Apple launches free music TV channel in the US

The channel can be accessed online or via the Apple Music and Apple TV apps, and will feature new music videos, curated music video blocks, live shows and chart countdowns. It will premiere new music videos every Friday at 6PM CAT. It launched with a countdown of Apple Music’s 100 most-streamed songs in the US.

Variety says Apple Music TV will play music-related video content such as interviews and films from Apple Music’s archive of original content since the service was launched in 2015. The first two video premieres this coming Friday will be Saint Jhn’s ‘Gorgeous’ and Joji’s ‘777’, as well as an additional interview with Apple Music host and global creative director Zane Lowe.

The new channel has also been compared to MTV before it moved into reality TV. MTV pioneered the 24-hour music video concept in 1981 following tests in 1977. However, it later branched out into other content, which angered music purists.

The news comes on the heels of an announcement that Vevo had partnered with Dutch music video platform XITE to launch a free ad-supported Vevo Apple TV app. Vevo says the app will bring an extensive catalogue of music videos together with a new interactive user experience and personalised features. Viewers will be able to search for and watch music videos, while also having access to a number of channels based on genre, mood and artists. The app is already available in the US, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Brazil.

Apple’s foray into music TV comes two months after Facebook’s US launch of licensed music videos on its platform. In June, Apple Music rival Spotify said it was working on adding music videos to its app.