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Photo Credit: Alexander Shatov<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Apple Music has long been a streaming service that provided all users with the same level of service regardless of their subscription plan. But code spotted in the developer beta<\/a> for Apple Music on Android includes some lines that don\u2019t apply to the current version of the service as we know it.<\/p>\n These lines include \u201cPremium access required,\u201d and references to reaching a \u201cskip limit.\u201d But Apple doesn\u2019t currently offer a \u201cpremium\u201d tier at all, nor does it offer any tiers that receive a limited service to users for a cheaper price. Of course, there\u2019s the 30-day free trial, but that doesn\u2019t provide users with limited service, which rules it out.<\/p>\n Some users suspect<\/a> it could be for something unrelated, such as radio stations\u2014but that also doesn\u2019t add up without an overhaul of Apple\u2019s current radio stations.<\/p>\n Either way, such a subscription tier would undoubtedly not be free; Apple Music has never been offered completely free to users outside of certain promotions, such as coupled with a mobile phone contract.<\/p>\n However, that doesn\u2019t mean Apple couldn\u2019t start offering a free, ad-supported tier. But the company has long spoken against it<\/a>, believing such a model works against artists and devalues their music.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s not the right thing for songwriters and artists to just say, you know what, we\u2019re going to give this away for free,\u201d said Apple Music VP Oliver Schusser last month. \u201cEspecially with the very little monetization that artists and songwriters are going to get in return.\u201d<\/p>\n Needless to say, any new tier from Apple probably won\u2019t be offered for free. But that doesn\u2019t mean it couldn\u2019t happen; just that it seems very unlikely.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nIt seems more akin to offerings from Spotify, which could indicate that Apple is testing the waters with cheaper plans with certain restrictions. That could include features like a skip system, either for radio stations or Apple Music proper.<\/h4>\n