Editing Apple Music (section)

==History==

===Background and Acquisition of Beats===
Apple's entry into music streaming was preceded by several strategic acquisitions. In 2009, Apple acquired Lala Media, a cloud-based music service, gaining early expertise in streaming technology. In May 2014, Apple announced its $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics, which included the nascent Beats Music subscription platform launched earlier that year, providing Apple with proprietary recommendation algorithms, editorial talent, and a foothold in human-curated playlists. 

As part of the acquisition, Beats co-founders [[Jimmy Iovine]] and [[Dr. Dre]] joined Apple as executive employees. Music industry veteran Zane Lowe was also hired as a lead music curator. Beats Music CEO Ian Rogers was made responsible for overseeing both Beats Music and Apple's ad-supported iTunes Radio service. 

===Launch (2015)===
At WWDC in June 2015, Tim Cook announced Apple Music, doing so as a "one more thing" after iOS 9 and Mac OS X El Capitan.  The service debuted as an updated Music app in the iOS 8.4 update. 

Apple Music launched on June 30, 2015, in over 100 countries, initially priced at $9.99/month for individuals and $14.99/month for families of up to six members, with a 3-month free trial period. 

Upon its launch, Beats Music subscriptions and playlists were migrated to Apple Music, and the Beats Music service was discontinued.  Beats Music formally shut down on November 30, 2015.

Prior to launch, Apple Music attracted controversy when singer-songwriter [[Taylor Swift]] wrote an open letter criticizing Apple's policy of not paying artists during the free trial period. She said the policy was "unfair" as "Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those months."  Apple subsequently reversed the policy and agreed to pay artists during trial periods.

===Expansion and Development (2016–2021)===
In 2016, Apple overhauled the Apple Music interface with the release of iOS 10, significantly improving usability following criticism of the original design. In May 2016, a student membership was announced, discounting the regular subscription price by 50%. 

Apple Music also moved into original video content during this period. In July 2016, Apple acquired Carpool Karaoke from The Late Late Show with James Corden, with the series premiering on Apple Music on August 8, 2017. 

On August 18, 2020, Beats 1 was rebranded as Apple Music 1, coinciding with the introduction of two additional stations: Apple Music Hits, focusing on popular tracks from the 1980s to early 2000s, and Apple Music Country, dedicated to contemporary and emerging country music. 

===Pricing Changes (2022)===
On October 24, 2022, Apple announced price increases across standard Apple Music subscriptions. The Individual plan increased $1 to $10.99/month, the Family plan increased $2 to $16.99/month, and the Annual plan increased $10 to $109/year. 

On September 22, 2022, Apple announced a multi-year deal with the NFL to have Apple Music become the main sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show beginning with Super Bowl LVII. 

===10th Anniversary and Record Growth (2025)===
Apple Music had its best year ever in 2025, breaking records across both listenership and new subscribers. The service marked its 10-year anniversary with its biggest product feature release since launch and the opening of a brand new state-of-the-art studio, while also expanding its reach beyond the Apple ecosystem. 

As of August 2025, Apple Music had 94 million subscribers.  Industry analysts estimate the service crossed 100 million subscribers at some point during 2025, though Apple has not officially confirmed this figure.