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Apple Music streaming service could offer three-month free trial

Apple could offer users up to three months of free access to its planned music streaming service, according to reports on Friday.

Depending on the outcome of talks with music publishers, Recode reports, customers will be able to get a trial ranging anywhere from one to three months.

Apple is reportedly railing against free streaming for its big Beats relaunch, but apparently it isn’t against giving users a complementary taste of the good stuff.

The company is said to be lobbying with record companies to put the kibosh on the free listening options offered by existing platforms like Spotify.

Elsewhere, the report also revealed several other potential details for the service, including a SoundCloud-like feature that would allow rights owners to upload some tracks that would be available to listen to subscription free.

The Beats/Apple Music relaunch will also integrate a new version of iTunes Radio, according to the sources.

The new offering would centre around localised, human-curated playlists rather than the machine algorithms currently powering the service. Apple has been working with Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe in recent months, while also bringing top BBC producers on board in order to make this happen, the report claims.

Read more:
Apple Beats relaunch: The story so far

Apple is set to announce the platform at its forthcoming WWDC event next month. While the details will surely be revealed during the annual developers’ conference, the launch may have to wait.

Reports this week have suggested Apple is still attempting to hammer out agreements with rights holders. The company may also be subjected to prying eyes from the FCC in the United States over potential competition fears.

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