Musicbusinessworldwide.com
Apple Music subscribers will soon be paying more, as Apple has announced a global price increase across its streaming plans, citing higher music licensing costs.
The new pricing took effect on July 17, marking the service’s first subscription increase in nearly four years. In the United States, the Individual plan now costs $11.99 per month, up from $10.99, while the Family plan rises from $16.99 to $19.99. The Student subscription also increases by one dollar to $6.99 per month.
Similar price adjustments are rolling out internationally. In the UK, Individual and Family plans have increased to £11.99 and £19.99, respectively, while subscribers across Europe will now pay €11.99 for Individual plans, €19.99 for Family plans and €6.99 for Student memberships.
In a statement announcing the changes, Apple said the increase reflects rising licensing expenses associated with streaming music.
New customers will pay the updated prices immediately, while existing subscribers will transition to the higher rates beginning with their next billing cycle after receiving advance notice from the company.
The move comes nearly four years after Apple Music’s previous price adjustment in October 2022, when the Individual plan increased from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. At the time, Apple similarly attributed the change to higher licensing costs, noting that increased subscription revenue would support higher payments to artists and songwriters.
Despite the latest increase, Apple Music remains slightly less expensive than its largest competitor in the United States. Spotify raised prices earlier this year, bringing its Individual plan to $12.99 per month, while Family and Student subscriptions now cost $21.99 and $6.99, respectively.
The price hike reflects a broader shift across the streaming industry, where platforms have increasingly embraced regular subscription increases as licensing expenses climb and profitability becomes a greater focus.
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