Apple has increased the prices of Apple Music and select Apple One bundles today in the United States and other countries. The individual Apple Music plan now costs $11.99 per month, up from $10.99, while the family plan rises from $16.99 to $17.99. The company cited rising licensing costs as the primary reason for the hike, marking the first price increase for the streaming service in several years.
Apple One bundles see targeted increases on Family and Premier tiers
The Apple One bundles, which combine services like iCloud+, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade, also faced adjustments. The Individual plan remains at $16.95, but the Family plan jumps from $22.95 to $23.95, and the Premier plan from $32.95 to $34.95. Existing subscribers will see the new prices at their next billing cycle, while new users are charged the increased rates immediately. This move comes amid growing competition in the music streaming market, with rivals like Spotify and Amazon Music holding their prices steady for now.
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Industry insiders report that Apple's price hike stems from renewed contracts with record labels demanding higher royalties. Apple stated its commitment to delivering the best music experience but acknowledged the need to adjust to industry-wide cost pressures. This mirrors a broader trend of rising subscription costs across digital services. For context, as covered in our article on connected appliances sending data to manufacturers, technology increasingly demands financial resources. Furthermore, the AI sector sees companies like Moonshot AI launching massive models like Kimi K3 with 2.8 trillion parameters, illustrating cost growth in AI as well.
User reactions and future outlook for Apple Music
Reactions on social media have been mixed. Many subscribers express frustration over the lack of advance notice, while others consider the increase modest. However, Apple risks losing users to competitors if prices continue to rise. The company has left student plans unchanged at $5.99 and has not introduced new features to justify the hike. Analysts suggest the music streaming market is mature, and further increases might push users toward alternatives like Spotify's ad-supported free tier. Apple relies on ecosystem integration with HomePod and AirPods to retain customers.
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For more on licensing cost dynamics affecting digital services, the Wikipedia entry on Apple Music provides additional background.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/17/apple-raises-prices-for-apple-music-and-apple-one-subscriptions
