According to tipster Aaron Perris, who shared details on X (formerly Twitter) on May 30, Apple may be developing a free or low-cost subscription tier for Apple Music.
Perris discovered two new strings in the Android beta version of the Apple Music app: “Cannot skip any more songs” and “Some features require advanced permissions to use.” These hints suggest that Apple could be planning to introduce a tiered subscription system for its music streaming service in the future.
However, Perris cautioned that these code strings could also be related to other features such as internet radio, and may not necessarily represent a new subscription plan.
Notably, Apple Music head Oliver Schusser previously told Bloomberg: “I have always believed that the free model is a terrible idea. Apple Music is the only major music service without a free tier, and we are proud of that.”
Currently, Apple Music offers Individual, Family, and Student subscription plans. In China, pricing starts at 11 yuan (~$1.50 USD) per month for individuals and 17 yuan (~$2.35 USD) for families, with new users eligible for a one-month free trial and students paying just 6 yuan (~$0.83 USD) per month.
