Apple released its new iTunes Radio on September 18th 2013 in the U.S.A and five days after launch bragged that it “had 11 million unique listeners on its radio service”. (The Globe and Mail) This is a huge threat to the worlds most popular streaming music platform, Pandora, who has more than 80 million users and a library of around 800,000 songs. An apparent 50 percent of Pandora listeners require an apple device to tune into their radio service, giving Apple the advantage with their new iTunes Radio app. Apple “could suck away 15 per cent of Pandora’s “listening hours” over the next six months.” (Globe and Mail)
Most of the big named players in the radio streaming industry are not in Canada because for a while Canada thought that “radio streaming [isn’t] for us” (Globe and Mail) which means that Apples iTunes Radio will be among the first, beating Pandora, to stick its foot into the vast industry in Canada. Apple will also be making iTunes radio available to the UK, Australia, New Zealand and various Nordic countries. This new iTunes radio has already shown to be boosting Apples revenue as a result in a rise in its shares of 1 percent. Apple plans to expand their new radio feature to hundreds of different countries over the years with their catchy slogan, “hear where your music takes you” (Apple) iTunes radio will be a great thing to come to Canada because the vast majority of people already own iPhones and users will now feel like an unlimited amount of music streaming capability is right at their finger tips.
Sources: Apple http://www.apple.com/itunes/itunes-radio/
The Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/gadgets-and-gear/gadgets/apple-will-bring-itunes-radio-streaming-music-to-canada-report-says/article14740224/