Recently, Apple has announced a new agreement for its music streaming service, iTunes. The agreement comes with several changes that will affect both music creators and consumers. Here is an overview of the new iTunes agreement.

First and foremost, Apple will now be paying music creators on a per-stream basis. This means that payouts will be based on the number of plays a song receives. This is a significant departure from the previous agreement, which paid a set amount per download. While this change will likely lead to lower payouts for many creators, it also means that lesser-known artists will have an opportunity to earn money from their music on the platform.

Another important change in the agreement is that Apple will now allow creators to offer exclusive content to subscribers. This could include bonus tracks or early access to new releases. This move is likely an attempt to compete with other streaming services such as Tidal, which has been successful in attracting subscribers with exclusive content from major artists.

Additionally, Apple will begin offering personalized playlists to users. These playlists will be created based on the user’s listening history and will be updated regularly. This feature is similar to the “Discover Weekly” playlist on Spotify, which has been highly popular with users.

Finally, the new agreement also includes changes to the way Apple handles copyright claims. Previously, copyright holders could request that Apple remove copyrighted content from the platform. However, under the new agreement, they will have the option to simply have the content hidden from view. This means that the content will still be available to users who have already added it to their libraries, but it will not be searchable or available for new downloads.

In summary, Apple’s new iTunes agreement includes several significant changes that will impact both music creators and consumers. While the move to per-stream payouts may be controversial, the addition of personalized playlists and exclusive content could make iTunes a more attractive option for music lovers. As always, it will be interesting to see how these changes play out in the competitive music streaming industry.