Apple Music facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Key people |
|
| Launch date | June 30, 2015 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Pricing model | Student: US$5.99/month Individual: US$10.99/month Family: US$16.99/month |
| Availability | 167 countries; widely available in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, and in parts of Africa and the Middle East |
| Website |
|
Apple Music is a popular service from Apple Inc. that lets you listen to music and watch videos online. You can pick songs you want to hear whenever you like. You can also enjoy ready-made playlists.
The service also has live internet radio stations. These include Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country. They broadcast live all day, every day, to many countries. Apple Music was first announced on June 8, 2015. It officially started on June 30, 2015. New users can often get a free trial before they need to pay a monthly fee.
Apple Music started mainly with music. But in 2016, it began adding videos. The goal is for Apple Music to be a "cultural platform." This means it wants to be a place for all kinds of popular entertainment. Apple invests a lot in making and buying video content. This includes music videos, concert recordings, and even TV-style shows.
When Apple Music first launched on iOS devices, some people found it a bit tricky to use. But many liked its custom playlists and huge song library. They also liked how well it worked with other Apple devices. Later, the app was updated to be much easier to use. Apple Music quickly became very popular. It reached 10 million users in just six months. By November 2021, it had about 78 million paid users. In October 2022, the service offered over 100 million songs.
Contents
What is Apple Music?
Apple Music lets you listen to more than 100 million songs. You can choose any song you want to hear. The service also offers special playlists made by music experts. It suggests music based on what you like.
There are six live radio stations available 24 hours a day. These include Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits. These stations are free for everyone, even without a paid subscription. If you subscribe, you can create a profile. This lets you share music with friends. You can also see what your friends are listening to.
Apple Music works with iCloud. This means it can match your own music library with songs on the service. So, you can keep all your music in one place. The service also connects with Apple's other tools. These include Siri, the voice assistant, and AirPlay for streaming audio and video. You can also use Apple Music through a web browser.
How to use the app
The Apple Music app has five main sections. These are "Library," "Home," "Browse," "Radio," and "Search."
- The "Library" section shows all your music. You can see your playlists, artists, albums, and downloaded songs. It also shows music you recently added.
- The "Home" section suggests music just for you. It learns what you like to listen to. You can "Like" or "Dislike" songs to help it learn even better.
- "Browse" shows new albums and playlists made by the Apple Music team. It also has different categories like "Genres" and "Top Charts." In 2024, a new "New" feature was added. This feature is personalized for each listener.
- The "Radio" section has Apple Music Radio and other stations. These play music based on genres or artists. You can skip songs and see what played before.
- The "Search" section lets you find music. You can search for artists, albums, or songs by name or even by lyrics. It also shows popular searches.
When a song is playing, a "Now Playing" bar appears. From here, you can add the song to your library. You can also download it or like/dislike it. You can control what plays next. You can also shuffle or repeat songs. A cool feature lets you see the song's lyrics live as it plays.
Each artist has a page with their picture and a "Play" button. This button creates a radio station based on that artist. Artist pages also show their albums, singles, and top songs. You can create your own profile. This lets you follow friends and see what they are listening to.
You can also see your most played songs, artists, and albums of the year. This feature is called Apple Music Replay. It shows how much you listened to certain music. It also tells you which genres you enjoyed most. Apple Music Replay even creates a fun animation of your year in music.
Sound quality
Apple Music offers different sound qualities for listening.
- High Quality: This is standard sound, good for most listening.
- Lossless: This quality keeps all the original sound details. It's like listening to the music exactly as it was recorded.
- Hi-Res Lossless: This is an even higher quality. It offers the most detailed sound possible.
Where you can use it
Apple Music works on many devices. These include iOS devices (like iPhones and iPads). It also works on macOS computers and Windows PCs. You can use it on Apple Watch, Apple TV, and HomePod speakers.
It is also available on Android phones and ChromeOS devices. You can use it on Amazon Echo and Sonos speakers. Apple Music is also available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles. If your device doesn't have an app, you can use the web player.
History of Apple Music
How it started
Before Apple Music, Apple's iPod and iTunes changed how people listened to digital music. The former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, was not a fan of music subscription services. But in 2014, Apple bought a company called Beats Electronics. With this, Apple also got Beats' music service, Beats Music.
Apple then hired a famous radio DJ, Zane Lowe, to help pick music. People started hearing rumors that Apple was planning a new music streaming service. On June 7, 2015, a music executive named Doug Morris confirmed it. He said Apple would announce the service the next day. He believed Apple Music would help more people start streaming music.
Paying artists fairly
Before Apple Music launched, singer Taylor Swift spoke out. She was unhappy that Apple planned not to pay artists during the free trial period. She said this was "unfair" and decided not to put her album 1989 on the service.
The very next day, Apple changed its mind. An Apple executive announced that Apple Music would pay artists even during the free trial. Taylor Swift then happily put her album on Apple Music. She said it felt right to stream her music for the first time.
Launching the service
Apple Music was officially announced at an Apple event. It launched on June 30, 2015, in 100 countries. At first, new users got a three-month free trial. Now, the trial usually lasts for one month. There is also a family plan. This lets up to six people share a subscription at a lower price.
