Apple Music signs up more than 11m members since launch

More than 11 million people have signed up to Apple’s new music streaming service during its free trial period, the company has confirmed.

Launched on June 30th, Apple Music offers users a three-month free trial period before a monthly subscription fee is applied. Apple said almost 2 million people opted for the free trial family plan, which will cost €14.99 a month for up to six family members.

However, unlike other streaming services, Apple Music does not offer a free on-demand model for users, a decision that has found favour in some quarters of the music industry.

Apple Music was unveiled as sales of digital downloads have dipped, with more consumers turning to streaming services instead. The company was widely expected to enter the streaming market after it bought Beats Music in 2014.

Apple also said its App Store saw the largest-ever number of customers in July, yielding $1.7 billion in transactions.

The company said it has now paid developers almost $33 billion. However, although App Store transactions are on the rise, Apple still draws the majority of its revenue from sales of hardware such as its iPhone.

The most recent figures from the tech firm showed revenue rose 32.5 per cent to $49.61 billion from a year earlier, beating Wall Street expectations of $49.43 billion.

The company's stock has dipped recently amid concerns about how its growing business in China will fare amid economic downturn in the country.

Additional reporting: Reuters