Apple Music has partnered with TuneIn to make its six commercial-free radio stations available outside the Apple Music app for the first time, effective as of this past Thursday.
These stations are now accessible globally on TuneIn's platform, which serves over 75 million monthly active users across more than 200 connected devices, including smart speakers, connected cars, and apps—without requiring an Apple Music subscription.
The move aims to broaden Apple Music's audience and compete with rivals like Spotify, amid reports of Apple's U.S. market share declining to around 25% by late 2024.
Here are the six stations now streaming on TuneIn:
- Apple Music 1: Features pop culture, new releases, artist interviews, and programming hosted by personalities like Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden.
- Apple Music Hits: Plays hits from the '80s, '90s, and 2000s, including stories behind the songs.
- Apple Music Country: Covers a wide range of country music, from current artists to legends.
- Apple Música Uno: Focuses on Latin music genres, including reggaetón and Música Mexicana.
- Apple Music Club: Dedicated to electronic and dance music from around the world.
- Apple Music Chill: Provides relaxed, chillout vibes and ambient sounds.
Listeners can access these ad-free stations via TuneIn's website, mobile apps, or integrated devices like CarPlay, Alexa, and Google Home.
In-app links on TuneIn may direct users to subscribe to Apple Music for additional content, potentially boosting conversions.
Radio futurist James Cridland comments it doesn’t sound live (twelve hours of it isn’t, just a rerun of the previous twelve). He adds it doesn’t sound as if it’s built for listener feedback. But it’s interesting that Apple has realized that it needs to make its radio services as open as possible.
This move is seen as a strategy to compete with Spotify, as Apple Music’s U.S. market share has slipped to 25% by late 2024, compared to Spotify’s 37%. TuneIn’s CEO, Rich Stern, emphasized the deal’s role in reinforcing their position as a leading audio distribution platform.