As revealed earlier this month, Apple is ready to launch its new music streaming service ‘iTunes Radio’ on 18 September. With recent deals Apple has inked with major record labels, its free internet radio will provide listeners with a large selection of music and more than 200 stations. As tracks stream on the service, users will also be presented with the option of buying the music through iTunes.
The new music service will feature a video ad every hour and a radio advert every 15 minutes. Apple has signed sponsorship deals with several companies including Nissan, Pepsi and McDonalds. The brands have made a commitment to taking out advertising campaigns for the radio. It is claimed that the adverts for iTunes Radio will be open to brands that are willing to spend a minimum of $1 million with Apple from 2014.
Users will be offered customised stations which they will be able to tailor according to their tastes, depending on the music they listen to on iTunes. Apple will also make available additional stations based on different genres and organised by others.
Apple faced criticism earlier this year from rivals Nokia who accused them of “playing catch-up” after details of the iTunes Radio station surfaced. The new integrated radio player will be available as part of an iOS7 update for all iOS devices including iTunes on PCs and Apple TV. While iTunes Radio will reflect Pandora’s personalised and artist driven stations, it will not have the same restrictions on consecutive plays and skipping.