Apple SVP Eddy Cue says the company is “thrilled” with the response to the new Apple Music streaming service. Cue revealed that the service currently boasts 11 million users that are taking advantage of the free three-month trial period the company offered when the service kicked off on June 30.
“We’re thrilled with the numbers so far,” says Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet software and services, adding that of that sum 2 million have opted for the more lucrative family plan at $14.99 a month for up to six people.
Cue noted that of the 11 million users, two million of those took advantage of the family plan that allows up to six family members to access the service. When the trial period ends, single Apple Music memberships will cost $9.99 per month, while family enrollment will run $14.99 per month.
While Apple Music has received largely favorable reviews from both users and journalists, some users have reported seeing duplicate playlists and tracks, as well as mislabeled tracks and other issues. Cue said “we’re aware that some users have experienced some issues, and we hate letting them down, but we’re releasing updates as fast as we can to address those issues.”
Record producer Jimmy Iovine, who joined Apple when the Cupertino firm bought Beats Electronics, says he was “pleasantly shocked” by the subscriber numbers for Apple Music. However, Iovine says the new streaming service still faces challenges.
“For many people outside of the U.S. (Apple Music launched in 100 countries), you still have to explain what it is and how it works,” he says. “Beyond that, there’s still the issue of winning over millennials, who never pay for music, by showing them you’re offering something that will improve their lives. And finally, there are people out there who I think understand its value, but we still have to go out and get them.”
Despite that, he’s convinced Apple can leverage its clout to create a shift in music consumption similar to the one that happened in 2003 when Steve Jobs introduced iTunes.
Cue also shared some numbers for another of Apple’s digital content delivery systems, noting that July was a record month for App Store transactions, with $1.7 billion in sales, thanks to strong numbers in China. Cue also shared that Apple has paid out $33 billion to developers since the App Store’s 2008 debut.
