Fender teams up with Apple Music

The app comes with utilities such as a metronome, left-handed mode, capo, tempo adjustment, and drum and bass accompaniment. Setlists have also been added to allow users to group up songs when organising their practice sessions.

“Fender Songs, we believe, will enable players to easily and dramatically expand their song repertoire,” Fender CEO Andy Mooney said. “Goldman Sachs forecasts the number of streaming subscribers to hit 700 million in three years and top 1 billion by 2030; these are staggering numbers that bode well for Fender’s success in both the digital and analogue worlds.”

According to Fender, users can play along, review chord structures, sing along to lyrics and record their performances via different modes. At the same time, musicians who are signed under major publishers such as Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt and BMG can be assured of royalty payments for the use of their chords on Fender Songs.

“We’re excited to expand our digital products offering with Fender Songs," Fender Digital general manager Ethan Kaplan said. "Songs will allow our players to access practically any song they want and provide quick and easy-to-learn chords they can practice directly on the app. Working with Apple Music, publishers and record labels, we’ve been able to ensure artist songs are fully licensed, taking our relationships with them to a new level.”

Fender Songs is currently available in the US and can be downloaded exclusively for iPhone and iPod touch in the App Store. There are plans for iPad partnerships with other music publishing companies and expansion to other regions including Africa, but Apple Music is yet to provide a timeline on when that might happen.