Curated playlists and catch-up shows will require an Apple Music subscription.
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That’s one way to further boost your subscriber numbers: Apple told users of its iTunes Radio service that they will have to subscribe to Apple Music’s paid subscription tier to access the service in the near future. Moving forward, Beats 1 will serve as the company’s only premier on-demand streaming radio.
iTunes Radio was launched in 2013 and was available to users in the United States and Australia. Those unwilling to part with cash will have to make do with Apple’s online radio station Beats 1 and – if and when they arrive – Beats 2 and Beats 3 and Beats North and Beats For Tea, and whatever other manifestations of the occasionally listened to radio service may or may not materialise.
As a listener of ad-supported radio on Apple Music, we want you to know that it is being discontinued starting January 28.
iTunes Radio also offered genre stations, and supported its free streaming with advertising. Or you can create your own stations based on your favorite songs and artists. BuzzFeed News reports that the two moves are “directly related”, citing a source familiar with the situation, Apple appears to be stepping away from ads as a source of revenue overall. Although it’s known primarily for its a la carte streaming, Spotify’s radio service works a lot like both Pandora and iTunes Radio.
A subscription to Apple Music costs $9.99 a month or $14.99 for a family subscription.
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You can read the full e-mail that was sent out to iTunes customers, below.
