Revealed: Apple’s plans for Beats Music US relaunch

Apple’s relaunch of its acquired Beats Music streaming service will be available in the US in June, and it could undercut the market leader’s Premium subscribers.

According to 9to5Mac, an ‘insider’ website for the tech community and Apple users, Apple’s streaming service won’t be launched with Beats branding in March as previously reported. It will launch in early June with branding consistent with its iTunes design during Apple’s annual Worldwide DevelopersConference(WWDC) conference in San Fransisco.

9to5Mac believes Apple’s streaming service will be cheaper than Premium subscription prices offered by US streaming market leaders Spotify, Rdio and Deezer. Whilst the aforementioned are priced at around $US9.99 a month, 9to5Mac said Apple will be charging $US7.99, following discussions with labels and rights-holders.

The service will apparently be integrated into new versions of the music application for iOS, iTunes, and Apple TV, as per direction fromiTunes VP Robert Kondrk, co-founder Jimmy Iovine, Beats Music CEO Ian Rogers and Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails, How To Destroy Angels). The new, integrated versions will team Beats’ subscription streaming with users’ music libraries, enabling users to switch between their own downloaded music and streamed tracks on the one platform.

TMN has learned that all marketing and publicity for Beats Music is now being done in-house, including locally.

9to5Mac also reports that Apple will keepits iTunes Match, iTunes Store, and iTunes Radioservices. Apple launched iTunes Radio in 2013to take on internet radio giant Pandora, however Pandora is still building its subscriber base with news just last week that it had passed 50 billion thumbs – the equivalent to seven thumbs for every person on Earth.