Apple revolutionized how the world listens to music on the go with the launch of the iPod more than 20 years ago.
However, in the years since, the company lost its dominance in music by gradually shifting its focus toward hardware products, allowing new players like Spotify to lead the audio streaming industry.
Now, Apple is making a bold move to reclaim its influence in music.
💵💰 Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💵💰
Apple Music has teamed up with the live audio platform TuneIn to make its six commercial-free live radio stations available to listeners worldwide, marking the first time these stations can be accessed outside Apple's platform.
Related: Spotify adds new messaging feature, letting users slide into DMs
Thanks to this partnership, Apple Music's radio stations can now be streamed on more than 200 TuneIn-supported connected devices, including smart speakers, headphones, and vehicles from over 15 automotive brands.
“Through our partnership with TuneIn, we’re able to bring that experience to even more people, extending beyond the Apple ecosystem and reaching music fans wherever they are,” said Apple Music co-head Rachel Newman in the announcement.
Apple Music's live radio stations
- Apple Music 1: A global pop culture station featuring artist-led shows, new releases, and music news.
- Apple Music Hits: Nonstop hits from the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, with commentary from music insiders.
- Apple Music Country: A station dedicated to country music.
- Apple Música Uno: A diverse Latin music-focused station with hosts, artists, and music programming.
- Apple Music Club: 24/7 dance and electronic music with curated global DJ mixes.
- Apple Music Chill: A relaxing music station with continuous chill tracks across different genres.
This move is part of Apple's broader strategy to expand the reach of its music service, grow awareness, and potentially increase its subscriber base by tapping into TuneIn's global audience of 75 million active users.
Apple and Spotify begin an audio streaming service war
Apple (AAPL) Music launched in 2015, nearly 14 years after the original iPod. Despite its late entry into the audio streaming space, it gained traction quickly, reaching 11 million subscribers in its first year.
As of 2025, Apple Music has approximately 94 million subscribers, generates $9.2 billion in annual revenue, and holds a 30.7% market share in the U.S, according to Demandage.
Still, this seven-year head start gave Spotify a massive advantage.
Spotify (SPOT) debuted in 2008, and by the time Apple Music launched, it already had amassed 22 million premium subscribers and 68 million free users. Today, Spotify is the world's most popular audio streaming service, with over 696 million monthly users, including 276 million Premium Subscribers.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2025 alone, Spotify's monthly active users grew by 11% year over year, while total revenue rose 10%, driven by a 12% increase in Premium subscribers
Apple Music bridges the ‘free access' gap with TuneIn deal
In an increasingly saturated audio streaming market where most platforms offer the same music, services like Apple Music and Spotify are finding other ways to stand out through exclusive content, curated playlists, and personalized algorithms.
More Business News:
- Peloton makes harsh cuts as sales slide continues
- Amazon's new deal with Hertz taps into $1 trillion used car market
- Apple announces major store closures and openings worldwide
Spotify, however, has a competitive edge because it offers a wider range of subscription tiers, such as free, ad-supported, and various Premium plans, making it accessible to a broader audience.
By contrast, Apple Music doesn't offer a free tier and only provides a limited-time trial before requiring a paid subscription. With this new partnership with TuneIn, Apple will counter that limitation, gaining visibility without changing its subscription model.
Related: Spotify makes huge strategy change that will impact its business
