Thanks to the immense success of iTunes Radio, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is ready to take on new markets. The iPhone maker just launched iTunes Radio in Australia, the first market outside the United States.
The key to iTunes Radio’s success
Designed to compete with the likes of Last.fm and Pandora Media Inc (NYSE:P), iTunes Radio allows users to listen to their favorite artists as well as similar artists and bands. The playlists are not customized and are curated by the staff. Listeners still have a say as to what they like and don’t like. Although the service is free thanks to ads, subscribers can pay a yearly fee to remove advertisements from their user experience. iTunes Match costs $34.99 in Australia.
Nick Summers for The Next Web explained, “Inside the Music app on iOS 7, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shows a list of Featured Stations curated by its own staff, as well a list of radio stations that you’ve set up yourself. Tap once and a playlist is built, which you can listen to and share with friends. Apple is hoping the service will also be a gateway back into its iTunes store, which rose to prominence alongside the iPod. When listeners discover new music that they like, they can either tag it for future reference, ask for “more like this” or purchase it directly from iTunes.”
Apple’s expansion in radio
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) introduced iTunes Radio last summer with iOS 7. It’s also available on Mac, Apple TV, and Windows. The key feature that sets their radio service apart from others is that it will get smarter over time. The service will learn from the user’s listening habits and personal iTunes music collection. iTunes Radio also offers exclusive music you will hear on their radio before anywhere else. This offers Apple a huge advantage it’s rivals don’t have.
The company’s latest expansion is a surefire sign iTunes radio is ready to dominate!
