CUPERTINO, Calif.�Eighteen months after acquiring Beats Music, Apple�is shutting down�the music streaming service at the end of this month.
Apple acquired Beats back inMay 2014 for $3 billion�a price that included �Beats Music, the Beats product line of headphones and speakers and the company�s executives,� according toForbes Magazine. Beats products will still be available for purchase following the streaming service�s shutdown.
All Beats subscriptions will be canceled Nov. 30, but Apple is encouraging subscribers to migrate their user profiles to Apple Music, the music subscription service it launched in June.
The introduction of Apple Music marked a �radical departure from the norm for the electronics giant, which had for years resisted adopting a music subscription model for its customers. The service underscores Apple’s desire to extend itself into more facets of consumers’ lives,� according toCNET.com.� Apple Music offers recommendations based on songs purchased from Apple’s iTunes Store, ripped from CDs or chosen on-demand from an online catalog of more than 30 million titles. �The service also includes a 24/7 �radio station� called Beats 1 and a service called Connect, where artists can present themselves to fans and share songs directly to their iPhones.
“All the pros that curated music for you are still crafting more amazing experiences,” Apple said in the document. “Plus, on Apple Music, you’ll get even better recommendations based on music you already listen to and love, 24/7 global radio with Beats 1, exciting material from your favorite artist, and more.”
CNET is also reporting that Apple moved to extend its reach earlier this week, releasing a test version of its Apple Music streaming service for Google’s Android operating system. �While expected, Apple’s embrace of Android for Apple Music represents a major departure. �Apple’s only other significant Android app helps people switch from an Android device to an Apple one.�
