Release

All About Apple Music: Features, Costs, and Device Support

Published January 30, 2024

If you're curious about Apple Music, here's a comprehensive guide that explains what it is, how it operates, and the cost associated with it. Apple Music is a streaming service similar to Spotify, hosting an impressive catalog of over 100 million songs. With Apple Music, you can listen to your tunes offline, manage all your music in one hub, enjoy radio stations, and utilize Siri for voice commands.

What Exactly is Apple Music?

Launched in 2015, Apple Music succeeded the defunct Beats Music after Apple acquired Beats Electronics. Not only does it let you stream iTunes music on demand, but it aggregates all your music from various sources in one spot. It boasts personalized recommendations, radio stations like Apple Music 1, and the ability to download songs for offline enjoyment.

Cost of Apple Music

Apple Music starts with a one-month free trial, followed by several plans. The Individual Plan is $9.99 a month, the Family Plan for six members is $14.99 a month, and the University Student Plan is priced at $4.99 a month. There is also the Voice Plan, restricted to Siri usage, that costs $4.99 a month. An Apple One bundle offers these services alongside others like Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade for added savings, with Individual, Family, and Premier tiers.

Device Compatibility

Apple Music isn't just limited to Apple devices. You can stream on iOS devices, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Mac, PC, HomePod, as well as Android phones, Sonos, Google Home, and Amazon Echo among others.

Subscription Necessity and Benefits

A paid Apple Music subscription unlocks the full experience, but without it, you can still enjoy music you've bought or uploaded. iTunes Match subscribers can access their uploaded iCloud music and enjoy the Apple Music 1 radio station ad-supported.

Accessing Apple Music on Various Devices

Apple Music can be accessed on numerous devices including iOS devices, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Macs, PCs, and smart speakers. Depending on the device, you may need to download the Apple Music app or update to the latest software version.

Navigation and Interaction with Apple Music

When you first subscribe to Apple Music, you'll experience a music-tailoring process to gauge your preferences. The easy-to-use interface includes tabs like Listen Now, Browse, Radio, Library, and Search to help you find and enjoy your music. Apple Music offers features like personalized stations, lyric views, playlist creation, music sharing, and more.

Extra Features: Apple Music TV and Apple Music Classical

Apple Music TV offers a 24-hour music video channel, while Apple Music Classical is a dedicated app focusing on classical music – both accessible with an Apple Music subscription.

Maximizing Apple Music Usage

To enhance your Apple Music experience, there are various tips and tricks available such as fine-tuning EQ settings, creating stations based on your favorite songs, using SharePlay, and exploring Replay to review your yearly music listens.

Apple Music Alternatives

While Apple Music is popular, there are other alternatives such as Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, Deezer, and Tidal, all of which offer streaming options with offline listening features.

Apple, Music, Streaming