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Apple Demos iTunes Radio Service

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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As expected, Apple today unveiled a new music service, dubbed iTunes Radio.

The Internet radio feature, debuting this fall, will be available on iOS 7 devices via the music app and on the Mac and PC via iTunes, as well as Apple TV. Ad-supported listening is free, while those who pay for iTunes Match can listen without interruption.

Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, provided a demo of iTunes Radio at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) today. It functions much like Pandora, with users able to tap into more than 200 stations. Cue didn't specify which labels signed deals with Apple for iTunes Radio, but he played a song from Maroon 5 during his demo, which is Sony, as well as Bruno Mars from Warner Bros. and The Rolling Stones from Universal Music, which are the big three labels.

Like Pandora, meanwhile, iTunes Radio will serve up music based on your listening habits. "The more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more it knows what you like to listen to and the more personalized your experience becomes," Apple said.

Apple will suggest genre-specific stations, but users can create their own stations as well. Tell iTunes Radio if you like or dislike a song, or if you hear one you want to add to your wish list.

Atop each song will be a link to buy it on iTunes. If you can't remember what you were listening to, a history section provides a refresher. You can also tap the "i" button to share with friends on Twitter or elsewhere.

Users can pause, stop, or skip songs, though Apple didn't say how many songs you can skip on the ad-supported platform. You can do all those things via voice with Siri, too, or ask her for more details with questions like: "Who plays that song?" or "Play more like this," or "Play Jazz Radio."

Rumors about an iTunes-based subscription music service have been circulating for years, but deals with the major labels reportedly held things up. Recently, however, there were reports that Cupertino finally landed deals with Warner and Universal Music Groups, and - more recently - Sony.

For more, check out iOS 7 Steals From, Stomps On Competitors.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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