Long before Apple owned Beats, and long before we had Apple Music, there was iTunes Radio[1]. Launched alongside iOS 7, the streaming service gave users access to free ad-supported content[2] – or ad-free for those also paying for iTunes Match. With the arrival of Apple Music, it's been clear that change was coming to older streaming offerings like iTunes Radio, but ho w, and on what timetable? Apple's just shared some of those details with its users, and it looks like the clock has just about run out on iTunes Radio.
In just a couple weeks, the iTunes Radio we once knew will be no more, as Apple shuts down existing ways to access its content and fully rolls things up into Apple Music.
As of January 29, the ad-supported iTunes Radio will disappear for good, and iTunes Match users will lose their ad-free access, as well; the only way to continue listening to Apple's streams will be through Apple Music. Even then, non-paying users will be limited to the free access they get to Beats 1 – so there will still be a non-subscription music option, just in a different form.
Will you be sad to see iTunes Radio finally go the way of the dodo, or have you been a full-on Apple Music convert for some time now?
References
- ^ there was iTunes Radio (pocketnow.com)
- ^ the streaming service gave users access to free ad-supported content (pocketnow.com)
- ^ iLounge ( www.ilounge.com)
