Apple introduced its Music subscription service at its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which included a live performance by Drake. Since then Apple Music has received mixed reviews although the company hoped it would take on rivals including Spotify and Tidal, and boost iTunes revenue. The tech giant reportedly hopes to roll out an improved Apple Music for iOS 10 at next month's WWDC.
Apple gave Music subscribers a 3-month free trial to test the streaming service and within a couple weeks over 11 million people signed up. However, analytics firm MusicWatch reported that almost half of the subscribers canceled before the trial period was half over, according The Guardian.
There were various reasons why Music subscribers pulled out before their $10 monthly fees started. They included its royalties program that upset famous artists including Taylor Swift, a confusing user interface (UI), and upgrades that bungled users' existing iTunes libraries.
Since then several executives from Apple's Beats subsidiary have left the company that manufactures iPhones, iPads, and Macs. However, a Bloomberg report reveals that Apple has plans to relaunch the subscription service in June.
The report did not include many details about how Apple Music would be improved. However, there are many steps the company could take.
Apple Music could have a simpler UI like the California company's past products. Fewer options would be very helpful on tiny smartphone screens.
In addition, the music streaming service could get more free radio stations. It currently only offers the Beats One radio station, which makes it difficult to justify a $120 one-year subscription.
Apple could also improve the desktop/web clients. It could use a basic desktop app or web client instead of complex iTunes software.
Due to the increasing use of ad-blocking software, many subscribers would likely prefer a free-ad supported version of Apple Music. For example, Spotify has 20 million paying users. That is just one-third of its 55 million free users.
In related news, Apple has just lost a trademark battle in China over the use of "IPHONE," according to BBC. This will allow Xintong Tiandi to include the name on various leather goods including phone cases and handbags.
Here's an Apple Music review: