Apple releases a preorder for their new classical music streaming app

Apple is launching a brand-new music streaming service that focuses on classical music.According to Apple, the new Apple Music Classical app will provide Apple Music subscribers access to more than 5 million classical music tracks, including new releases in high-quality audio, as well as hundreds of curated playlists, thousands of exclusive albums, and other features like composer bios and deep dives on important works. This is based on its 2021 acquisition of Amsterdam-based streamer Primephonic.

Since it was in the most recent OS updates that developers got, it was thought that the service was almost done, but the exact launch date wasn’t known yet.

Even though the software is being released today, it is now only available for preorder on the App Store. The publication date is scheduled for March 28. Also, at launch, the app will only work with iOS devices running iOS 15.4 or newer.

Even though it’s very different from the tech-forward features that Apple Music’s competitor Spotify announced this week, like AI and video-based discovery feeds, the company’s decision to target classical music listeners with a separate app is one thing that sets its subscription service apart.

Instead, Apple Music Classical will offer a straightforward user interface for exploring classical music. To find recordings, users will be able to do searches by composer, work, conductor, or even catalog number. Up to 192 kHz/24-bit Hi-Res lossless audio can be streamed from them in good quality. Also accessible will be thousands of recordings in Apple’s immersive spatial audio.

Before listening to the recordings, the app lets users read notes about the composers and summaries of their most important works.Apple commissioned artists to create high-resolution digital portraits of famous composers, which will be made public. More will be added throughout the year. They were created using color schemes and visual elements from the corresponding ancient era. At the time of launch, portraits of Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, and Johann Sebastian Bach will be accessible.

Over time, the service will also be updated with new songs. According to Apple, it has been collaborating with classical music performers and institutions to provide exclusive recordings and content at launch and will do so in the future. Users can currently follow news and updates on the app and new music releases on the @appleclassical Twitter account.

As Apple Music Classical is delivered as part of the Apple Music subscription, there is no extra cost. For example, subscribers to the Individual ($10.99/mo), Student ($5.99/mo), Family ($16.99/mo), and Apple One bundles will all be able to access the app.

Similar to Apple Music’s app, the service will support Android “soon,” despite being iOS-only at first.