Apple Music Raises Subscription Prices for First Time in Over Two Years

Apple has increased the prices of its Apple Music streaming service across multiple countries, including the United States, marking the first such hike since late 2022. The company cited higher costs for music licensing as the reason for the price increase. The new pricing took effect immediately for new subscribers, while existing users will see the changes on their next billing cycle. Apple Music offers individual, family, and student plans, though the exact new prices vary by market. This move comes as streaming services face rising royalty payments to record labels and artists. Apple Music, launched in 2015, competes with services like Spotify and Amazon Music. The last price adjustment was in October 2022, when Apple raised its individual plan from $9.99 to $10.99 per month in the U.S. The current increase follows a broader trend in the industry, as licensing costs continue to climb. While Apple did not detail the specific hikes for each plan, the company confirmed that the changes apply to most regions where Apple Music is available. The service currently has over 100 million songs and is integrated with Apple's ecosystem. Subscribers were notified via email and in-app messages. Some users expressed frustration on social media, but analysts say the increase was expected given the competitive landscape and rising operational expenses.