Apple Music may add free or lower-cost subscription tier

Apple is reportedly developing a new subscription tier for its Apple Music service, potentially introducing a free or lower-cost option for the first time. The move, suggested by code discovered in a beta version of the Apple Music app, would mark a significant strategic shift for the company, which has long championed a premium, ad-free, paid-only model.

The evidence comes from strings of code found in the latest Apple Music for Android beta by analyst Aaron Perris. The code includes error messages such as "Can't skip any more tracks" and "Premium access required." These phrases point toward a tiered access system where features like unlimited song skipping would be reserved for paying subscribers, a model commonly used by competitors like Spotify.

The exact nature and limitations of this potential new tier remain unclear. The specific reference to "tracks" in the code suggests it may be limited to on-demand music listening and not include other content like radio shows. It is unknown whether high-end features such as Lossless Audio, Spatial Audio, and DJ transitions would be available. A key question is whether the tier would be supported by advertising. Historically, Apple...