Apple Music: A Comprehensive Review

Apple Music and Spotify have different pricing plans depending on the region and the type of subscription. Here is a comparison of their pricing in the US, as of October 2023:

Individual: Apple Music and Spotify both charge $10.99 per month (or $109.99 per year) for an individual plan, which allows one user to access the service on up to 10 devices.

Family: Apple Music charges $16.99 per month (or $169.99 per year) for a family plan, which allows up to six users to access the service on up to 10 devices each. Spotify charges $14.99 per month (or $149.99 per year) for a duo plan, which allows two users living together to access the service on up to 10 devices each.

Student: Apple Music and Spotify both charge $5.99 per month (or $59.99 per year) for a student plan, which allows one user who is a verified student at a college or university to access the service on up to 10 devices. Apple Music also offers access to Apple TV+ for free with this plan.

As you can see, Apple Music and Spotify have similar pricing for individual and student plans, but Apple Music has a more expensive family plan and a more generous student offer. However, pricing is not the only factor to consider when choosing a music streaming service. You may also want to compare their features, audio quality, music catalog, platforms and apps, playlists and recommendations, and more.

The audio quality of Apple Music and Spotify depends on several factors, such as the subscription plan, the device, the internet connection, and the user’s preferences.

Here is a brief comparison of their audio quality based on some of these factors:

Subscription plan: Apple Music offers spatial audio and lossless audio for all its subscribers, regardless of the plan. Spatial audio allows users to experience immersive, multidimensional sound that makes music feel like it is coming from all around them. Lossless audio allows users to listen to music in the highest possible quality, without any compression or loss of detail. Spotify, on the other hand, offers different levels of streaming quality depending on the plan. Free users can stream music at up to 128 kbps on the web player and at approximately 160 kbps on desktop and mobile. 

Spotify Premium users can stream music at up to 256 kbps on the web player and at up to 320 kbps on desktop and mobile. They also announced that it will launch a HiFi option in 2023, which will offer lossless CD-quality audio for select markets and devices.
Device: Apple Music supports spatial audio for thousands of songs across various genres, and automatically plays Dolby Atmos tracks on compatible devices, such as AirPods, Beats headphones, and the latest iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Users can also manually enable spatial audio in the settings. Apple Music also supports lossless audio for its entire catalog of songs, ranging from CD quality (16-bit/44.1 kHz) to hi-res lossless (24-bit/192 kHz). However, lossless audio is not supported by wireless headphones or speakers, and requires an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for hi-res lossless. Spotify’s streaming quality varies depending on the device and the settings. Users can choose from low, normal, high, or very high quality in the settings, depending on their device and internet connection. However, Spotify does not support spatial audio or lossless audio yet.

Internet connection: Apple Music’s spatial audio and lossless audio features require more bandwidth and storage space than its default AAC format. Users can choose the level of quality they prefer in the settings, depending on their internet connection. Users can also download songs for offline listening in any quality they choose. Spotify’s streaming quality also depends on the internet connection. Users can choose from automatic, low, normal, high, or very high quality in the settings, depending on their bandwidth. Users can also download songs for offline listening in high or very high quality.

User’s preferences: Apple Music and Spotify both allow users to customize their sound experience with various features and settings. Apple Music has a volume normalization feature that adjusts the volume level of songs to a consistent level. Users can turn this feature on or off in the settings. Apple Music also has an equalizer feature that lets users adjust the frequency balance of songs to suit their taste. Users can access this feature in the settings or through third-party apps. Spotify also has a volume normalization feature that evens out the volume level of songs. Users can turn this feature on or off in the settings. Spotify also has an equalizer feature that lets users tweak the sound of songs with preset or custom settings. Users can access this feature in the settings or through third-party apps.

As you can see, Apple Music and Spotify have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to audio quality. Apple Music has an edge over Spotify with its spatial audio and lossless audio features, which offer a more immersive and realistic sound experience than stereo or surround sound. However, these features are not compatible with all devices and require more bandwidth and storage space than Spotify’s streaming quality. Spotify has a more flexible streaming quality option that allows users to choose from different levels of quality depending on their plan, device, internet connection, and preferences. However, Spotify does not support spatial audio or lossless audio yet, which may limit its sound quality compared to Apple Music’s features.

