#apple-music

#apple-music

Apple has spearheaded the Super Bowl halftime show since 2023, building a complex array of advertising, teasers, playlists, and other content across its many platforms for Rihanna (2023), Usher (2024), and Kendrick Lamar (2025). Since the start of this $50-million-per-year sponsorship deal, Apple has treated the halftime show like it might be one of its products, with all the marketing and advertising bells and whistles it has at its disposal for things like the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Since the launch of the App Store in 2008, Apple has paid out a whopping $550 billion to developers. This is according to figures shared by Apple about a record year in 2025 for its services. In addition to the App Store, Apple Music and Apple TV also grew strongly. Since Apple itself historically received 30 percent of all App Store spending, it has also earned hundreds of billions of dollars. However, that percentage has declined somewhat since about 10 years ago.

Amazon Music has a new Spotify Wrapped knockoff this year called " 2025 Delivered," which offers a summary of users' listening stats, such as top artists, songs, and even podcasts. Notably, the platform also takes advantage of Amazon's virtual assistant, Alexa, by giving users a special message from their favorite artist. The feature can be found on the app by tapping on the Library tab.

Apple Music Studio Los Angeles expands creative opportunities with over 15,000 square feet designed for artists, producers, and creators to explore sound and visual boundaries.

Equipped with Apple's cutting-edge Spatial Audio technology, the radio studios are set up to broadcast in a fully immersive format, giving hosts, producers, and artists a next-level platform for storytelling, interviews, and exclusive performances.

Apple's new Replay All Time playlist allows users to see their streaming habits dating back to their subscription start, offering a decade-long consolidation of listening data.

"Replay All Time is a special version of Apple Music's annual Replay experience, allowing users to view and listen to their most played songs since joining the platform."

Streaming services have long been accused of eroding the traditional album format, pushing listeners towards playlists and algorithmically programmed stations.

At Apple's WWDC last week, the company unveiled upgrades to Apple Music, including the ability to pin artists to the top of the display menu and AutoMix.