Spotify, YouTube Music, and Pandora are indeed among the most popular music streaming apps. But Apple Music consistently tops the list of best music streaming apps. This rise in popularity has created lucrative business opportunities to build an app like Apple Music among leading entrepreneurs.
According to a study by Research Nester, the world market for music streaming was worth $34.53 billion in 2022, and it’s projected to keep growing at a rate of 14.4% per year from 2023 to 2030. Pretty impressive, Right?
Now, if you are looking to build an app like Apple Music, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll discuss the steps, features, costs, benefits and monetization methods to build a top-notch app like Apple Music.
So, let’s begin!
What is Apple Music?
Apple Music is a service that lets you watch music and videos. It was made by Apple Inc. Users can choose songs to stream to their device whenever they want or listen to sets that are already made.
With Apple songs, users can download songs to the computer and listen to them when they’re not online. The service also gives users unique suggestions based on how they listen to music and has features like Apple Music Radio.
This has stations chosen for different feelings and types of music. So, if you are intrigued with the idea to build an app like Apple Music, then it is best to first consult with a music streaming app development company.
Future Predictions & Projections Of Apple Music
Let us show you a few intriguing facts about Apple Music before you develop a music streaming app. It needs to be very well planned out before getting into this business. Let’s look at a few of them below:
- In 2024, 93 million people had signed up for Apple Music.
- Most of the time, the site gives $0.01 per stream.
- Apple Music had 12.6% of all music streaming users around the world.
- According to a study by J.P. Morgan, Apple Music will have more than 110 million subscribers and make more than $7 billion in sales by the end of 2025.
- The global market for music streaming is expected to bring in US$33.59bn in 2024.
- As per GrandViewResearch, the world market for music streaming was worth USD 34.53 billion in 2022, and it’s projected to keep growing at a rate of 14.4% per year from 2023 to 2030.
- The sales are expected to grow at a rate of 5.02% per year from 2024 to 2029, which will bring the market size to US$42.92bn by 2029.
- By 2029, the Music Streaming service like Deezer market is expected to have about 1.2 billion people.
How Does Music Streaming App Work?
If you want to start your own business and build an app like Apple Music, the first thing you will want to know is “how do I use the Apple Music app?” In order to understand how the Apple Music app works, our entertainment app development company gave a very simple explanation.
1. Sign Up
Before anything else, users need an Apple ID. If they don’t already have an Apple ID, they can make one for free on the Apple website or with an Apple product.
2. Subscribe
Now users sign up for Apple Music once they have an Apple ID. They can pick from different payment plans, such as plans for one person or for the whole family.
3. Download the App
Users can get the Apple Music app for their iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Android phone or tablet.
4. Explore and Discover
The app’s structure is made to help you look around and find new songs. Users can look through tracks, charts, and different types of music to find songs like.
5. Create Playlists
Users can order favorite songs by making their own playlists. They can also follow mixes that Apple Music artists or other users have put together.
6. Listen Offline
It’s possible to listen to songs or groups when users are not online. This is very helpful when they can’t connect to the internet.
Step-by-Step Process To Build An App Like Apple Music
Now let us cut to the development part and find out how you can make an app like Apple Music. Go through the mobile app development process below and learn about multiple ways of music streaming app development:
1. Validate Your App Idea
To build an app like Apple Music, you should first talk to an IT consulting services provider source about your app idea. This step has the team keeping an eye on the apps that are really doing well in the market right now.
Check out the top music streaming apps in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to find these types of best streaming music apps. Compare your app to the ones that have the most users, the best ratings, and the most reviews to see which ones are the best.
Once you’ve got these apps, you can test them to see what functions you still need and how well they work. Take some time to write down the things that your app needs to have.
2. Know Your Competitor Apps
There are now apps on the market that you need to find. Take an example of an app like Spotify. It has gotten a lot of users very quickly. What unique or special things they are doing and what they need to work on.
Here, you can see how your business stacks up against others in the same field, which will help you figure out what you’re doing well and what you need to work on.
When you build an app like Apple Music, checking your app’s performance against those of competitors gives you a way to measure its success. It lets you make smart changes and improvements that will make your offering more competitive.
3. Secure Music Licensing
An artist, label, or record company owns the music you stream, so you will need to get a license. It’s important to do this to protect your business from theft, copyright violations, and other legal problems. So, before you create a mobile app like Apple Music, you can use the following two types of rights to share songs on Apple songs, for example.
- Sound Recording License Agreements.
- Musical Composition License Agreement.
Get legal help and permission that fits the type of app you want to make and your goals. Stream legal material to stay out of trouble. Even though this might have a catch—licensing fees can be high—you have to follow these rules. Besides that, you should also pay attention to following the rules that apply to your area.
4. Make a Visually Appealing Interface
You can hire a podcast app development services provider if you want to build an app like Apple Music that is better made and easier for people to use. Make sure that the app works well for both new and experienced artists.
If you add smooth watching and podcast listening, people who use the Apple Music apps to play music will be happy. Look over your design often and make changes that will help people use it better. Additionally, inform them of your perspective.
