Apple Music’s First Price Rise in Four Years Arrives

Nobody welcomes another monthly price rise but, to be fair, Apple last adjusted Music subscriptions in October 2022. Before that, it held its US Individual plan at US$9.99 for seven years following the service’s 2015 launch. Compared with some rivals’ increasingly regular adjustments, that is a pretty meaningful stretch of stability.

US customers will now pay US$11.99 per month for an Individual membership, up from US$10.99. Family rises more sharply, moving from US$16.99 to US$19.99.

In the UK, Individual and Family plans will now cost £11.99 and £19.99 respectively, while European pricing has reached €11.99 and €19.99. Australian subscribers face increases from A$12.99 to A$14.99 for Individual and A$19.99 to A$23.99 for Family. Student prices have also increased in most affected territories, although the UK plan remains unchanged at £5.99.

“As a result of rising licensing costs, Apple Music is increasing its subscription price beginning today,” Apple said in a statement provided to Music Business Worldwide.

While the rollout is global, it is not completely uniform. At the time of writing, Apple’s regional websites listed Individual membership at S$11.98 in Singapore and HK$78 in Hong Kong. Local pricing and implementation may therefore continue to vary as the changes reach additional markets. For music enthusiasts, there is, of course, another consideration: what does the subscription actually deliver?

Apple Music includes lossless audio across a catalogue it often markets of more than 100 million tracks, with Hi-Res Lossless extending to 24-bit/192kHz. Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio and Apple Music Classical are included too, without requiring listeners to move onto a more expensive sound-quality tier.

Spotify has closed part of that gap by introducing lossless playback at up to 24-bit/44.1kHz FLAC across most of its catalogue. Even so, Apple Music remains slightly cheaper in several important markets. Spotify Premium Individual currently costs US$12.99, £12.99 and A$15.99, one unit of local currency more than Apple Music in each territory. Spotify counters with extensive Spotify Connect compatibility, audiobook access on selected plans and a familiar collection of discovery and social features.

Apple’s higher maximum resolution also comes with a qualification. Reaching 24-bit/192kHz requires appropriate equipment, including an external USB DAC in many installations. Simply selecting Hi-Res Lossless does not guarantee that every device or wireless connection will reproduce it at full resolution.

Then there is Qobuz, which remains a firm favourite among listeners who build their streaming choices around a dedicated hi-fi system. Qobuz provides lossless FLAC at up to 24-bit/192kHz, backed by strong editorial content, permanent album purchases and increasingly convenient hardware integration through Qobuz Connect.

Its Studio Solo plan costs US$12.99 or £12.99 when paid monthly, while annual membership brings those figures down to the equivalent of US$10.83 and £10.83 per month, undercutting Apple in both markets. Australian pricing sits higher at A$19.99 monthly or approximately A$16.65 on an annual plan.

Qobuz does not have the same reach, however. The service currently accepts subscriptions in 26 countries and remains unavailable to new local subscribers in several important Asian markets, including Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Indonesia. While again Apple Music’s increase will disappoint subscribers, particularly families facing the largest jump, its almost four years of stable pricing should not be overlooked.

Apple remains widely available and competitively priced, Qobuz retains its specialist audiophile appeal, and Spotify continues to lead on convenience. Choosing between them now depends less on a single headline price and more on where you live, the equipment you own and how you enjoy listening.

Share What You’re Listening to on ENCORE