Ultimately, the best music streaming service for you depends on your personal preference and needs. You may want to try both services for yourself and compare their sound quality with your own ears and equipment. You may also want to consider other factors besides sound quality, such as music catalog, platforms and apps, playlists and recommendations, and more.

Apple Music and Spotify have similar size catalogs, but there are some differences in their content and features. Apple Music has over 90 million songs in its catalog, while Spotify has over 82 million songs. However, the number of songs may not be the most important factor, as both services offer access to a wide range of genres, artists, and regions. What may matter more is the quality and exclusivity of the songs.

Apple Music has an edge over Spotify in terms of audio quality, as it offers spatial audio and lossless audio for all its subscribers at no extra cost. Spatial audio allows users to experience immersive, multidimensional sound that makes music feel like it is coming from all around them. Lossless audio allows users to listen to music in the highest possible quality, without any compression or loss of detail. Spotify, on the other hand, offers different levels of streaming quality depending on the subscription plan, but it does not support spatial audio or lossless audio yet. They also announced that it will launch a HiFi option in 2023, which will offer lossless CD-quality audio for select markets and devices.

Apple Music also has some exclusive content and features that Spotify does not have, such as Apple Digital Masters, which deliver the highest-quality recordings from the original studio masters. They also has a vast collection of music videos, podcasts, and live radio stations, including its own Beats 1 station that broadcasts 24/7 around the world. Apple Music also integrates with Siri, Apple’s smart assistant, which allows users to control the service with voice commands.

They, however, has some advantages over Apple Music in terms of community integration and playlist features. Spotify has a more robust social network that allows users to follow their friends, artists, celebrities, and influencers, and see what they are listening to. 

Spotify also has a more personalized and dynamic recommendation system that creates playlists based on the user’s listening habits and preferences, such as Discover Weekly, Release Radar, Daily Mixes, and more. They also recently introduced a live playlist feature called Jam, which allows users to create collaborative playlists with their friends in real time.

In conclusion, Apple Music and Spotify have similar size catalogs, but different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to their content and features. Apple Music offers better audio quality and exclusive content, while Spotify offers better community integration and playlist features.

Ultimately, the best music streaming service for you depends on your personal preference and needs. You may want to try both services for yourself and compare their music catalog with your own ears and equipment. You may also want to consider other factors besides music catalog, such as platforms and apps, pricing and subscription plans, and more.

Apple Music pays artists an average of $0.01 per stream for individual paid plans in 2020. This includes label and publisher royalties. Apple Music also pays the same 52% headline rate to all labels, and the same headline rate for all compositions, regardless of the genre, region, or popularity of the song. They also does not pay a lower royalty rate in exchange for featuring, and pays every creator the same rate. 

Apple Music claims that its royalty model is fair and transparent, and that it supports both mainstream and independent artists. However, some artists may argue that Apple Music’s royalty rate is still too low compared to the value of their music, and that streaming services in general do not compensate artists adequately for their work.

Mechanical royalties and performance royalties are two types of royalties that songwriters and publishers receive for their musical compositions. They are based on different rights and sources of income.

Mechanical royalties are paid for the right to reproduce a composition through the process. Of recording, manufacturing, and distributing the work. For example, if a label wants to produce a CD or a digital download bearing the composition. They have to pay mechanical royalties for each copy they make. Mechanical royalties follow the composition copyright. Which means they are paid to the songwriters and publishers. Who own the rights to the lyrics and melody of the song.

Performance royalties are paid for the right to broadcast or perform a composition in a public environment. This includes radio airplay, TV broadcasts, live performance in venues like bars and clubs, and interactive digital streams. Performance royalties follow the performance right. Which means they are paid to the songwriters and publishers. Who have registered their works with a performance rights organization (PRO). Such as BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC in the US.

The main difference between mechanical royalties and performance royalties. Is that mechanical royalties are paid by the entities that reproduce the work. Such as record labels, streaming services, or online stores. While performance royalties are paid by the entities that perform or broadcast the work. Such as radio stations, TV networks, or live venues. Mechanical royalties are usually calculated based on a statutory rate or a negotiated percentage of sales or revenue. While performance royalties are usually calculated based on a formula. That takes into account factors such as the number of plays. The type of use, and the size of the audience.

