Apple Music poised to overtake Spotify in US, possibly this summer
Assuming current subscriber growth rates hold steady, Apple Music should surpass Spotify -- if only in the U.S. -- sometime this summer, a report claimed on Sunday.
In that country Apple is adding subscribers at a rate of 5 percent per month versus Spotify's 2, record industry sources told the Wall Street Journal. One of the sources added that if people in free or discounted trial periods are included, Apple Music already has a slight advantage.
In fact Apple allegedly has three to four times the number of trial users as Spotify, simply because it doesn't offer a free ad-based tier -- anyone who signs up for Apple Music's three-month trial must either cancel or pay.
Nevertheless, Spotify maintains a large worldwide lead. It has upwards of 70 million paid Premium subscribers, and at least as many free listeners, whereas Apple told the Journal that it now has 36 million subscribers in total. This is despite Spotify being available in just 61 markets versus Apple's 115.
Apple Music is deeply integrated into Apple devices, including the upcoming HomePod, but Spotify launched in 2008 and is largely credited with spearheading on-demand music streaming. The latter has its own advantages, such as dedicated clients, and integration with a host of platforms and devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The HomePod will only support Apple Music, iTunes, and AirPlay.
In that country Apple is adding subscribers at a rate of 5 percent per month versus Spotify's 2, record industry sources told the Wall Street Journal. One of the sources added that if people in free or discounted trial periods are included, Apple Music already has a slight advantage.
In fact Apple allegedly has three to four times the number of trial users as Spotify, simply because it doesn't offer a free ad-based tier -- anyone who signs up for Apple Music's three-month trial must either cancel or pay.
Nevertheless, Spotify maintains a large worldwide lead. It has upwards of 70 million paid Premium subscribers, and at least as many free listeners, whereas Apple told the Journal that it now has 36 million subscribers in total. This is despite Spotify being available in just 61 markets versus Apple's 115.
Apple Music is deeply integrated into Apple devices, including the upcoming HomePod, but Spotify launched in 2008 and is largely credited with spearheading on-demand music streaming. The latter has its own advantages, such as dedicated clients, and integration with a host of platforms and devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The HomePod will only support Apple Music, iTunes, and AirPlay.
Comments
Apple Music is available on Android.
Thank you Jony Ive.
>:x
I.e. some of my fav bands are "This Will Destroy You" and "Mogwai", post-rock stuff you might say. If I ask to create a station based on that, the very next song it played was a dance song by Moby?!
It's also very USA chart-music orientated imho - I searched through the playlists and found one titles "80s/90s hip hop" - I expected some real old skool rap (before it was all swearing and guns) but no, it was destinys child and missy elliot!?
Spotify on the other hand creates excellent radio stations with truly similar stuff, things I might like. I really like it's daily playlists that it creates for whatever mood I might be in. So easy to use in comparison.
Wrong.
Apple Music is part of the ecosystem that hugely supports the sales of Apple Hardware. Think about it: Despite having a small minority of all smartphone sales, personal computers and TV devices, Apple Music has more than HALF of Spotify's subscribers and is on track to overtake Spotify in some markets - particularly the United States.
Apple Music's users are more educated and wealthier than Spotify's users. They end up spending more on Apple products including Apple Apps.
Apple Music is part of Apple's Services Division which is now as big as a DOW 100 company. The Services Devision is growing faster than the other parts of Apple - including the iPhone. And it now makes more money than the entire World Wide Movies market.
1. Siri integration for any App will occur once Apple releases an API that can be used by any App.
2. Spotify should make its own hardware if it wants to compete with hardware manufacturers in the hardware market.
Actually, let him believe that integration means Spotify plays on nearly anything these days. That is actually better for Apple since Apple doesn't have a monopoly.
Spotify is doomed.
First, Spotify hardly makes money.
Second, Congress just passed a law that will TRIPLE the amount of money music streamers have to pay for music to artists and copyright owners of the music. Spotify will HURT a lot.
A big reason is that Spotify pays for the music it streams to its FREE users - half of its users. It will now have to pay TRIPLE.
http://nmpa.org/press_release/crb-dramatically-increases-rates-for-songwriters/
I mean even I who don't have LTE version will still be able to put AirPods in, double tap it & says "play 70s Rock Playlist" & it will play, without touching my phone once. How convenient is that.
When I tried Spotify for free for a month, nothing convinced me to continue. Nothing wow me. The app is just so-so, and I couldn't even upload my own music. Duh.
The algorithm that people above said is far superior is just worse than what Apple Music gave. Maybe it's just the case of who has your personal information more rather than how good the algorithm is? Even Jim Dalrymple who criticised Apple Music harshly so many times has admitted the station he created gave him perfect songs almost every time.
At this time, there's nothing in Spotify that will beat Apple Music. And when iOS 11.3 released it will be even better when music video got integrated in. The first poster is right. Apple has all the time, and all the money, to make it better & better. I wouldn't bet against them... so long as Eddy Cue won't interfere in it.