Apple Music’s competitors in China already include services from Tencent, Baidu, and Netease, but all face the challenge of convincing listeners who have spent years downloading pirated music that on-demand streaming is a more attractive alternative.
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Apple Inc. has announced to offer its new music-streaming service along with movies and e-books to audiences in China.
“Customers in China love the App Store and have made it our largest market in the world for app downloads”, said Eddy Cue.
Apple Music, iTunes Movies, and iBooks are available today for all music, movie and book fans all over China, with a three-month trial for Apple Music for all users.
Users in China can now also avail at rent Chinese and English language movies for just 5 Yuan or around $0.79 apiece. There’s little doubt that Google’s decision was influenced by the fact that Apple Music subscribers can opt for a $14.99/month family plan that also allows for up to six simultaneous users. Apple also offers users the possibility to read a few of the latest novels including the “Twilight” saga, the official message wrote.
It was free for the first three months, and initially Apple didn’t plan to pay royalties.
Apple products mainly the iPhones fetched about Dollars 17 billion revenue in the first quarter in China making it the second biggest market for the company after the US. Apple Music is the same $15 flat rate as Google Play All Access.
Despite the discount, experts think Apple is fighting an uphill battle thanks to China’s well-known piracy market. For a limited time only, the recent film “The Taking of Tiger Mountain” will be available for free to Chinese customers.
A selection of paid and free digital books in Chinese were on the shelves of the iBooks Store, according to Apple.
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Motion pictures on iTunes will begin at 5 yuan for leasing in top notch and 18 yuan for purchasing new discharges in superior quality, the organization said.
