Apple is reportedly days from launching its Spotify-challenging music-streaming service

Apple is taking on Spotify
(Image credit: CC by: mightykenny)

As soon as next week, Apple will launch a new music-streaming service, directly challenging Spotify, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing music industry executives. Apple still has to finalize licensing deals with the three biggest record companies, but those negotiations are expected to be wrapped up before Apple's worldwide developers' conference next week, where the new service will likely be formally unveiled.

Unlike Spotify, Apple isn't expected to offer a free, ad-supported version of its on-demand streaming; instead, monthly subscriptions will reportedly cost $10. However, Apple will add some human DJs to its free, ad-supported radio streaming service, which competes with Pandora.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.