Janet Ingber
Apple Music is Apple’s very accessible music streaming service that was launched on June 30, 2015. It offers more than 75 million songs, radio stations, and music videos. There are no ads and content can be downloaded to your device to play offline. Apple Music can be synced between devices. Siri can execute many Apple Music commands such as "play a song,"play analbum," "play playlists," and "display song lyrics."
Apple Music works on all Apple devices and many non-Apple devices. In this article, I will discuss Apple Music on iOS, macOS, watchOS, and Amazon’s Alexa. It is supported on other devices including PCs with the PC version of iTunes, Android devices with the Android Apple Music app, and Sonos.
Signing Up
Apple Music offers three basic subscriptions: individual, family, and student. The individual plan is $9.99 per month or $99 per year. The family membership costs $14.99 per month and allows up to six family members. Each family member has their own content. Student membership costs $4.99 per month. The student subscription has certain requirements. No matter which subscription you choose, you will have a free trial. Any subscriber or free trial user has access to all of Apple Music’s content. Begin the sign-up process by selecting the Music App on your iPad or iPhone. Another option is to visit this page. Next, select the Listen Now or For You tab. On the new screen select the trial offer and then select your subscription plan.
Next, sign in with the Apple ID and password that you use to make purchases. If you do not have one, select Create New Apple ID. You will be asked to confirm billing information and form of payment. Next, select the Join button. Once you have subscribed, you will be asked to choose your favorite artists and genres. The sooner the process is completed, the sooner Apple Music can make recommendations for you. Apple Music will continue to make recommendations based on the music you are playing.
Apple Music on an iOS device
At the top right of the iOS device screen is the My Account button. The button is there only when the Listen Now tab is selected. Options in this section include Redeem a Gift Card or Code, Set up Profile, and Notifications. At the bottom of the screen are five tabs: Listen Now, Browse, Radio, Library, and Search.
Listen Now
The Listen Now tab contains a lot of information including Recommended Music, Recently Added, New Releases, Made for You, and Recently Played. Headings navigation can be used to get to some of the sections. There is a scroll bar on the right side of the screen that brings you to the different pages in Listen Now.
Browse
The next tab is Browse. Use it to check out music charts, find playlists curated by Apple, and get information about new music. This tab also contains playlists based on activity or mood. Examples include Party, Fitness, and Feel Good. Select the button for the option you want. The new screen will have playlists for your selection.
Radio
The third tab is Radio. At the top is information about Apple’s three live radio stations: Apple Music (which plays new music), Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country. Underneath each listing is a Schedule button, which brings up a list of programs, hosts, and show times. Beneath the Schedule button is the Play button. The Radio tab also contains a list of radio stations that Apple thinks you will like, based on your listening habits. These radio stations are not live. You can also ask Apple Music to create a station for you.
Library
The next tab is Library. All your music can be found here, including music you have imported or purchased from the iTunes Store. If you want to download a song, Apple Music lets you do that. The advantage of downloading means an internet connection or WiFi is not necessary. The disadvantage of downloading music is that it takes up space on your device.
Once the Library tab is activated, at the top of the screen are buttons including Playlists, Artists, Albums, Songs, and Downloaded. In the upper right corner is an Edit button. Selecting this lets you re-order the buttons. VoiceOver gives clear instructions.
What is on your screen depends on which button is selected. For example, selecting Playlists brings up a list of all your playlists. At the top of the list is a button labeled New Playlist. When selected, you will be prompted to enter a name and, if you want, a description. Next is an Add Music button. This will bring you to the Search form. Below, I will describe other ways to add music from the Search tab and when playing content.
Search
The final tab is Search. The form is at the top of the page. You can search by artist name, song title, song lyrics, a particular mood, or an activity. There are radio buttons to search Apple Music or your Library. Results will appear under the search form. If you go to the search tab and do not enter a search query, there is a list of search categories including Music Genres, DJ Mixes, Essentials, and Charts.
If your search results are a compilation, such as an album, list of songs by a particular artist, or a list compiled by Apple Music, you will have the option to play music or shuffle and then play the music. Flicking up or down on a particular track gives options to delete it, add it to your library, or activate it. Depending on your search, there might be artists, albums, pre-made playlists, or individual songs in your search results. Select the result you want. VoiceOver speaks what you have selected. Go through the content with standard VoiceOver gestures.
