Apple unveils music-streaming service

Los Angeles Times (TNS)

san francisco

Apple officially announced its much-anticipated streaming service, Apple Music, that will take on the likes of Spotify and Pandora.

The new Apple music app includes on-demand streaming similar to Spotify and a 24-hour live radio station called Beats 1, the company’s executives said at its developer conference in San Francisco on Monday.

Apple Music launches in 100 countries June 30 for iPhone, iPod and iPod Touch devices, followed by Windows and Android devices in the fall.

As expected, the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant said its on-demand streaming service will cost the industry standard of $9.99 a month, with a free trial of three months. Apple also will offer a family plan that allows six people to share a $14.99-a-month subscription.

“Apple Music is all the ways you love music, all in one place,” said iTunes head Eddy Cue while introducing the service.

The on-demand feature will make personalized music recommendations based on users’ tastes. Users also will be able to use the voice command app Siri to ask for music by saying “Play ‘Born to Run’” or “Play the top song from May, 1982.” Subscribers also will keep access to their iTunes libraries.

Nonsubscribers still will be able to listen to Beats 1, which features DJs such as Zane Lowe, with interviews and news.

Apple also unveiled a feature called Connect that allows artists, even unsigned ones, to upload new music, videos and other materials in order to reach fans.

The announcement comes less than a year after Apple completed its purchase of Beats, founded by moguls Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, for $3 billion.