Beats Music struck an exclusive deal with AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) to offer AT&T customers on family plans a discount on the new streaming music service Beats is launching.
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Beats Music will launch Jan. 21. |
The deal is notable in light of the fact that AT&T is in the process of acquiring Cricket provider Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP), which already has its own Muve Music service. However, under Muve songs are downloaded to customers' phones instead of streamed.
Beats Music, which was reportedly supposed to have launched in 2013, will go live on Jan. 21, with support for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. At launch, all customers can get a free trial of Beats Music, after which the service will cost $9.99 per month.
Beats Music features a catalog of more than 20 million fully licensed songs from all the major labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, as well as all independent labels. The service offers unlimited access to curated music (both streaming and downloaded for offline listening) of the songs, albums and playlists. In addition to personalization technology, Beats Music uses human experts to curate hand-picked songs while streaming.
Under the deal with AT&T, Beats Music will be available to AT&T wireless customers on a multi-line account for $14.99 per month. AT&T and Beats Music said up to five family members across 10 devices can access the Beats Music service and get their own personal music on their own personal devices.
Additionally, for a limited time, AT&T wireless customers who subscribe to the family offer of Beats Music will get the first 90 days free. AT&T customers who don't qualify for the family offer can subscribe to Beats Music Individual for $9.99 per month and will receive the first 30 days free. Beats Music will also be available in AT&T stores and online at www.att.com/beatsmusic on Jan. 24, 2014.
"We've had a great relationship with Beats for years, and our expanded collaboration on this break-through service addresses the challenges that exist with current music subscription services today--lack of unique personalization and high costs to enjoy premium music for the family," AT&T Mobility CMO David Christopher said in a statement. "Once again, we're delivering the most innovative services to mirror the way our customers live. AT&T developed an innovative plan that lets each member of the family enjoy the music they love, as well as access to all that is unique about Beats Music–all at breakthrough value on a premium wireless network."
Beats also picked Target, one of the largest music retailers in the country, as the exclusive retail partner to curate playlists for the streaming service, and the only place to purchase prepaid Beats Music gift cards.
Last fall, struggling smartphone maker HTC agreed to sell its remaining 24.84 percent stake in Beats Electronics back to the audio technology firm for $265 million.
For more:
- see this Beats release
- see this AT&T release
- see this Re/code article
- see this PhoneScoop article
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