Apple Music has raised subscription prices across all tiers, marking the first increase in nearly four years. The individual plan rose from $10.99 to $11.99 per month, the family plan increased from $16.99 to $19.99 per month, and the student plan rose from $5.99 to $6.99 per month.
The last price increase occurred in October 2022, when Apple Music cited increased licensing costs. The move follows similar actions by rival Spotify, which has raised prices three times since July 2023. Spotify’s individual premium plan now costs $12.99 per month, with family plans at $21.99, duo plans at $18.99, and student plans at $6.99.
Apple Music remains the only major music streaming service without a free tier. In an April interview, Apple Music VP Oliver Schusser said the company is proud of that distinction, arguing that giving music away for free is not right for songwriters and artists given the limited monetization they receive in return. He also said free ad-supported tiers push down subscription prices industry-wide. “The fact that all paid services have to compete with free means, at the end of the day, not enough people are paying,” Schusser said.
Source: Billboard