5. Build an Apple Music-like App
You can create an app like Apple Music once you’re done with the design. In every step of the way, think about what will make your app unique. First, make sure the Apple Music streaming app is stable and works well so people can make changes without any issues.
If you want to make a music streaming app like Apple Music that is truly unique, you should hire an on demand app development company to add cool features to it.
6. Test and Launch the App
You are now testing your music player app’s functions and features to make sure they work the way you want them to. Different situations, like when your app is busy or under a lot of stress, can be used to test how well it works.
Make all the plans you need to in order to get your apps like Soundcloud or Apple Music into app stores. Both Apple and Google have rules that the apps must follow.
If you don’t follow these rules and standards, your application might not be accepted during the review process. Because of these delays, your app may need a lot of changes before it can be made public.
7. Promote and Update
After putting your music streaming app on app stores, you need to sell it. Mobile app marketing is more than just simple ASO or posts on social media.
If you want your app to do well in a market controlled by apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, you need a well-rounded marketing plan. Additionally, you need to timely update your music streaming app with the app maintenance services for the entertainment industry.
Must-have Features To Develop An App Like Apple Music
It’s time to make the first step to create an app like Apple Music: choose the features you want your streaming music app to have. What kinds of sophisticated functions can you give those who sign up for your special package? To make your task easy, here are some of the most crucial features to add when you build an app like Apple Music:
1. Registration
The user sign up should be done on social networks like Facebook, where they can talk to their friends and share songs. Also, you should be able to sign up by email as well.
2. Automatic Download
This feature makes sure that any new music you buy or add to your playlists is saved instantly to your device, making it easy to listen to.
3. Lossless and Hi-Res Audio
For audiophiles, an on-demand music streaming app development company adds Lossless and Hi-Res Audio features that offer perfect sound quality that brings out every detail of the recording.
4. Spatial Audio
When you build an app like Apple Music, allow users to make an engaging experience that makes the music seem like it’s all around them.
5. Apple Music Classical
Apple Music Classical has a huge library of classical music that is carefully chosen by experts to please fans. So, when you make an app like Apple Music, add this feature in your app.
6. Lyrics And Karaoke Mode
Users can sing along with their favorite songs or just follow along with the lyrics in Karaoke Mode just like an app like Boomplay.
7. Database of Playlists
When you build an app like Apple Music, the app has a huge library of songs that have been carefully chosen to fit any mood or event.
8. Radio And TuneIn Integration
When Radio and TuneIn work together, users can listen to a lot of different radio sources and podcasts. You can also add this feature in your app by working with a podcast app development company.
9. Apple Music Replay
Apple Music Replay shows users’ favorite songs and bands and makes a list of what they listen to most.
10. Personalized Recommendations
When you make an app like Apple Music, personalized suggestions suggest new songs based on what the user likes, so they can keep finding new things.
11. SharePlay
When you make an app like Apple Music, allow users who can listen to songs with friends or family on SharePlay, making it a shared hearing experience.
12. Siri Integration
You must hire mobile app developers to add voice commands that can be used to control Apple Music with Siri, which makes it easy to play, stop, or skip songs.
13. Apple Music Sing
Apple Music Sing now has a karaoke-style tool that lets people sing along to their favorite songs with help from the words and the pitch.
Best Music Streaming Apps Like Apple Music
The success of your music app might depend on how you use ideas from the biggest names in the business. The most popular and best music streaming applications will be shown below.
Top Apps Like Apple Music | Available Platform | Downloads | Ratings |
Pandora | Android | iOS | 100M+ | 3.6 |
TIDAL | Android | iOS | 100M+ | 4.4 |
Youtube Music | Android | iOS | 1B+ | 4.2 |
iHeart | Android | iOS | 50M+ | 4.8 |
Spotify | Android | iOS | 1B+ | 3.5 |
Challenges & Solutions Of Music Streaming App Development
As we all know, when we build an app like Apple Music or other, many challenges come. To help you get through each problem, we’ll look at some issues that might come up while you’re making a music streaming service.
1. Music licensing
To get the right licenses to play music just as an app like Audiomack, you have to deal with complicated copyright rules and record labels, which can take a lot of time and cost a lot of money.
- Solution: You can build an app like Apple Music for Android without any problems if you hire experienced lawyers to help you understand licensing deals. Form agreements with content companies and record labels to make the process easier.
2. Finding Experienced Music App Developers
It’s not easy to find and hire dedicated developers who know how to make both music streaming apps and other apps like apple music. Still, you need a team that can make a music streaming service that is easy to use.
- Solution: Use professional networks, freelance platforms, and recommendations to do a lot of study. Hire developers who have a lot of experience making music streaming applications and a track record of success.
3. Data Storage and Scalability Management
Strong storage options are needed to manage large music files and user data. A constant worry is making sure that the app can grow to support more users and tracks while keeping its standard high.
- Solution: When you create an app like Apple Music, use cloud storage services that can be expanded, or use information Delivery Networks to get information to more people while reducing computer load. To get the most out of your files, you can also use data splitting and fast indexing.
4. Audio Quality and Compression Balance
It is hard to find the right mix between streaming high-quality music and using as little data as possible. It takes time and work to find the right answer for music streaming app development so that you can offer great sound quality without affecting the stability of playing when you build an app like Apple Music.
