Apple Music is shutting down its Connect artist to fan social platform. Apple’s previous attempt at building a music focused social network, iTunes Ping, launched and shutters in months.
Apple began notifying artists that they could no longer post on Connect amd previously posted content was being removed from the For You section and Artist Pages on Apple Music. Previously uploaded content will be searchable until May 24, 2019.
When Apple Music launched in 2015, Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine called Connect one of three major pillars of Apple Music, alongside streaming music and Beats Radio. “This is going to be very powerful for musicians,” said Iovine from the launch stage. “Can you imagine being an up and coming artist and being able to share your music on the biggest platform in the world that people already have?”
From Apple:
“We’ve made a few changes to Apple Music that we’d like to tell you about.
We’re always looking for ways to enhance our focus on artists and help them better connect to fans. So we’ve given Artist Pages an all-new design and added new, personalized Artist Radio.
Today we’re streamlining music discovery by removing Connect posts from Artist Pages and For You. This means you’ll no longer be able to post to Connect as of December 13, 2018, but all previously uploaded content will still be searchable until May 24, 2019. You can still create Artist Playlists with the latest version of Apple Music.”
While Connect never really gained traction, closing it makes Apple Music a less artist friendly service. Spotify isn’t much better. While offering artists more marketing opportunities than Apple, it too lacks basic social features that would allow artists to connect with fans and fans to connect with each other.
More Changes To Artists Pages
Apple is touting changes to Apple Music’s Artist Pages and Apple Music in iOS 12 that make it easier to browse an artist’s catalog and discover new music to play. The changes in Artist Pages include:
- “Improved Organization: Artist Pages are now better organized to make it easier to find the music you’re looking for, including Essential Albums and a featured release at the top of each artist’s page.”
- “Personalized Artist Radio: Every Apple Music artist now has their own radio station. Press
at the top of any Artist Page to start listening to music from across an artist’s catalog.”