Introduction: Apple Music, a leading player in the music streaming industry, has introduced several notable upgrades, including the long-awaited ability to follow shows on Apple Music Radio. While this addition brings welcome functionality, it also comes with a few limitations that users should be aware of.
Following Radio Shows: A Much-Needed Feature: For years, Apple Music subscribers have wished for the ability to follow their favorite radio shows, especially those with scheduled episodes. This feature would allow users to receive notifications when a new episode is released and make it easier to access the latest content. However, Apple’s approach to providing this feature takes an interesting twist.
A Clever Approach: Apple Podcasts Integration: With the introduction of iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, Apple has enabled users to follow Apple Music Radio shows not within the Music app, but rather in the Apple Podcasts app. This integration leverages the existing infrastructure of Apple Podcasts, which is capable of delivering subscription content, including Apple News+. Essentially, Apple aims to create a unified platform for various audio experiences, including podcasts and radio shows.
Mixed Experience for Apple Music Radio Shows: While the ability to follow radio shows in Apple Podcasts brings several advantages, the overall experience can be described as a mixed bag. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks:
Benefits of Following in Apple Podcasts:
- Notifications for new episodes.
- Convenient access to a list of new episodes without manual searching.
- Synced playback position across devices.
- Offline availability of episodes.
Drawbacks of Using a Podcast App for Music Shows:
- The Now Playing screen in the Podcasts app only displays the show itself, missing track information when music is included.
- The inability to quickly add songs to your music library.
Balancing Pros and Cons: The benefits of following radio shows in Apple Podcasts clearly enhance the listening experience, providing users with a streamlined way to stay updated and enjoy content offline. However, there are trade-offs, such as the loss of track information and the ability to swiftly add songs to your library.
Hopes for Future Integration: While the current implementation has its advantages, users may hope for more seamless integration between radio shows and the Music app in future updates. This could potentially bring back track details and easier song library management.
Apple’s recent upgrades to Apple Music, including the ability to follow shows, demonstrate the company’s commitment to improving its music streaming platform. While there are some compromises with the current approach, it’s a step in the right direction. Users can look forward to future enhancements that may provide a more holistic audio experience.
