Beats Launches 'Beats Music' Streaming Service and App - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Beats Launches 'Beats Music' Streaming Service and App

by

Beats has launched its much-rumored Beats Music streaming service and app, directly competing with other services like Pandora, Spotify, Rdio and Apple's iTunes Radio.

beatsmusic

We wanted to build a music service that combined the freedom of an on-demand subscription service – unlimited, uninterrupted streaming and downloads of tens of millions of songs – but layer on top features that would give you that feeling only music that moves you can give. The right song at the right time will give you a chill. Make you pull someone close. Nod your head. Sing in the mirror. Roll down the car window and crank the volume to the right.

The service is heavily built on curation, with Beats hiring music experts from publications like Pitchfork and DJs from some of the most listened to radio stations around the country to curate stations, playlists and to make sure the music catalog of 20 million songs allows for "great listening choices".

Users can simply open the app and "hit play" to start streaming music, or they can use one of the curation-based features. "Right Now" allows users to input where they are, what they're doing, who they're with and what they want to listen to and the service creates and endless playlist to match that mood. "Highlights" allows users to stay up-to-date with the music world by following Beats Music's programmer picks.

Similarly to Spotify, users can also create and share playlists with all their friends. They can also download "hundreds of albums" for offline listening.

Back in March of 2013, Beats CEO Jimmy Iovine revealed that he had met with Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Internet Services Eddy Cue about the music service. Specifically, the Apple executives expressed interest in the service's "business model and plans".

Beats Music is $9.99 a month for unlimited streaming, unlimited album downloads for offline streaming and no ads, although AT&T customers can get the service for their entire family for $14.99 a month.

Beats Music is a free download available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Update: Due to high traffic, Beats Music has been experiencing some issues. As a result, the company has decided to stop allowing new signups until its traffic problems are resolved. Because of the blip, Beats Music is rewarding all users who register during this week with an additional 7 day trial period.

Top Rated Comments

verpeiler Avatar
162 months ago
I hope it doesn't suck as much as their way overpriced and bad sounding headphones...

I'm gonna stick with iTunes & spotify anyway.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
162 months ago
Can't wait for the 'audiophiles' to start circling this and start preaching about how bad Beats are ;)

(for the record, no I don't own Beats. I just find it hilarious that people preach about someone spending a lot of money on equipment they enjoy using that isn't technically superior to other products on an Apple forum.)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
162 months ago
I hope it doesn't suck as much as their way overpriced and bad sounding headphones...

I'm gonna stick with iTunes & spotify anyway.

I'm not giving this company any more money. I already gave them $200 for a pair of headphones that sound like they are worth $20.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fel10 Avatar
162 months ago
I think I'll pass. Im gonna stick with Spotify.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
162 months ago
Wow this is perfect for me. Always wanted a music service that would let me explain what is going on, and would cater tunes to my situation!

I'm
[breaking up with my girl]
& feel like
[killing myself]
with
[a gun]
to
[polka]

ps- Anyone that casually refers to friends as their "entourage" needs to die in a fire ASAP.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
162 months ago
Whenever I see a fashion victim with beats headphones, I think, "There's someone who used to have the money to buy a decent set of Sennheisers, what a tool!"

Yet, whenever I'm walking round town in my HD25s because I broke my iPhone earphones and I'm a bit skint at the moment, some fashion victim will make a comment like, "look at that jerk in the DJ headphones" :D

----------

Finally, a streaming app even chavs can enjoy
It'll probably have a 24/7 channel called "Boy Racer FM" where it just plays DJ Ear-rape and MC Tourettes Syndrome "Anthems" from the hardcore rave scene and vapid, bragging, worthless Retards Attempting Poetry and R&B (That isn't Rhythm & Blues) garbage. And they'll absoluely love it, like they love 3 litre bottles of white cider because they're chavs.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:29 am PDT by
If you pay for extra iCloud storage on your iPhone, beyond the 5GB included for free, you might receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. First, Apple said there will be daily usage limits for some of the new and enhanced Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27, including image generation. However, the company noted that "increased access" is available with "most" iCloud+ storage ...
WWDC26 MR Live Coverage Article

WWDC 2026 Apple Event Live Keynote Coverage: iOS 27, Revamped Siri, and More

Monday June 8, 2026 9:15 am PDT by
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day. We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements today, headlined by a reset on Apple's push into AI that should see a significant overhaul...
macOS Golden Gate Mac

Apple Announces macOS 27 Golden Gate With New Siri and 'Tons' of Refinements

Monday June 8, 2026 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today announced that macOS 27 is named macOS Golden Gate. Much like Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009, Apple said it focused on improving macOS's performance and dozens of underlying technologies this year. Apple says macOS Golden Gate offers quicker AirDrop transfers, faster network file browsing, improved syncing in the Messages app, better Spotlight search suggestions, and other...