Written by Samah Labib Thursday, December 14, 2023 06:00 AM
Apple will reward record labels and artists who release their music in spatial audio, a relatively new audio format that is more immersive than regular stereo. According to a Bloomberg report, artists who release their music in spatial audio will receive “additional weight” starting next year, and Bloomberg predicts that this could mean a rise in… Royalties.
Almost all of Apple’s audio devices, such as the AirPods, HomePod, iPhone, and upcoming Vision Pro speaker, support spatial audio playback, so the company’s move to incentivize artists will almost certainly ensure that most of the music available on Apple Music is available in the format Apple has set as a point. sale.
Bloomberg notes that Apple Music listeners won’t necessarily have to stream a song with spatial audio for artists to be rewarded, and simply having their music available in the format will be enough.
Apple added spatial audio, powered by Dolby Atmos, to Apple Music in 2021, and most of the company’s original shows and movies on Apple TV+ are also offered in that format.
Artists also have the option to mix their old music into the new format, which bands from all decades are already doing. Mixing music in this format is not very expensive, according to Bloomberg. If this is true, this campaign could help attract independent musicians and smaller acts.
Some Apple Music competitors, like Amazon Music and Tidal, also offer spatial audio on their services, but Spotify, Apple’s biggest music streaming competitor, is a notable exception, though rumors of a higher-quality music format on the service have circulated for years.
