Apple Music has partnered with TuneIn, an app that aggregates a wide variety of radio and content, to get a wider audience for its global radio stations and attract new subscribers. On Wednesday (Aug. 27), TuneIn began streaming the six free Apple Music radio stations: Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, Apple Musica Uno, Apple Music Country, Apple Music Chill and Apple Music Club.
The collaboration doesn’t just get Apple Music more listeners to its radio stations. TuneIn, which has more than 75 million monthly active listeners, is being used to help gain subscribers to Apple Music, which unlike Spotify does not have a free, ad-free version to help attract listeners who will eventually become subscribers. On the TuneIn app’s Apple Music Radio page, a link offers TuneIn listeners a free Apple Music trial.
The partnership with TuneIn marks the first time Apple Music’s radio stations have been made available on a separate platform. “Apple Music Radio has always been about connection, artists sharing their music and their stories in real time and listeners discovering something new together,” Rachel Newman, co-head of Apple Music, said in a statement. “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.”
“Apple choosing TuneIn as the first platform to stream its radio stations reinforces our position as the go-to distribution partner for global audio,” said Rich Stern, CEO of TuneIn. “With deep integrations across connected devices and cars, TuneIn is uniquely positioned to deliver premium content to listeners everywhere. Our mission is simple: to be the world’s leading live audio platform, bringing nonstop, audio experiences to audiences 24/7.”
Working with TuneIn could help Apple Music close the gap to Spotify and keep its lead over Amazon Music and YouTube Music. Despite having the advantage of the Apple ecosystem and brand awareness, Apple Music had only a 12% share of the global music subscription market in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to MIDiA Research, close to No. 2 Tencent Music Entertainment’s 15% share but far behind Spotify’s 32% share. Both Amazon Music and YouTube Music have a 10% share.
Apple Music has the advantage of a slightly lower price in the U.S., however. While Spotify raised the individual and family plan fees to $11.99 and $19.99, respectively, Apple Music charges $10.99 for individuals and $16.99 for family plans. The Apple One bundle of services, which includes Apple Music and Apple TV+, costs $19.95 for the individual plan and $37.95 for the family plan.
