Is Apple Music planning a free tier with limited track skips?
Apple may be exploring new ways to enjoy Apple Music according to hints spotted in the company's Android app
Apple may be planning a new Apple Music music streaming tier that limits the number of skip listeners can make, potentially in exchange for a cheaper monthly fee, or even ad-supported access.
Code strings found in the Apple Music for Android beta by MacRumors’ analyst Aaron Perris feature references like “can’t skip any more tracks” and “premium access required”.
Considering Apple Music is currently single tier – paid-only and ad-free – it suggests the company may be at least testing or laying the groundwork for a Spotify-like approach where some features exist only behind a Premium paywall.
Currently, Spotify offers unlimited skips to paying customers, along with the ability to choose any song from any album whenever you wish. Free users are limited to six song skips per hour and randomised track playback.
Could Apple be planning to go a similar route? Or is this to do with something like radio stations Apple may be planning to the Apple Music proposition? It would be very surprising if it was the former, based upon the company’s previous attitude to offering music for free.
In an interview with Bloomberg just last month Apple Music head Oliver Schusser described a free tier as a “terrible idea”.
He said: “I’m sure you’ve heard me say this: I think “free” was a terrible idea. Apple Music is the only service that doesn’t have a free tier, and believe it or not, we are really proud of that.”
Apple does offer very, very regular free trials to users when signing up through various means. I’ve had plenty even though I’ve been a member before. So it isn’t completely averse if it reckons it has a chance of snapping up users. We wait and see. With WWDC next week, it’s possible we may hear more about this sooner rather than later.
Chris Smith
