Apple announced a major expansion to its digital content offerings on Wednesday local China time as the company introduced the huge Asian market to Apple Music, iTunes Movies and iBooks services.
Apple on Tuesday began sending out messages to Apple Music listeners, pressuring them to renew their subscriptions in advance of the first three-month trials expiring at the end of September.
Apple on Monday introduced a "Guided Tours" section to its Apple Music minisite, demonstrating some of the service's core functions in a series of videos.
During this year's Emmys, which aired Sunday, Apple debuted the first in a series of three Apple Music ads promoting playlist features with the help of singer Mary J. Blige and actresses Taraji P. Henson and Kerry Washington.
Apple on Monday unveiled four additions to its Apple Music "Discovery" series, which throws a spotlight on p and coming artists, featuring musicians Flo Morrissey, Leon Bridges, Flying Lotus and Shamir.
The forthcoming Apple Music Festival in London continues to take shape, with a trio of powerhouse pop acts added to the lineup on Tuesday: Mumford & Sons, Carrie Underwood, and Ellie Goulding, plus special guests.
Apple still has "a bit of homework to be done" throughout the rest of 2015 to improve Apple Music, including fixing problems with the service's interface and handling of local iTunes libraries, an iTunes International VP said on Thursday.
Apple on Wednesday revealed more information about its upcoming Apple Music Festival slated to kick off later this month, adding The Weeknd, The Chemical Brothers, James Bay, Leon Bridges and Take That to the list of artists set to perform live in front of UK fans.
The recent launch of Apple Music — while important to the future development of iTunes — is also thought to be part of a larger effort to push consumers toward Apple's long-rumored web television service by softening the ground for monthly subscriptions.
Former Apple Music executive Ian Rogers is reportedly headed to a new role at French luxury multinational LVMH — a firm with which Apple has some connections.
Taking advantage of a traditionally large and young viewing audience, Apple during Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards debuted two Apple Music commercials featuring The Weeknd and a guest appearance by John Travolta.
Google debuted its own streaming service in 2013 as Google Play Music All Access, after Google Play music's initial debut in 2011. All Access was initially priced at $9.99, but in June of 2015, Google unsurprisingly unveiled an ad-supported, free version to differentiate itself from Apple's subscription Music service.
Jay Z-backed music service Tidal — which carried a live stream of Lil Wayne's Hurricane Katrina benefit show this weekend — cut the transmission during Drake's performance and accused Apple of "interfering with artistry" by not allowing the set to be streamed, a charge which has been refuted.
Apple this week confirmed a Sept. 9 press event, even as last-minute rumors about it continued to flow. The company simultaneously dealt with economic tumult, as well as losing one of its key Apple Music executives.
One of the core Beats executives Apple acquired in its 2014 $3 billion takeover, Ian Rogers, has already left the company to pursue other ventures outside of the music streaming business, a report revealed on Friday.
With the summer coming to a close, news also seemed to pick up this week — encompassing some large legal and financial developments for Apple, and all but spelling out plans to launch new iPhones next month.
An Apple job opening posted on Friday suggests that the company is looking to expand links between Siri and Apple Music, presumably in the form of new voice commands.
Commenting on a recent survey conducted by research firm MusicWatch, which claimed only 52 percent of Apple Music trial customers still use the service, Apple said the actual attrition rate is closer to 21 percent.
Most consumers still using the three-month free trial of Apple Music say they are likely to continue paying for a subscription after the period ends, new survey data shows, though a significant portion may have dropped off soon after trying the service.
Apple on Tuesday local London time announced start dates for its upcoming UK-based Apple Music Festival, née iTunes Festival, as well as an initial set list including headliners Pharrell Williams, One Direction, Florence + The Machine and Disclosure.
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AppleInsider Staff
Roger Fingas
Mikey Campbell
Jonathan Lace
Sam Oliver
