Apple Music, recently unveiled at WWDC 2015, will launch in India (for iOS devices) along with 99 other countries on June 30. On the other hand, Android users in India will be able to start using Apple Music from August-September of this year. While only the US pricing was revealed at the WWDC Keynote, a recent screenshot of Apple Music uploaded by Twitter user Jayesh shows pricing in Indian rupees.
The screenshots show India prices at Rs. 120 per month for single user and Rs. 180 per month for a family plan involving six users. The subscription prices will initiate after the first three-month free trial of Apple Music available for iOS 9 beta users. It is priced at $9.99 (Rs. 640) for single users and $14.99 (Rs. 960) for the family plan in the United States. Prices in India are seen to be significantly lower, at $2 and $3 for single- and six-user subscriptions, which shows that Apple is considering India’s music market as an important and growing industry.
In India, streaming services have been growing. Spotify, Apple’s primary rival, is yet to hit Indian shores. Rdio Music launched in January with almost similar prices. As of now, most streaming services in India have a larger collection of Indian music and lesser international tracks. With Apple Music, users get access to iTunes, the radio station Beats 1, Apple Music Connect (the music social network where listeners and artists can interact), unlimited skip on any station, unlimited streaming and offline listening. Songs already downloaded from iTunes, however, will not be synchronised with Apple Music, and can be streamed via iTunes Match. Post launch, Beats Music users will be able to synchronise their playlists with Apple Music with a simple login, thereby not having to create new lists.
Apple Music will also feature exclusive music releases by artists who have tie-ups with Apple – a major advantage of Apple Music over Spotify. Also, all content accessed by Apple Music will operate via iCloud storage, thus enabling all Apple devices signed to one iCloud ID to access it. Apart from music curation by DJs, Apple’s Proactive updates will let Siri curate playlists based on request. Unlike other streaming services, however, music will be streamed at 256kbps rather than the standard 320kbps.
Although no information has officially been given by Apple about which countries will get Apple Music, Apple India’s website features the three-month free trial version for iOS 9 beta users. Coupled with the screenshots that indicate India prices, Apple will almost surely be launching Apple Music in India soon.