- Solution: To keep the quality of the audio while using as little data as possible, choose a cloud-based music streaming app Like TIDAL or Apple Music and advanced audio compression techniques. Use flexible streaming to change the quality of the sound based on the speed that is available, or give people access to music when they are not online.
How Much Does It Cost To Develop An App Like Apple Music?
If you have decided to build an app like Apple Music, obviously, you would like to know its budget. But before you get to know the cost to build a music streaming app like Apple Music, it is crucial to be aware of your project requirements.
It plays a vital role in deciding the music streaming app development cost. But but but…we can provide a basic estimate as the definite cost is not possible to determine. It lies between $8000-$30000 or go beyond. Let’s look at the table of cost to create an app like Apple Music for a clear picture.
App Complexity | Cost Estimation |
Simple Music Streaming App | $8000-$15000 |
Medium Music Streaming App | $15000-$25000 |
Complex Music Streaming App | $30000+ |
These are just the estimations, you can calculate the Apple Music app development cost using the below formula:
Apple Music Mobile App Development Cost = Hourly Developers Rate * Development Time
Now you are well-versed with the cost to build a music streaming app like App Music, it is best to consult with a mobile app development company.
Why Is It Important To Fix A Budget For Your Project?
Even though we’ve already talked about the cost to build an app like Apple Music, it’s equally essential to set a budget. You can better understand how all that fits together and take the right steps to build your music streaming app if you make a budget. In order to help your business grow, you should keep these things in mind before you begin:
1. Helps identify the Actual Needs
With a budget, you have to decide which features and functions are most important. Once you know the mobile app development cost, you can figure out what’s really important for your MVP.
2. Aids in Market Research
A budget can help you figure out how big the market might be and how much competition there is. You might need to rethink your business plan if the costs are higher than the possible profits.
3. Need to Save for Marketing
To make a music app like Apple Music a hit, you need to sell it well. A budget makes sure that you have money set aside for things like ads, getting new users, and other marketing activities.
4. Prevents Overspending
A budget keeps you from spending too much on features or music streaming app development costs that you don’t need. If you stick to your plan, you can avoid losing money and make sure your project stays on track.
How Do Music Streaming Apps Make Money?
How can one generate revenue from you to create a music streaming app like Apple Music? The best business that makes music streaming apps can help you come up with strategies that you can use in your app or mix and match to find the best way to make money.
1. In-app Advertising
This model comes with a lot of different audio and video ads that can help you make a lot of money. There are two ways to make money with this model: short audio ads that are mixed in with music, or media ads. It’s important not to use the advertising model too much, though, because users can get annoyed, which makes them less likely to use the app.
2. Partnerships with Brands
As an extra way to make money, you can work with different brands to have paid playlists and special material. Data analytics can also help business owners make personalized suggestions that improve the user experience and boost total sales.
3. Implementing a Freemium Model
This model is one of the best because it has a free tier model with ads that lets you reach more people. This way of making money is appealing because it lets users try it out for free and then pay for extra music app development features.
4. Promotions
Your next step to making money from your app like iHeart or Apple Music is to offer your service to market new or unknown music acts once you have a lot of subscribers. For instance, it’s easy for your app to let as many people as possible know about a new record. This could be a very successful business.
5. Subscription Model
The best model is the subscription based model. Most music streaming services make money by charging users a fee every month or every year to access their libraries of millions of songs. This type of business is known as the membership model, and it’s used by Spotify, Deezer, and Tidal.
Planning To Create An App Like Apple Music?
As a form of healing, music can help people feel better when they are worried. The Apple Music app is one of the best ways to play music and listen to music on the go. Now is the perfect time to build an app like Apple Music and get into the global music streaming market, since Apple Music is so popular.
Do you have an idea for an app that lets you play songs whenever you want? Do you want on demand app development solutions that lets people listen to as much music as they want? Or do you have an idea for a unique feature that you’d like to add to your music streaming app?
Feel free to get in touch with us. Our professional music streaming app developers will help you through the whole process of making an app so that you can use technology to grow your business.
FAQs
Q1. How Long Does It Take To Build An App Like Apple Music?
The time does not always stay the same, it keeps on changing with factors. But usually, it can take around 2-7 months to make an app like Apple Music.
Q2. How Much Does It Cost To Build An App Like Apple Music?
The cost to build an app like Apple Music is between $8000-$30000. But it varies on your project requirements. So, it is best to get a consultation from a reputed music streaming app development services provider.
Q3. What Are the Benefits of Music Streaming App Development?
- Personalized user experience
- Great opportunities for monetization
- High customer retention rates
- Scalability
Q4. How To Develop A Music Streaming App Like Apple Music?
You can build an app like Apple Music in the below steps:
- Conduct deep research
- Create a feature list
- Design user interface
- Develop the backend
- Test your app
- Final launch
Q5. How To Make Money From Your Music Streaming Service?
You can monetize your music streaming app like Pandora or Apple Music by using the below methods:
- In-app purchase
- Freemium mode
- In-app advertisement
- Subscription model