17 Astonishing Apple Music Statistics to Get in Tune with in 2023

Do you remember the times when MP3s were still a thing? Ages ago, right? Since the early 2000s, the music industry has taken a step ahead thanks to several major companies.

You already know who Steve Jobs is and why Apple is so popular worldwide. Still, how much do you know about its music streaming segment?

Apple Music had a rocky start, facing serious competition in the face of Spotify and YouTube. However, it has grown into one of the industry leaders.

Is this just because of Apple’s fame?

Let’s take a look at some Apple Music statistics to find the answer.

Loud Apple Music Statistics (Editor's Choice):

• Apple Music was first released in 2015 for Android users.
• In 2020, the platform was available in 167 countries.
• It had 72 million subscribers in June 2020.
• Apple Music’s 2020 revenue was $4.1 billion.
• Streaming revenues account for over 62% of the total global recorded music revenue.
• Apple Music was holding 16% of the global music streaming market share in Q1 2021.
• The platform has more than 75 million songs.
• Every time someone listens to a song for at least 30 seconds, Apple counts it as a play.
• Users played Drake’s Scorpion 170 million times on the day of its release.

Apple Music Stats 2022—Feel the Rhythm

Will Apple Music dominate the music streaming market? Is it successful because of the brand’s popularity?

Or is the app simply the audience’s favorite?

Loads of assumptions but no concrete answers.

Join us as we discuss some Apple Music stats and peek into the future of the music streaming market.

1. In June 2020, Apple Music had 72 million subscribers.

(Source: Statista)

Apple users are known for being devoted to the brand, which has a lot to do with the increasing number of Apple Music subscribers.

In June 2020, it reached 72 million users worldwide. That’s 12 million more than the same time a year before.

Even though the app is a runner-up to the Swedish company Spotify, it has recorded significant growth since its establishment in 2015.

2. Apple Music had a $4.1 billion revenue in 2020.

(Source: BusinessOfApps)

The history of Apple Music started with a challenge. Overcoming the 22 million subscribers that Spotify had already lured was not an easy task. Better terms and services were its only chance to shine.

Apple started its journey to music streaming by acquiring Beats Electronics. And its efforts quickly paid off.

In 2020, Apple Music’s revenue was estimated at $4.1 billion—7.6% of the company’s total revenue.

3. In 2020, Apple Music was available in 167 countries.

(Source: Apple)

Apple Music has massive coverage. In 2020 alone, it added 52 countries to its list.

But what does that mean for the company? Of course, it increases its pool of potential subscribers. But it also means that the Apple Music demographics are extremely diverse.

So, how does the company manage to target such a diverse audience? For one thing, it provides a huge choice of genres and songs.

4. Apple Music has more than 75 million songs.

(Source: DigitalTrends)

How many songs does Apple Music have? 

In 2021, their count reached 75 million. This makes Apple Music the undisputed leader in the field. It even surpassed its biggest rival, Spotify.

But that’s not all!

Apple has secured loads of new songs through exclusive deals with popular artists. 

5. Apple Music was first launched on Android in 2015.

(Source: TheVerge)

Apple and Android fans don’t see eye to eye. At least, this is the popular opinion. Well, from all the fun facts about Apple Music, we think we found the best one!

The first-ever Apple Music application was launched on Android. The audacity, right?

Even though there were some tweaks in the design, the app still required an Apple ID to sign in.

Apple Music Most Listened To

Tell me what you listen to so I can tell you who you are. Or was it something else?

Some people listen to music only when they go out. Others don’t take off their headphones.

And they all have different tastes in music. Still, there are some genres and artists which are indisputable winners.

Let’s check out some Apple Music statistics to see what people listen to the most.

6. Every time someone listens to a song for at least 30 seconds, Apple Music counts it as a play.

(Source: MusicGateway)

To understand how the application tracks our listening habits, we explored Apple Music For Artists. This feature gives artists an insight into their content performance.

The logic behind the Apple Music listening statistics is simple. The app records as a play every time someone listens to a song for at least 30 seconds.

Similarly, a radio spin is noted if the listener spends 30 seconds or more on an Apple Music radio station.

7. 2020 streaming revenues accounted for over 62% of the total global recorded music revenue.

(Source: Statista)

In 2020, music streaming revenues equaled $13.4 billion. This number is over four times higher than the one from 2015.

And, as we discuss below in the list of statistics, Apple Music accounts for a large portion of that.

8. Users listened to Drake’s Scorpion 170 million times on the day of its release in 2018.

(Source: Mashable)

How do we determine whether a song or an artist is successful? Is it just the number of plays?

Although the whole picture is a bit more complex, Apple Music’s global charts and stats reveal a lot about user preferences.

Let’s take, for example, Drake’s 2018 album Scorpion. It ranked among Apple Music’s top albums and was played 170 million times on the day of its release.

