Apple Music is revolutionizing the way artists are compensated by introducing a 10% royalty bonus for tracks available in Spatial Audio, according to new reports from 9to5Mac, Music Business Worldwide, and Billboard. This innovative move, effective from January’s payouts, aims to incentivize artists to deliver higher quality and more immersive listening experiences.
Spatial Audio, offering surround sound through devices like AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, doesn’t require listeners to choose this format for artists to benefit. The bonus is calculated based on the availability of Spatial Audio tracks versus standard versions, meaning artists who offer their entire catalog in Spatial Audio format will receive the bonus regardless of how listeners choose to experience the music.
This initiative reflects Apple’s commitment to enhancing the quality of music available on its platform. The number of songs in the Spatial Audio format on Apple Music has skyrocketed, nearly doubling in the past year, according to a letter sent out by Apple Music. Furthermore, it declares that over 90% of Apple Music subscribers have tried Spatial Audio, with its usage tripling in the last two years.
According to 9to5Mac, Apple views the 10% bonus as a dual benefit: a reward for artists’ efforts in producing high-quality content and compensation for the additional time and effort required to mix music in Dolby Atmos. This move by Apple Music is expected to further accelerate the adoption of Spatial Audio, enriching the listening experience for users worldwide”‹”‹.
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Photo by Auguras Pipiras on Unsplash
