Apple is one of the biggest players in the music streaming industry, with its Apple Music service boasting over 88 million subscribers. In fact, in the United States, Apple Music has overtaken Spotify. However, unlike some of its competitors, Apple does not offer a free tier of its service.
While there may be some potential benefits to offering a free version of Apple Music, there are also several compelling reasons why the company has chosen not to do so…
Less revenue from paid subscriptions
One of the primary reasons why Apple doesn’t offer a free tier of its music streaming service is that it would likely lead to a decrease in the number of paid subscriptions. This would directly impact Apple’s bottom line, as the company relies on subscription fees as a source of revenue. While some users may be willing to pay for a premium music streaming service, others may be tempted to switch to a free option if it were available.
Increased costs
Providing a free tier of Apple Music would also increase the cost of maintaining the service. Apple would need to invest in additional server capacity and other resources to support a larger user base, but without the offset of subscription fees, these costs would need to be covered by the company. This could potentially eat into Apple’s profits and make the free tier less financially viable.
Devalued service
Apple likely believes that the value of its music streaming service is worth the subscription fee it charges. By offering a free tier, the company risks devaluing the service in the eyes of some users, who may view it as less valuable or high-quality if it’s available for free. This could lead to a decline in paid subscriptions and a decrease in the overall perceived value of the service.
Cannibalization of other products and services
Apple may also be concerned that a free tier of Apple Music would cannibalize sales of its other products and services, such as iTunes music downloads. The company has built a strong ecosystem of products and services that all work together, and offering a free music streaming service could potentially disrupt that ecosystem and lead to a decline in sales of other products.
Strategic reasons
Finally, Apple may have strategic reasons for not offering a free tier of its music streaming service. The company may want to differentiate its service from its competitors and maintain a certain image or brand identity. By not offering a free tier, Apple can position its music streaming service as a premium, high-quality option that is worth the subscription fee.
Although offering a free tier of Apple Music may have some potential benefits, there are also several compelling reasons why the company has chosen not to do so. By not offering a free tier, Apple can protect its revenue from paid subscriptions, avoid increasing its costs, maintain the perceived value of its service, avoid cannibalizing its other products and services, and maintain a strategic advantage in the competitive music streaming market.
Would you support a free tier of Apple Music? Let us know and check back soon for more!