Apple to Push Paid Streaming Music Service With Free Trials and SoundCloud-Like Sharing

Ahead of the rumored debut of Apple’s upcoming streaming music service, Re/code has shared several details on the initiative, sourced from industry insiders. As we’ve learned previously, Apple will charge $9.99 per month for the service and will not offer a freemium streaming tier as other music services like Spotify do, but the company is aiming to introduce ways to let people listen to some content for free.

First and foremost, Apple hopes to offer listeners a free trial period, which lasts between one and three months, letting them sample the music service for an extended period of time before opting for a full subscription. The length of the trial will depend on what Apple is able to negotiate with music companies.

Apple is also working on a feature that may let artists and music creators upload samples of songs that could be listened to without subscribing to the service. Re/code‘s sources are describing this as “something akin to SoundCloud.” SoundCloud is a music sharing platform that lets users upload and share originally-created music, and a similar feature within Apple’s new music service would give indie artists an easy way to share music while providing listeners with free content.

The third way Apple plans to potentially get music to listeners for free is through a revamp of iTunes Radio. We’ve heard hints of this previously, but the new version of iTunes Radio may feature stations that are curated by humans rather than computers, with different content available in different locales. New Apple hire BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe and other recently hired radio staff may spearhead this initiative.

Re/code‘s report also shares some details on the streaming music negotiations that have already landed Apple in a bit of hot water with various regulatory bodies, including the FTC and the Department of Justice in the United States and the European Commission. Apple has been attempting to convince music labels that ad-supported free streaming music does not generate enough revenue.

But as we have previously reported, Apple doesn’t intend to provide free, unlimited on-demand streaming, as competitors Spotify and YouTube do. In private meetings with label executives and other music industry figures, Apple has been arguing that free streaming won’t generate enough money for the industry via advertising, and doesn’t give enough people incentive to pay for subscriptions.

Apple is still working to complete deals ahead of the launch of the streaming service, but it is said to be on track for a WWDC debut. According to a report earlier this week, the streaming service will be introduced during the Worldwide Developers Conference in June and released later in the month alongside the public launch of iOS 8.4.

Apple’s streaming music service is built on its existing Beats music service, and will continue to focus on curated content. To draw in additional customers and to distinguish itself from competing services, Apple is planning to offer a range of exclusive content. There are also plans to rebrand and revamp the music service, deeply integrating it into iTunes and the newly revamped Music app introduced in iOS 8.4.

MacRumors Giveaway: Win an AyeGear Jacket That Holds All Your Tech Gadgets [iOS Blog]

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with AyeGear to give two lucky winners a chance to win an item of clothing capable of holding tons of gear. AyeGear makes jackets, travel vests, hoodies, and t-shirts with an abundance of pockets that can hold the iPhone, iPad, accessories, and more.

AyeGear’s J25 Jacket, for example, is so named because it has 25 separate pockets inside that can hold everything from an iPad or a MacBook to an iPhone and a passport. The sleeves can also be removed, so it can be worn as a vest.

The H13 Hoodie looks like a standard fleece hoodie, but it’s got 13 pockets inside to hold an iPad, iPhone, credit cards, and a water bottle. It’s also got touch pockets so you can access your devices without even removing them from the sweatshirt. AyeGear sells several similar products with a range of pockets, offering two vests, a t-shirt, two hoodies, and two types of jackets.

We are giving away one article of clothing to two separate winners. Each winner will be able to choose from a jacket, hoodie, vest, or t-shirt, in any size or color, which will be shipped to their doorstep.

To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the intricacies of international law regarding giveaways, this giveaway is open only to U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older.
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The giveaway will run from today, Friday, May 8 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time through Friday May 15 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Winners will be chosen randomly on May 15 and will be contacted through email. A response to our email is required within 48 hours or the winner will forfeit the prize and we will pick a new winner.