The Now Playing Screen
A Now Playing screen will load when music starts playing. A MiniPlayer is just above the five tabs. There are buttons to play and go to the next track. Left of these buttons is an option called Album Artwork. If you continue flicking left a couple of times and then flick back right, VoiceOver will say, “MiniPlayer Album Artwork.” Either way, activate the Album Artwork option. A Now Playing screen will load. On the screen are the song title and artist. Next is a More button. Selecting it brings up options including Share, Show Album (if the content is on an album), Add to a Playlist, View Lyrics (for Apple Music songs only) and Create Station. When done, select the Dismiss Pop-Up button in the upper left corner. You will once again be on the Now Playing screen.
Under the More button are Track Position, Previous Track, Play, Next Track, and Volume. The remaining options are Auto Play and Playback Destination. At the top left corner is a button to dismiss the Now Playing screen.
Making a Playlist
Select the More button on the Now Playing Screen and then choose Add to Playlist. On the next screen is a list of your playlists. Select the one you want for the song that is playing.
Apple Music on the Mac
Apple Music can be used on the Mac, but I prefer the interface on iOS devices. Open the Music App. The easiest way to learn the Mac’s layout is to use VO + Left Arrow and VO + Right Arrow. Using Tab and Shift+ Tab will get you some of the information. The layout is different from iOS. For example, the player is near the top of the Music window. The tabs and all the music are in the sidebar.
Playing Music
The first playback option is a Shuffle button. Next are three buttons labeled Previous, Play, and Next. Here are basic commands for playing music.
The LCD Section
To the right of the Player is the LCD Section. When a song is playing, the LCD section gives information about the song including title, artist, time elapsed, and total time. Also in the LCD section is a More button, which brings up many options including Add to Library, Download, Add to Playlist, Create Station, and Share.
The Lyrics button is further to the right. Once it is selected, go to the bottom of the window. You will be at the end of the lyrics. Either use Up Arrow or Shift + Tab to jump to the start of the lyrics.
The Sidebar
All your music is listed in the sidebar table. Some categories are already there, including Songs, Artists, Albums, and Recently Played. Your own playlists and Apple Music playlists also will be in the sidebar, as will Apple Music options including Listen Now, Browse, Radio, and Library. Check out the View menu for sorting options. There is a Search edit box at the top of the table. Enter your query and results will be under the edit box.
Creating a Playlist
To create a playlist, begin the process by typing Command-N and then entering a name for your playlist. If you want to add one song at a time, locate the song and bring up the contextual menu. Select Add to a Playlist. Find the name of your playlist and select it. To add a list of contiguous songs, follow the same procedure and select all the songs before using the contextual menu.
Apple Music on the Apple Watch
Apple Music that you have recently played is automatically available on the Watch. Music can be synced either from your iPhone or from the Music app on your watch.
Syncing with the Apple Watch
Open the Music app on your watch. Next, select Library or Listen Now. Find the music you want to add and select it. By flicking up or down there are other options including Download and Activate. Music is added to the watch only when the watch is on its charger and connected to WiFi.
Adding Music Using your iPhone
Open the Watch app on your iPhone and select the My Watch tab. Then select the Music app. On the next screen, just below the Playlists and Albums, is an Add Music button. Select it to get a list of categories including Albums, Artists, and Playlists. Select whatever you want to add and then select the Add to Playlist button in the upper right corner. This will bring you back to the screen with the Add Music button. Under the button is a list of content you have chosen to add. Content cannot be added until the watch is on its charger and near your iPhone.
Apple Music on Amazon Alexa
Alexa can play albums, artists, playlists, and genres. Alexa can also skip songs and play radio stations. Give Alexa a command such as “Play my Stevie Wonder playlist on Apple Music.” You can also make Apple Music your default music player. Once you do this, you just have to tell Alexa what you want to hear.
Begin the set-up process by opening the Alexa app and selecting the More tab at the bottom of the screen. Next, select Skills and Games. The next screen has a Search button in the upper right corner. Select it and an edit box will open. Enter Apple Music and select the Search button in the lower right corner. Results are under the edit box. Select “Apple Music. Music & Audio.” Follow the prompts to link your account.
You can make Apple Music the default player for Alexa. Select the More tab on the Home screen and then select Music and Podcasts. At the top of the screen is a Settings heading. You may be at the bottom of the screen when it first loads. Under this heading is a “Tap to Change Default Services” link. Select this option. On the new screen, choose Apple Music. Now you can tell Alexa what to play without having to add “on Apple Music.”
Conclusion
Apple Music is very accessible and Siri can perform many related tasks. Personally, I like Apple Music better on the iPhone than on the Mac. Having Apple Music on the Apple Watch is convenient especially when you do not have your iPhone with you. Having Apple Music on Amazon Alexa is a nice additional feature and makes the service more useful for those who don't have all their devices on one platform.
This article is made possible in part by generous funding from the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust, Huntington, West Virginia.
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