Apple Music has expanded its reach beyond the Apple ecosystem through a groundbreaking partnership with TuneIn, making its 24/7 live radio stations freely available to millions of listeners worldwide. The collaboration marks the first time Apple’s radio content has ventured outside its native platform, offering TuneIn’s approximately 75 million monthly active users access to Apple Music‘s radio stations without requiring an Apple device or subscription.
The partnership brings six distinct Apple Music radio stations to TuneIn’s platform: Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, Apple Music Country, Apple Música Uno, Apple Music Club, and Apple Music Chill. Listeners can now enjoy contemporary music and artist interviews on Apple Music 1 with hosts like Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden, while Apple Music Hits delivers popular tracks from the 1980s through early 2000s. The lineup also includes genre-specific stations catering to country music enthusiasts and Latin music fans, alongside newly added dance and chillout-focused stations.
TuneIn CEO Rich Stern emphasized the company’s position as a global live audio distributor, noting the seamless integration across devices. The service allows users to stream Apple Music radio content on various platforms, including smart speakers, headphones, and automotive systems from more than 15 car brands, as well as through the TuneIn app and website. Rachel Newman, co-head of Apple Music, stated this partnership aims to strengthen the connection between artists and listeners across a wider audience.
This strategic move comes as Apple Music faces increasing competition in the streaming landscape, with its global music subscription market share declining from 16% in 2020 to 12% in 2024. While still outperforming Amazon Music and YouTube Music, Apple trails behind Spotify’s commanding 32% market share.
Industry analysts view this partnership as part of Apple’s strategy to extend its reach and potentially funnel free radio listeners toward its subscription services. Independent musicians can particularly benefit from this expansion as it provides additional exposure opportunities through curated playlists similar to those offered on other major streaming platforms. This approach aligns with modern music promotion strategies that emphasize the importance of editorial playlists for gaining visibility in a crowded market.
The integration offers TuneIn users prominent placement of Apple Music radio stations through a dedicated discovery carousel, accessible across multiple devices including Apple Watch, CarPlay, Google Home, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Roku, Sonos, Bose, and Chromecast. These stations are particularly valuable as they provide advertising-free listening experience while delivering high-quality programming that may influence the broader radio industry. This expanded accessibility may help Apple regain competitive footing in the increasingly crowded streaming market.