After seeing these numbers, there’s no doubt about the artist’s popularity, right?

9. The most popular genres on Apple Music in 2019 were hip-hop and pop.

(Source: Soda)

Some of the most streamed songs on Apple Music that year were “Highest in the room” by Travis Scott, “Lose You to Love Me” by Selena Gomez, and “Woah” by Lil Baby.

Unfortunately, the 2021 genre statistics for Apple Music are not released yet at the time of writing.

Apple Music vs. Spotify—Let the Showdown Begin!

No company wants to be the runner-up.

In the music streaming industry, the leading spot is split between Apple Music and Spotify. While Apple Music ranks first across the US, Spotify is the leader worldwide.

Is Spotify better than Apple Music?

Or has it simply been longer in the game?

10. Apple Music was holding 16% of the global music streaming market in Q1 2021.

(Source: MidiaResearch)

The streaming music industry has recorded rapid growth in the last decade. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tencent, and Google are in a constant battle for the audiences’ attention.

Apple Music’s market share is 16%, making it the runner-up to Spotify with 32%.

11. Apple Music comes with high-resolution streaming.

(Source: SoundGuys)

Purchasing a monthly subscription for music streaming can be tricky. Most users have to choose just one platform. But what’s better: Apple Music or Spotify?

The differences between the two apps are few, which makes the decision even harder. However, for the true music enthusiast out there, the quality of the sound might tip the scales.

In November 2021, Apple Music took the streaming experience to a whole other level. It improved the quality of the audio significantly for no extra charge. 

12. Apple Music costs $5 for students and $15 for a family plan.

(Source: Spotify)

Pricing plays a small role in the Apple Music vs. Spotify Premium battle. Still, let’s take a look at their offerings.

Both applications offer three months for free and charge $4.99 for students and $9.99 for individual accounts.

The biggest difference is in the family plan pricing. Apple Music charges $14.99 monthly, while Spotify’s subscription is $15.99. However, Spotify also offers a duo package, which gives it back its edge.

13. 745 million people have an Apple subscription.

(Source: Digital Music News)

Apple announced it has 745 million paying subscribers combined from all its platforms. How many of them have an Apple Music subscription?

Unfortunately, the company hasn’t reported its subscriber count since 2019, when it had 60 million paid accounts.

Apple Music Trends

Imagine it is the week between Christmas and New Year. People are reflecting on the past year, making wishes for the new one, and reevaluating previous choices.

Music choices as well. Enters Apple Music Replay.

Was it an original idea?

Or borrowed from Spotify?

What other tricks does the company offer to retain and attract users?

Let’s see.

14. Apple Music Replay offers weekly updates.

(Source: 9to5mac)

It’s the little details that make a difference, isn’t it?

Apple Music Replay and Spotify Wrapped are very similar, there’s no doubt. But Apple has the edge in this comparison.

Replay updates users’ preferences on a weekly basis and subscribers can access them at any time.

15. As of December 2021, Adele holds first place in the worldwide Apple Music song chart.

(Source: Kworb)

iTunes sales reveal a lot about the current trends in the music industry.

At the end of 2021, Adele holds first place in both the iTunes and Apple Music song charts. She won over the audience with the song “Easy on Me” from her latest album, “30.”

According to Apple Music stats, however, she never really left the hearts of her audience. Some of her older songs, such as “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You,” are still among the top 200 tracks on the platform.

16. ‘The Box’ by Roddy Ricch won the Top Song on Apple Music for 2020.

(Source: Gadgets NDTV)

2022 is just beginning, and so the top charts will change surprisingly.

This was exactly the case in 2020. ‘The Box’ by Roddy Ricch ended up taking first place. Apple Music stats reveal subscribers spent 246,000 hours looking up the lyrics of the song. 

‘The Box’ appeared in Shazam searches over 6.7 million times. What’s more, the album ‘Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial’ became the Top Album of 2020.

17. 17% of Apple Music users in the US were aged between 18 and 24 in 2018.

(Source: Statista)

Research on the target audience of a company is essential for boosting sales. Who uses the platform? Unfortunately, there isn’t recent research publicly available.

The latest Apple Music user statistics are from 2018. Data shows that subscribers were uniformly distributed across several age groups.

The 25-34 and 55+ age groups each accounted for 23% of the user base. They were closely followed by the 35-44-year-olds, with 22%. The platform was the least popular among the ages of 45 and 54, holding 15%.

Wrap Up

Music is an essential part of our lives. It can be the background soundtrack or the main focus, but it’s always there for most of us.

And music enthusiasts want the best streaming service—affordable, diverse, and easy to use.

Apple Music?

Spotify?

Your own choice. To help you make it, we gave you an overview of some key Apple Music statistics.

Read our full list above to learn about the platform’s history, performance, and trends.