Apple Music will now rival Spotify when it introduces web browser streaming later this year.
As part of the new macOS Catalina and other new updates, Apple Music subscribers will be able to listen to music directly from all web browsers including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome and Firefox. Previously, the iTunes or Apple Music app had to be installed on the user’s computer.
This new move will make Apple Music more accessible to users and is likely to increase streams.
The move from Apple comes as competition within the music streaming world intensifies with Amazon recently launching a free-to-use version of its platform and Spotify constantly evolving to compete with Apple Music.
Recently, Apple revealed that they are phasing out iTunes after 18 years of service. The platform is expected to be replaced by a trio of apps which will take over the device management of Apple products and, of course, music organisation and storage.
Earlier in the year, Spotify filled a lawsuit against Apple accusing them of sabotaging the competition. Spotify said, “Apple has also routinely rejected and delayed upgrades and enhancements to the Spotify app that we develop to improve functionality and our customers’ experience — and intentionally does so at business-critical moments for us. Importantly, they put none of these roadblocks in front of their own music service”.
Apple disputed this and defended themselves against the claim writing, “Spotify wouldn’t be the business they are today without the App Store ecosystem, but now they’re leveraging their scale to avoid contributing to maintaining that ecosystem for the next generation of app entrepreneurs. We think that’s wrong.” They also said that the company “wants all the benefits of a free app without being free.”
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