What Apple’s New Music Streaming Service Will Mean for Underpaid Songwriters

Although subscription-based music services have existed for more than a decade, many still wonder whether Apple Music will again revolutionize the music business, like iTunes.
What Apple’s New Music Streaming Service Will Mean for Underpaid Songwriters
Jimmy Iovine announces Apple Music during Apple WWDC on June 8, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple's annual developers conference runs through June 12. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Earlier this month, Apple launched its long-awaited subscription-only music streaming service. Costing less than US$10 per month, Apple Music will compete head on with Pandora, Spotify, YouTube and Tidal.

Although subscription-based music services have existed for more than a decade, many still wonder whether Apple Music will again revolutionize the music business, like iTunes. The more important question, however, is what Apple’s entry to the music streaming business will mean for underpaid songwriters.

The Promise of Online Streaming

Online streaming offers many benefits. It allows music fans to access content anytime, anywhere. If Apple Music can include a wider variety of music than Pandora and Spotify, it will move us closer to what commentators have referred to as the “celestial jukebox“ – the proverbial place where music is always at our fingertips.

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