Apple raises the prices of Apple Music and Apple One bundles for the first time in years, according to reporting from multiple outlets. The change is attributed to “rising licensing costs.” Apple’s announcement frames the increase as necessary to cover higher expenses paid to rights holders for music content. The price adjustment applies to Apple Music plans and to Apple One tiers that include Apple Music as part of the bundle, meaning customers using multi-service subscriptions will also see higher monthly or annual costs.
Engadget and Cult of Mac both report that Apple is linking the hike to increased licensing costs rather than changes in service features. The outlets do not characterize the update as a revision to music libraries or playback capabilities. Instead, the primary focus is on the cost to consumers and the stated rationale from Apple. The reporting indicates the increase marks a shift in pricing after a period in which Apple Music and Apple One had not seen changes for several years.
