Overview
- Developer Aaron Perris posted code strings on May 30 that include phrases such as “Can’t skip any more tracks” and “Premium access required,” which reporters have used to flag a possible new tier.
- The same gating phrases appeared in both Android and iOS beta builds, which outlets say makes the test more notable than a single-platform placeholder.
- Apple Music vice president Oliver Schusser publicly rejected a free tier just last month, saying free plans devalue music and hurt artists, creating a contrast with the beta evidence.
- Analysts and reporters reading the code say a likely form would be ad-free but limited access — for example capped skips and no offline downloads — rather than a Spotify-style ad-supported model.
- Apple has not confirmed any plans and outlets warn beta strings are not proof of a public launch, though many expect the company could address the issue at WWDC next week and the change could affect Apple’s subscriber growth versus Spotify.