what it offers, even though they only have 4 record labels onboard. It's extremely popular here in The Netherlands. The fact that people get a premium account for free when upgrading their Internet speed helps.



    I really like it, don't use iTunes anymore.

     

    The problem is that if Apple ups the price they pay labels / artists, Spotify would have to raise prices or fold. Apple afford to not make money off music (if the handset sales themselves are subsidizing the ecosystem (that's also why Google or Amazon won't be hurt by Apple), but not Spotify. That's what I believe will happen.

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