Apple has today entered the music streaming service, offering you the chance to listen to a whopping 30 million tracks for free.
The three-month trial of Apple Music also includes access to Beats One, a 24-hour digital radio station that Apple recently poached Zane Lowe from the BBC to helm.
But with Spotify having led the way in music streaming since it launched in 2008, is Apple Music going to be worth your time jumping ship? Here’s everything you need to know.
Which offers the best deal?
Spotify charges users £9.99 each month for subscription to its Premium service, which is advert-free. But if you do not want to take the plunge, new customers have until July 5 to sign up for 60 free days of use.
Apple Music is set to match the £9.99 monthly pricing model of Spotify in the UK, but Apple are offering a free 90 days for users to try out the service.
I don’t have an iPhone – can I still listen to Apple Music?
As of today, Apple Music is only available on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and PC.
However, it will be coming to Android phones – we just do not know exactly when. Apple says it will become available ‘this fall’, alongside an app for Apple TV.
Spotify already offers access to Apple devices alongside both Windows and Android phones.
I don’t want to use up my data allowance on streaming – can I download the music for offline use?
For those who don’t want to get a nasty phone bill surprise at the end of the month, Apple Music will emulate Spotify’s offering of being to download music while connected to wi-fi for use later when users are offline.
I want to support my favourite artists – which service gives them the most royalties?
Spotify has said it keeps 30% of subscription fees, with the rest of the cash going to record labels who will take their cut before passing the rest directly onto the musicians and their management teams.
Apple Music is offering a better deal however.
It claims it will take 27% of the subscription fees – meaning artists and their record labels will take 73% of the cash – that’s 3% more than Spotify offers.
Is Taylor Swift still angry at Apple Music for saying they won’t pay artists during the three-month trial?
No, thanks to Apple’s u-turn following Swift’s blog post that hit out at Apple’s initial plan.
She’s even gone one step further, making her hit-album 1989 available on Apple Music.
This means the service will be the only music streaming method that allows you to listen to Taylor Swift, following her fallout with Spotify.
What if I don’t want Apple Music or Spotify – are other services available?
You bet. If neither service takes your fancy, you can always look into Jay-Z’s Tidal, Napster, Google Play Music and plenty of other services.