Since launching iTunes Radio nearly 5 weeks ago, Apple's online-streaming radio service has extended its reach, but the pace has significantly petered from an initial surge in listening. October 22, 2013 10:12 AM PDT (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Apple revealed iTunes Radio has reached 20 million users listening in to a billion songs since it launched in September. Chief Executive Tim Cook made the update at an event in California Tuesday. After Apple said it had collected more than 11 million unique listeners in iTunes Radio's first five days of life, it took about 5 weeks to get to come within range of doubling the initial figure. That indicates that many of those initial users were tire kickers, checking out Apple's long-awaited online radio service right after it launched with the rollout of iOS 7 and and update to desktop iTunes software. Pandora, by comparison, is the current leader in streaming radio with about 72.7 million active users as of last month, and it surpassed 200 million registered users earlier this year. Apple announces Mavericks OS will be free (pictures) 1-2 of 30 Scroll Left Scroll Right Streaming music -- a rare corner of growth for the otherwise beleaguered music industry -- is already a field crowded by the likes of Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Rdio, Google Music All Access, et al., but Apple's base of at least 575 million iTunes customers worldwide and favorable relationship with labels gives it advantage on those that came before. This is a developing story. Follow our CNET live blog and see all of today's Apple news. UPDATED at 10:27 p.m. PT: With further details and context.
Since launching iTunes Radio nearly 5 weeks ago, Apple's online-streaming radio service has extended its reach, but the pace has significantly petered from an initial surge in listening.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Apple revealed iTunes Radio has reached 20 million users listening in to a billion songs since it launched in September.
Chief Executive Tim Cook made the update at an event in California Tuesday.
After Apple said it had collected more than 11 million unique listeners in iTunes Radio's first five days of life, it took about 5 weeks to get to come within range of doubling the initial figure.
That indicates that many of those initial users were tire kickers, checking out Apple's long-awaited online radio service right after it launched with the rollout of iOS 7 and and update to desktop iTunes software.
Pandora, by comparison, is the current leader in streaming radio with about 72.7 million active users as of last month, and it surpassed 200 million registered users earlier this year.
Streaming music -- a rare corner of growth for the otherwise beleaguered music industry -- is already a field crowded by the likes of Pandora, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Rdio, Google Music All Access, et al., but Apple's base of at least 575 million iTunes customers worldwide and favorable relationship with labels gives it advantage on those that came before.
This is a developing story. Follow our CNET live blog and see all of today's Apple news.
UPDATED at 10:27 p.m. PT: With further details and context.
