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Taylor Swift slams Apple for skimping on Music royalties during trials
Taylor Swift isn't just miffed at Spotify for its low payouts to musicians... she has a beef with Apple, too. The pop star has written an open letter saying that Apple Music won't get her latest album, 1989, because the service isn't paying artists or producers during subscribers' 3-month trial period. According to Swift, it's not about her own cut. She's more concerned about the "young songwriter" who's counting on that first single to stay afloat. While she's a fan of Apple steering listeners toward paid streaming, she doesn't think that it's fair to ask people to "work for nothing," especially when the iPhone maker has plenty of spare change to spend.
Apple won't pay royalties during Music's trial period
A leaked Apple Music contract surfaced last week containing details about how it plans to compensate indie labels for music streamed during the trial period. According to the document Apple won't pay royalties to independent music labels -- or unsigned artists, we'd imagine -- while users test drive the app. Re/code confirmed that the company won't pay royalties to any labels, major or indie, for tracks users stream during the trial in an interview with Apple's Robert Kondrk, an executive who is in on the negotiations.
Spotify builds a war chest to compete with Apple Music
Now that Apple is launching a streaming music service, Spotify is going door-to-door to drum up backing for its forthcoming war. Of course, it doesn't need moral support as much as cash, and investors must think it's a safe bet, since they've stumped-up $526 million to the company's fighting fund. As the Wall Street Journal reports, that means that finance-orientated types believe that Spotify is worth more than $8.5 billion -- a pretty penny for a business that's never made a profit.
Two states are looking at Apple's deals with record labels
It's no secret that both Apple and music labels are less than fond of free music streaming from Spotify and other services, but are they conspiring together to hurt these services in favor of pay-only options like Apple Music? Not if you ask the attorneys general of Connecticut and New York state. Both of them have accepted a statement from Universal Music Group swearing that it isn't illegally blocking free tunes, indicating that antitrust regulators didn't find evidence of collusion between UMG, rival labels and Apple.
Apple Music still needs tuning
Apple Music: As simple as the name is, what it offers is surprisingly complex. It bundles in a streaming service, a 24/7 radio network and a whole new social outreach tool for artists. Oh, and you'll use the same Apple Music app to access all your regular iTunes purchased music too. As soon as June 30th rolls around, the new Apple Music app will be the default one-stop shop for music on devices with iOS 8.4 and up (assuming you'll cough up $9.99 a month for an individual subscription or $14.99 for a family sub for up to six people). Senior Editor Chris Velazco and I had some quality time with the app post-keynote, and while we appreciate what Apple is trying to do to win the hearts and minds of music fans, it's still very much a work in progress.
Apple WWDC 2015: the numbers you need to know
It's Monday. The work week just started and the last thing you need is to spend two hours of it watching Apple's WWDC 2015 keynote address. But fear not, even if you missed it, you can still get all the juicy rumors, teasers and event highlights right here. Think of it as a tl;dr but, you know, for press conferences.
Apple Music vs. the competition: A streaming music cheat sheet
The past few years have seen a shift from owning music to accessing as much as you want on various streaming services. Why pay $9.99 for a new album each month when you can get a firehose of content for the same price? Now Apple looks to get in on the action with its newest offering, Apple Music. They made a big splash with the introduction of the iTunes store in 2003 but here in 2015 there's a lot more competition for your listening attention. Does Apple Music have what it takes to stand out from its more established rivals? We've stacked up some of the bigger names to see which one can give you the most for your money.
Apple Music launches June 30th, comes to Android this fall
You won't have to wait very long to give Apple Music a spin... even if you don't use any Apple gear. The Cupertino crew has announced that the $10-per-month streaming service will be available on iOS, Macs and Windows PCs on June 30th in 100 countries, and it'll arrive on both Android and Apple TV this fall. Yes, you read that last part correctly -- for the first time, an Apple-branded app (not just Beats) will launch on Google's mobile platform. The move was undoubtedly necessary if Apple wanted to take on Spotify and other rivals, so we wouldn't call this a kind gesture. Still, it's good news if you've ever wished that Apple would branch out and give you a chance to try some of its bigger phone-friendly services without buying its devices.
Apple Music unites streaming, radio and social for $10 a month
It's finally here. Well, it will be soon, but at least the announcement is official. At WWDC today, Jimmy Iovine revealed Apple Music: the long-rumored music service that follows the purchase of Beats last year and it provides all of your music content in a single app. That's a streaming service, radio, album purchases and more all in the same place. Yes, you read that correctly: radio. Apple will offer live radio 24 hours a day with stations that are curated by real humans -- like Beats Music's playlists. What's more, over 30 million iTunes songs will be available for streaming or saving for listening offline. There are recommendations based on your listening habits too, but instead of using some algorithm to find something you may like, experts "who know and love music" will serve up the suggestions. For artists, Apple Music has Connect where they can post exclusive tracks, tour photos, new material and more, giving fans a glance at what's going on behind the scenes. So, what about unsigned artists? They can share music through Apple's new effort, too.
Sony Music chief says Apple's streaming service arrives 'tomorrow'
In case there was any doubt that Apple is unveiling its self-branded streaming music service at the Worldwide Developer Conference this week, one loose-lipped executive just let the cat out of the bag. Sony Music CEO Doug Morris told guests at the Midem Music Industry Festival that Apple's announcement of the Beats-based service is "happening tomorrow" (that is, at the WWDC keynote). He didn't confirm any rumors surrounding features or pricing, but he believed that Apple's offering would represent a "tipping point" where streaming hits the mainstream. However popular Spotify may be, it generally doesn't advertise because it's "never been profitable," Morris said -- Apple has both the cash to market its service and hundreds of millions of potential subscribers. Whether the exec is realistic or looking through rose-tinted glasses, you'll know the truth in a matter of hours. [Image credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images for Apple]
Apple music service will give artists control over what they share
Apple's oft-rumored, Beats-based streaming music service may have more to offer artists than a big wad of cash. Tipsters for 9to5Mac claim that the service (reportedly called just "Apple Music") will give artists the freedom to share things beyond their latest songs -- they could post music videos, concert details, photos and track samples, even if the content is from other performers. Think of it as an amped-up SoundCloud page, or a take on Apple's defunct Ping network that people might actually use. Artist activity is reportedly big enough that it'll be a "core feature," and you'd see it in the Android, iOS and desktop versions. Apple isn't confirming any of these details, as you might imagine, but previous rumors of a WWDC debut suggest that you'll hear more about this musician-friendly platform in early June. [Image credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images for Apple]
