Official: Apple killing off Beats Music

Apple is on November 30 killing off Beats Music, the streaming service it acquired as part of its US$3 billion Beats Audio deal in May 2014.

The service, which was replaced by Apple Music in June, has not been accepting new subscribers since the northern summer. Current subscribers can move their picks and preferences over to Apple Music with three months of free listening.

According to a statement from Apple, “All the pros that curated music for you are still crafting more amazing experiences. Plus, on Apple Music, you’ll get even better recommendations based on music you already listen to and love, 24/7 global radio with Beats 1, exciting material from your favourite artist, and more.”

It omitted to mention that while Beats users could enjoy support for Sonos streaming devices, Apple Music is yet to launch on Sonos reportedly due to compatibility issues. Apple had promised to do so by the end of 2015.

However Apple has released an Android app for Apple Music, as promised. It marks the first proper Apple app to launch on Google’s mobile platform.

Beats never received the traction that Apple Music has received since its launch this year, with 15 million users and 6.5 million paid subscribers.

Beats Music was developed in 2012 code-named Daisy. That July it bought online music service MOG for between $10 million to $16 million. In December it hired Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails as Chief Creative Officer. It offered personalisation based on user listening habits alongside curating from music industry executives, radio presenters, music journalists and songwriters.

It launched in the US in January 2014, with Telstra announcing at the time that Australia would become the second country to get it.

Beats Music offered a library of 20 million songs for streaming or downloading, and song searches based on activities, moods, and genres. By the time it was bought by Apple, it was valued the company at “slightly less than $500 million”, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In other news, Seattle-based startup Boomio has closed its music streaming app after a year. It may be retweaking its features before bringing it back.