APPLE MUSIC:
THE WAITING

Nearly three weeks after Apple Music's initial three-month free trial ended, many in the industry thought we'd know by now how many users Apple would retain as paying customers. We don't.

Since not everyone signed up on day one, there likely won't be the "fall off the cliff" moment some were expecting. Subsequent releases of iOS 9 and a new iPhone have also likely bolstered the number as all new users get a three-month free trial.

While some loss is expected, the full impact may be hard to gauge as we head into the holiday gift-giving season, a lucrative time for anything with an Apple logo. With millions of users coming and going, the only way to see beyond the churn may be for Apple to stop the free trial altogether. Until then, or until the time Apple releases hard numbers, it's all only speculation at best.

By the way, in a recent phone poll that asked, “Are you subscribed to a music streaming service?” the absence of Apple Music from the Android platform gave Google Play the #2 spot behind Spotify. We hear that Apple Music for Android is not expected until Q1 2016.