Apple Music has 6.5 million paying customers already

[Colton]

It’s been three and a half months since Apple Music launched and, with the first wave of users’ free three-month trial periods coming to a close at the end of October, Apple has given a taste of how it is faring. Company CEO Tim Cook said the service currently has 6.5 million paying users. On top of that, Cook shared that there are 8.5 million people using the free trial right now.



Back in August, Apple said that it had 11 million people on the trial, so it converted just over half of them into paid users. (More on that below.) Apple Music’s figures are some way short of Spotify’s 20 million paying customer base, but it’s not a bad effort for the new service — which isn’t yet available on Android and has no free listening option. That former is important in emerging markets, while the latter can help snare more conservative users and convert them to paying customers later.



Huge caveat though: music streaming services are fairly notorious for mudding the waters when it comes to user numbers. Deezer, the French firm that is going public this month, claims 6.3 million paying ‘subscribers’, for instance, yet just 1.5 million are actual paying members.



Apple Music may be similarly vague with its big numbers, since a decent chunk of that 6.5 million may be people who forgot to cancel their free trial and involuntarily became paying members. That might sound easily avoidable but it happened to some staffers at TechCrunch. I’ll spare the names and save their embarrassment — the point is that it is very easy to become a paying Apple Music customer without necessarily meaning to be one.



Cook, who was speaking at the Wall Street Journal’s Live event, also discussed Apple’s plans for CarPlay, security and the new Apple TV, which he revealed is launching next week. The Apple supremo didn’t, however, give sales figures for Apple Watch — you’ll have to wait on that.



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[Spidey]

I'd stay Apple Music is off to a good start.

[maine]

More than half of those are probably customers that didn't unsubscribe from their free trial lol

[ListenToItTwice]

Oct 20, 2015 14:01:33 GMT -5 maine said:

More than half of those are probably customers that didn't unsubscribe from their free trial lol

Technically, 100% are customers that didn't unsubscribe from their free trial ;) But I knew what you meant

[Chelsea Press 2]

I didn't renew it because I don't have enough time to listen because of work taking up so much of my time so I cannot justify paying $9.99 a month when I may listen just for a few minutes each day.

But there are people who would knowingly and willingly remain subscribed to the service.

[Caviar]

I didn't renew because I'm already paying Spotify...It's better over there. Plus my artwork stays in tact.

[Chelsea Press 2]

Oct 20, 2015 17:51:20 GMT -5 Caviar said:

I didn't renew because I'm already paying Spotify...It's better over there. Plus my artwork stays in tact.

Spotify is the one I would pay for if I have more time to listen because it just works better overall for me and my needs.

Apple Music totally fucked up my iTunes library and I am still trying to fix it.

[Glove Slap]

Oct 20, 2015 14:01:33 GMT -5 maine said:

More than half of those are probably customers that didn't unsubscribe from their free trial lol

My immediate thought as well. I think we'll have better picture in Feb/March once more time and the holiday season has passed. They're fortunate to have the TIDAL embarrassment to make them look better regardless of what happens.

[Wolfy]

It now has 10m. Some think it might surpass Spotify in two years:

www.engadget.com/2016/01/10/apple-music-10-million-subscribers/

[Colton]

Jan 10, 2016 21:00:19 GMT -5 Wolfy said:

It now has 10m. Some think it might surpass Spotify in two years.

Queen of streaming Spotify is unbothered

[Wolfy]

Given how fast its growing, Spotify should be worried. Another company to worry about is Google. Google is looking to offer a media package for their $9.99 subscription. Google has Vevo, Youtube, google music and they are looking into adding movies into their package. Spotify doesn't have as many options. Eventually, google is going to get it right and end up with a bigger cut of the streaming business. Google and Apple both have their eye on Spotify's numbers. Due to the size of those companies, I have a feeling they will eventually pass Spotify.

Also, for google there is lots of room to grow. Google is partnering with Ford on building an electronic self-driving car. You'll be able to log into your account on those cars and have access to all your google media. I recently bought a Sony 4K TV that has Android TV. I logged in using my google account and all my google media loaded. Its quite convenient :) Even my porn is easy access on my new TV. I have my porn on google drive which I can cast in HD to my Sony TV. Currently, I'm paying $9.99 for 1TB of google drive space and 9.99 for google music.

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2016 21:23:36 GMT -5 Wolfy said:

Also, for google there is lots of room to grow. Google is partnering with Ford on building an electronic self-driving car. You'll be able to log into your account on those cars and have access to all your google media. I recently bought a Sony 4K TV that has Android TV. I logged in using my google account and all my google media loaded. Its quite convenient :) Even my porn is easy access on my new TV. I have my porn on google drive which I can cast in HD to my Sony TV. Currently, I'm paying $9.99 for 1TB of google drive space and 9.99 for google music.

You waiting on Google to give you the ultimate road head, huh

[ILLUSION]

I pay for it. I personally really like it. It's very convenient, especially if you are into Apple products.

[EPG]

^Same. Since I just got an iPhone 6s Plus, I use it out of pure convenience. It's easier for me, and I listen to it at work as well. Lol