Apple Music is growing way faster than Spotify in the US, adding five percent to its subscriber base each month, as compared to Spotify’s two percent growth. Now Apple’s streaming service has hit a new milestone: 40 million subscribers, which was first reported by variety. Adding to the milestone mark hit, the smartphone maker also confirmed that it’s long-time Apple executive Oliver Schusser will take over as Vice President of Apple Music and International Content.
Oliver Schusser has worked at the company for 14 years, but mostly in Europe. Schusser will report directly to Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue, and will be in charge of managing Apple Music, as well as running Apple services like the App Store and iTunes outside of the US. Schusser has previously led launches of Apple services including the App Store, iTunes Store, and iBooks for international markets, as well as managed label, studio, and publisher relations for Apple outside the US. This makes him a logical fit for managing the continued growth of Apple Music, particularly as the company looks to continue to expand the reach of the streaming service beyond the US.
Eddy Cue is Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, who reports to CEO Tim Cook. Eddy oversees Apple’s industry-leading content stores including, Apple Music, as well as Apple Pay, Maps, Search Ads, Apple’s innovative iCloud services, and Apple’s productivity and creativity apps. Eddy also leads the newly created team responsible for developing all aspects of Apple’s worldwide video programming. Eddy’s team has an excellent track record of building and strengthening online services to meet and exceed the high expectations of Apple’s customers.
Apple hit its new 40 million subscriber milestone less than a month after iTunes chief Eddy Cue announced 38 million subscribers at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, suggesting the music service is continuing to gain subscribers at a rapid pace. The company had 27 million subscribers last June, 30 million subscribers last September, 36 million subscribers in February, and 38 million subscribers in March. Adding an additional 2 million subscribers to hit 40 million subscribers in April marks Apple Music’s fastest growth yet.
According to Cue, Apple also has an additional eight million people who are testing Apple Music through the three-month free trial that the company offers. A recent report from The Wall Street Journal has suggested that Apple Music is on track to overtake Spotify in U.S. subscribers as soon as this summer because its five percent growth rate per month outpaces Spotify’s two percent growth rate.
Spotify, when it filed for IPO last year, said that it has 70 million paying subscribers in total along with 159 million monthly active users.
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