Apple Music Classical Expands to Users in Asian Markets

The app will offer millions of tracks and playlists to users in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao

Apple Music Classical is set to expand to new Asian markets, including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. The app is currently available for pre-order in all of these locations, and will launch fully on January 24, 2024. The move brings these markets in line with 28 other regions, who have had access to the app since March 2023.

The app has been created specifically with classical musicians in mind, and therefore has a range of points of difference from its competitors. For instance, the app features hundreds of curated playlists, composer biographies, and discussion guides for certain pieces — as well as thousands of exclusive albums, from new releases to old favorites.

Apple have also re-framed the search paradigm, so that all combinations of keywords — from composer and work to opus number, conductor, artist, instrument, and even a work’s nickname — can be used with equal ease to locate the desired recording.

A further perk is access to track-by-track audio commentary from leading classical artists, such as Yo-Yo Ma and Hilary Hahn. Additionally, the new app also involves Apple Music’s lossless audio and immersive sound — powered by spatial audio technology with Dolby Atmos.

Apple Music Classical will be available at no extra cost to those who already have Apple Music subscriptions.