At the iPhone keynote in September, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue noted that Apple Music had garnered 17 million subscribers since launch. Now, Apple has confirmed subscriber numbers have gone up to 20 million. This 3 million increase has happened in just three months, and is a significant milestone for Apple's music streaming app.
Even though Apple Music adoption is growing fast, it still currently lags behind Spotify, which enjoys 40 million subscribers. It's important to note that Apple has managed this feat in just a year, while Spotify has been around for a while.
"It's been quite a year. We were thrilled to see that we could take [artists'] passions and drive them all the way to No. 1. Chance the Rapper, who we put on Apple Music exclusively, hit the top 10 on the Billboard charts [based on streams alone], and I can't recall that being done before," Cue told Billboard.
Apple also said that 60 percent of customers using its music streaming service haven't purchased music from iTunes in the last 12 months, and Cue clarifies to Billboard that the "vast majority are new customers". The company added that the service is available in over 100 countries, and that more than half of the total 20 million subscribers live outside the US, in markets such as Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and Brazil - states the company.
Talking about this year's numbers alone, Apple Music has managed to rope in 10 million subscribers, while Spotify managed 12 million. Spotify ended 2015 with 28 million subscribers, while Apple Music managed 10 million since launch in June last year.
Apple Music recently introduced its University Student membership plan in 25 more countries across the world including India. The Individual plan is priced at Rs. 120 per month, while the new University Plan is being priced at a discounted Rs. 60 per month. The Family Plan lets up to six people share the subscription, and costs Rs. 190 per month.
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