In an email to users, Apple has announced that it is doing away with the free, ad-supported iTunes Radio stations on January 29. As reported by 9to5Mac, the email says that Beats 1 will "be the premiere free broadcast" going forward, while the currently free stations will require an Apple Music subscription from January 29 onward.
Free, ad-supported radio stations first made their appearance as iTunes Radio in 2013 for the U.S., and later expanded to Australian shores in early 2014. The stations would algorithmically put together a streaming playlist of songs with ads interspersed every so often in a manner similar to streaming app Pandora.
The ad-supported iTunes Radio stations have existed alongside Apple Music since its launch, and their removal could be related to Apple's plans to shutter the iAd platform later this year, a move it announced earlier today.
Source: 9to5Mac
Reader comments
Apple is doing away with free iTunes Radio stations on January 29
I liked the free apple radio commercials don't bother me
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Money money money!!!!
Fortunately I got Apple Music. Not a big fan of Beats 1 yet
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So what about us people who have iTunes Match that got iTunes Radio ad free, included with our yearly fee. We automatically lose it when we already paid for it. Doesn't sound great to me.
They are dropping iAd services in June. Which is why it cannot stay as is.. iTunes Radio was NEVER a major reason for anyone to get iTunes Match.. You got iTunes Match for the reason it existed, match your own music in the cloud.
Personally, I think they should consolidate the iTunes Match service with iCloud.. or offer a combined package of iTunes, iCloud and Apple Music. I think people are getting confused between them anyway.
A good example would be Apple iCloud service that you could mix and match the 3 services under a single monthly fee: storage, music match and streaming ale-carte.
It's all about the Benjamin's for Apple..
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Well that sucks. I rather enjoyed iTunes Radio
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Gotta squeeze every penny they can.
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Well in wont be using Music at all now. I am listen to the free stations sometimes, it was the only reason I would go to Music.
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Google Play Music ftw
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Always amazed me how Apple charges for EVERYTHING. You would think with billions in the bank they would let some things slide, if anything atleast to just offer some appeal to new customers and show loyalty to others.
NOPE.
Cash cash cash. Surely some people feel decieved. Apple used to preach different priorities. Atleast to the public.
How do you think they got all that money? lol
From the annual one hit wonder called the iPhone. The item itself. All other services, laptops, even tablets make like 0.00001 percent of their profits. iPhone sustains them.
The iPhone is the ONLY appealing doorway into their ecosystem and the more greedy they get, the more that door shuts.
Theyre not doomed because so many got sucked in, as Apple planned, but with enough bait and switches like this, people will start leaving.
Spotify is.much better.
"...annual one hit wonder..."
Do you not see how much of a contradiction that is? If you're going to insult something, it might be best to actually do it well. Don't you think?
Back to Pandora I go
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I don't mind them going paid only, but the previous gen Apple TV DOESN'T support Apple Music. Don't wanna lose my radio there! I'm paying for Apple Music. I expect to use them everywhere.
Will Beats1 have only curated music? Or will the custom "stations" I created (a la Pandora) get ported into Beats1?
If not, there are plenty of free options (Pandora for stations, Spotify for selected music).
I will NEVER get a subscription to Apple Music.
Love my iTunes Match, though ....... :-)
Greedy **********. Really starting to dislike Apple a lot! I am Spotify user but sometimes I like listening ITunes Radio.. Apple just don't like the word Free!
Well that sucks. Unlike Beats1, I actually used iTunes Radio.
Don't like Beats 1. Can't stand Zane Lowe
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What will happen for Apple TV 3 users, they can't use Apple Music, iTunes Radio was the only option they had for music streaming. Will that mean an update to ATV3 bringing Beats 1?
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Does that mean I don't even use Apple Music I only use the free radio that sucks that they're going to have to charge me back to Pandora I go back to Spotify I only use iTunes will that affect me?
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I am Lee use iTunes will they start charging me to? Not an Apple Music user
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Of course,we pay their products a small fortune why would anything be free
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