A special song by Pharrell Williams called "Freedom" was released only on Apple Music at launch. The service replaced Beats Music, and all Beats Music users could move their accounts to Apple Music.
In May 2016, Apple introduced a student membership. This cut the price of a subscription by half for eligible students. This plan started in a few countries and then expanded to many more. By April 2020, Apple Music was available in 167 countries around the world.
How many people use it
Apple Music grew very quickly. In January 2016, just six months after launching, it had 10 million paying users. This was as fast as its competitor, Spotify, took six years to reach. By June 2019, Apple Music had 60 million users.
As of June 2025, Apple Music has 93 million users worldwide. Its main competitor is Spotify, which has 640 million yearly users.
Adding videos and shows
Apple Music started adding more video content. In October 2015, Drake released his music video "Hotline Bling" only on Apple Music. In December, Apple Music also released a Taylor Swift tour documentary.
In 2016, Apple bought the rights to "Carpool Karaoke" from a TV show. This popular segment became a series on Apple Music. In 2017, Apple Music executives said they wanted the service to be a "cultural platform." This meant adding more TV-style shows and movies. They hired people to help create original video content.
On October 19, 2020, Apple launched Apple Music TV. This is a free, 24/7 channel focused on music videos. It's like the early days of MTV. It shows new music video premieres, artist specials, and live events. In May 2022, Apple Music started "Apple Music Live." This is a new series of live concert broadcasts.
Changes to plans and prices
In October 2021, Apple offered a cheaper "Voice plan." This plan let users access music only through Siri. However, this plan was stopped in November 2023.
In June 2022, the student plan price increased slightly in some countries. In October 2022, the prices for other Apple Music plans also went up in many regions. For example, the Individual plan increased by $1 per month.
Using Apple Music on other devices
In November 2015, Apple launched Apple Music for Android devices. This was a big step for Apple. In November 2018, Apple Music also became available on Amazon Echo speakers.
In September 2019, Apple released a web player for Apple Music. This lets users access their music library through a web browser. In January 2023, a new Apple Music app for Windows 11 was released. This app is replacing the older iTunes for Windows.
Other cool features
Apple has added personalized music playlists. These include "My New Music Mix" and "My Chill Mix." These playlists are made just for you.
In December 2018, Apple removed the "Connect" feature. Instead, they improved artist profiles. They also made it easier for users to share music and playlists with friends.
In November 2019, Apple launched Apple Music Replay. This is a year-end playlist. It shows your favorite songs from the whole year. It's similar to Spotify Wrapped. In 2020, Apple Music made deals with big music companies. This helped them offer even more songs from popular artists.
Since October 2020, Apple Music has been part of the Apple One bundle. This bundle includes several other Apple services. In May 2021, Apple announced that Apple Music would offer lossless audio. This means even better sound quality. It also added music mixed in Dolby Atmos for a surround sound experience. These features came at no extra cost.
In September 2022, Apple Music became the main sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show. This is a big event in sports and music. In December 2022, Apple introduced "Apple Music Sing." This is a karaoke feature. It shows real-time lyrics and lets you change the volume of the vocals.
In February 2024, software like Djay added support for DJing with Apple Music songs. In March 2025, Apple announced "DJ with Apple Music." This expanded support to other DJ software and hardware.
Most streamed songs
As of May 2023, the most streamed song ever on Apple Music is "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran. It has been played over 930 million times around the world.
Apple Music Classical
Screenshot of the Apple Music Classical app on Android 15
|
|
| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Launch date | March 28, 2023 |
| Platform(s) | iOS, iPadOS, Android |
| Pricing model | Included with Apple Music subscription |
| Availability | 161 countries Widely in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, and in parts of Africa and the Middle East |
| Website |
|
In August 2021, Apple bought a classical music streaming service called Primephonic. They announced plans for a new Apple Music app just for classical music. The Apple Music Classical app was released for iOS in March 2023. It came out for Android in May 2023 and for iPad in November 2023.
This app is only for Apple Music subscribers. It helps users find classical music easily. You can search by pieces, composers, or performers. The app also has information about composers and special playlists. Many recordings are updated for spatial audio. This makes the music sound like it's all around you. In September 2023, Apple also bought a classical music record label called BIS Records.
Apple Music Awards
Apple Music also has its own awards show. It celebrates top artists and songs each year.
| # | Year | Global Artist of the Year | Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Songwriter of the Year | Album of the Year | Song of the Year | Regional Artist of the Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019 | Billie Eilish | Lizzo | Billie Eilish, Finneas O'Connell | When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish | "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X | N/A | |
| 2 | 2020 | Lil Baby | Megan Thee Stallion | Taylor Swift | Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial by Roddy Ricch | "The Box" by Roddy Ricch | N/A | |
| 3 | 2021 | The Weeknd | Olivia Rodrigo | H.E.R. | Sour by Olivia Rodrigo | "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo | Wizkid (Nigeria) Aya Nakamura (France) RIN (Germany) Official Hige Dandism (Japan) Scriptonite (Russia) |
|
| 4 | 2022 | Bad Bunny | N/A | |||||
| 5 | 2023 | Taylor Swift | N/A | |||||
| 6 | 2024 | Billie Eilish | N/A | |||||
See also
- Apple Music 1 – Apple Music's live radio station
- Comparison of music streaming services
