MANILA, Philippines – Apple announced Monday, June 8 (June 9 Manila time) it was launching a new app centered around providing Apple users with a unified music-listening experience for all their needs. 

Dubbed Apple Music, the app combines a streaming music service, a worldwide, round-the-clock live radio station, and a new way for music fans to check on and connect with the artists they love.

Apple Music

Aside from being the name of the app, Apple Music is the name of the company’s streaming music service, a potentially strong competitor against the likes of Spotify.

Beginning with the existing music that you already have, Apple Music’s catalog boasts some 30 million songs, along with human-curated music suggestions for your listening pleasure, as well as Siri-enhanced search functions for finding specific songs or songs that you want to hear from a particular time in music history.

Apple Music Radio

The second aspect of Apple Music is Apple Music Radio’s Beats 1: a 24/7 live radio station led by DJs Zane Lowe in Los Angeles, Ebro Darden in New York, and Julie Adenuga in London.

The music on Beats 1 will be divided into stations that range in genres, and with one special feature of paid membership being the ability to skip songs to get to the ones you really want to groove to. Aside from music, Beats 1 will offer interviews, guest hosts and the latest in music news.

Apple Music Connect

Lastly, Apple Music Connect is a sort of built-in social media center for artists to stay in touch with their fans. Artists can use Apple Music connect to share lyrics, pictures, videos, and songs with fans.

Fans can then choose to like, comment, or share the content of the artist through Facebook, Twitter, email, or Apple’s messaging functions, with the added bonus that artists can respond directly to comments.

Apple Music will be available beginning June 30 for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac, along with the PC. Apple Music will also head to Apple TVs and Android phones in the fall. 

While the first 3 months of Apple Music use are free beginning June 30, a $9.99 monthly subscription fee will follow the free period. A family plan supporting up to 6 family members will also be available for a $14.99 monthly subscription, provided families have iCloud family sharing enabled. – Rappler.com