Some other types of royalties that artists can receive are:

Synchronization (Sync) Royalties: These are royalties paid for the use of a song in a visual media. Such as a movie, TV show, commercial, video game, or online video. The sync royalties are negotiated between the music owner (songwriter or publisher) and the music user (producer or director). And depend on factors such as the popularity of the song the budget of the project. And the type and duration of the use.

Print Music Royalties: These are royalties paid for the reproduction of a song in a printed format. Such as sheet music or songbooks. The print music royalties are usually a percentage of the retail price of the printed product. And are collected by the publisher or a print rights organization.

Neighboring Rights Royalties: These are royalties paid for the public performance or broadcast of a sound recording. Such as on radio, TV, or online platforms. The neighboring rights royalties are similar to performance royalties. But they are paid to the recording artist and the record label, not to the songwriter and the publisher. The neighboring rights royalties are collected by neighboring rights organizations, such as SoundExchange in the US.

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services in the world. With over 365 million monthly active users and over 165 million premium subscribers as of June 2021. They pay artists and royalties based on a stream share model. Which means that the total amount of money generated by the service is divided among all the artists. And songwriters based on the number of streams they receive.

Spotify pays artists between $0.003 – $0.005 per stream on average. That works out as an approx revenue split of 70/30. So that’s 70% to the artist/rights holders and 30% to Spotify. However, this rate may vary depending on the subscription plan, the country or region, and the currency exchange rate. They also announced that it will launch a HiFi option in 2023. Which will offer lossless CD-quality audio for select markets and devices.

Spotify royalties are specifically distributed from the net revenue collected from ads and Premium subscription fees. Artists are paid monthly. When Spotify pays artists they tally the total number of streams for each of an artist’s songs. And determine who owns each song and who distributes it. First, the rights holders are paid.

The rights holders are the entities that own or control the rights to the music. Such as record labels, distributors, publishers, collecting societies, or independent artists. The rights holders are responsible for paying the artists according to their individual agreements. Spotify has no knowledge of the agreements that artists sign with their rights holders. So it cannot answer why a right holder’s payment comes to a particular amount in a particular month.

Spotify pays two kinds of royalties: recording royalties and publishing royalties. Recording royalties are paid to the owners or controllers of the sound recordings. Which are usually the record labels or distributors. Publishing royalties are paid to the owners or controllers of the musical compositions, which are usually the songwriters or publishers. Publishing royalties are collected by performance rights organizations (PROs), such as BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC in the US.

Spotify does not pay artist royalties according to a per-play or per-stream rate. The royalty payments that artists receive might fluctuate according to differences in how their music is streamed. Or the agreements they have with rights holders. Therefore it is not possible to calculate exactly how much. Spotify pays artists and royalties for a given number of streams. However, some websites offer estimations based on average rates and other factors. These estimations are not official or accurate. But they can give a rough idea of how much artists can earn from Spotify streams.

A record label and a distributor are two different entities in the music industry that have different roles and functions. A record label is an organization that signs, develops, and promotes artists and their music. A distributor is an organization that delivers and sells music to various platforms and outlets. Such as online stores, streaming services or physical retailers.

A record label typically acquires the rights to the music it releases. And pays the artists a percentage of the revenue or an advance. Record labels also provides various services to the artists, such as production, marketing, branding, licensing, and sync. A record label may have its own distribution network, or partner with an external distributor to distribute its music.

A distributor does not acquire the rights to the music it distributes. But only takes a commission or a fee for its service. Distributors also does not provide any creative or promotional services to the artists. But only handles the technical and logistical aspects of delivering and selling their music. A distributor may work with independent artists, labels, or aggregators to distribute their music.

The main difference between a record label and a distributor. Is that a record label is more involved in the artistic and commercial aspects of the music. While a distributor is more involved in the operational and financial aspects of the music. A record label may offer more support and exposure to the artist. But also take more control and revenue from them. A distributor may offer more freedom and flexibility to the artists, but also less guidance and visibility for them.

Depending on their goals and needs artists may choose to sign with a record label. Work with a distributor, or distribute their music themselves. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option, and artists should carefully weigh them before making a decision.