Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming services, with over 90 million songs in its catalog. But how exactly does Apple Music count the number of songs it has available? Here is an in-depth look at how Apple Music tallies its song count.
The Total Song Count
As of 2023, Apple officially claims to have over 90 million songs available on Apple Music. This includes music across a wide variety of genres from major record labels, independents labels, and unsigned artists. It is an impressive total that places Apple Music among the streaming services with the largest catalogs.
Apple announces milestones when it hits a new ten million or fifty million total for songs. For example, in 2021, Apple announced it had reached 75 million songs. Then in 2022, it passed 90 million. While the total number continues growing every day, Apple waits until big rounding milestones to make formal announcements about the size of its catalog.
How Apple Counts Songs
So how does Apple arrive at these totals? Apple has not publicly revealed its exact counting methodology. However, based on industry insights, Apple likely counts each unique track uploaded to its platform. So if one song is uploaded in both its explicit and clean versions, that counts as two tracks. If an album contains 12 songs, each one is tallied individually rather than counting the album as one unit.
In addition, Apple separately counts different versions of songs. Covers, live recordings, remixes, and alternate takes likely each get their own line in the tally. For example, if there are 10 different recordings of the song “Yesterday” by The Beatles, Apple’s total would include each one rather than lumping them together as one song.
Apple also draws songs from a variety of sources. These include:
- Major label catalogs like Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group.
- Independent label deals like Sub Pop, Matador, and XL Recordings.
- Distribution deals with companies like CD Baby and TuneCore that work with unsigned DIY artists.
- Direct uploads from musicians.
Each time Apple signs a new label deal or distribution agreement, it adds an influx of new tracks to the system. This allows Apple’s number to continue growing at a steady clip each year.
Factors That Increase the Total
Several factors contribute to the rapid growth of Apple Music’s catalog size:
- New music releases: Thousands of new songs are released every day from major label albums, independent artists, and more. Much of this new music is delivered directly to streaming services like Apple Music.
- Back catalog additions: Apple is continuously working to secure the rights to older music that is not yet available on the service. This includes obscure regional releases, concert bootlegs, and more.
- Algorithmic generated playlists: Playlists created by Apple’s algorithms specifically seek out lesser-known music and remixes. This expands the visible catalog.
- International music: Apple has deals in place to access huge amounts of music from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. This global reach increases the pool of available tracks.
- DJ mixes and remixes: Apple counts long DJ mixes, remixes, and other derivative works as separate tracks, quickly multiplying the total number.
By pulling in music from all over the world and adding new material constantly, Apple Music is able to boast over 900 million tracks even though other services have similar label deals.
Why the Total Count Matters
The sheer size of Apple Music’s catalog is a selling point used to market the service. While most subscribers do not actively listen to anywhere near 90 million songs, a higher total count makes Apple Music look more attractive compared to competitors. It implies that Apple Music has the deepest and most comprehensive music collection available.
However, the utility of having such a large catalog is sometimes debated. Studies suggest most listeners stick to familiar music and only actively engage with a few hundred songs at most. But even if the actual number of tracks listened to is small, having the biggest library available allows Apple to effectively compete with other top players like Spotify.
A massive total count also suggests that Apple Music has music discovery features capable of surfacing hidden gems. Listeners know that almost any obscure artist or album they want to find is likely lurking somewhere in Apple’s vast archives.
How Song Counts Compare to Other Streaming Services
So how does Apple Music’s total size compare against other top music streaming platforms?
| Service | Total Song Count |
|---|---|
| Apple Music | Over 90 million |
| Spotify | Over 80 million |
| Amazon Music | 90 million |
| YouTube Music | Over 80 million |
| Tidal | 80 million |
Apple Music has the numerical edge as the streaming service with the most claimed songs. Spotify and YouTube Music also tout “over 80 million” though do not provide exact figures. Amazon Music claims 90 million tracks, on par with Apple’s total.
However, these numbers should not be taken as the final verdict on catalog size. The services seem to use slightly different counting methodologies. And new tracks are always being added, so the totals are continually changing.
Difficulty Verifying Totals
While Apple provides an official total count number, it is difficult for outside entities to verify this tally. Apple does not provide public access to its entire catalog metadata to fact check the details.
Part of the challenge lies in how songs are defined. Without knowing exactly what Apple counts as a distinct “song”, it is impossible to accurately judge if the total is inflated or not. The vagueness gives Apple some leeway in how liberally it defines different tracks.
There is also no guarantee duplicated tracks are filtered out. If the same song is uploaded by multiple sources, it could get counted multiple times. However, Apple likely does have processes in place to prevent or minimize this kind of doubling up.
Why Counting Songs Is Complex
Tallying up all the tracks in a massive catalog like Apple Music’s is no simple task. There are a few factors that make counting songs more complex than it may initially seem:
- Multiple versions: How do you count an album released in both explicit and clean versions? Or the same song released as a single, on albums, as a remix, and a live version?
- Duplicate detection: Services must be careful not to count the exact same recording uploaded from different sources multiple times. But detecting duplicates requires audio fingerprinting to identify identical tracks.
- Metadata gaps: Music services depend on metadata like song titles, artist names, and more. But this data can be incomplete or contain inconsistencies that complicate tallying.
- Regional variations: Amassing a global catalog means accumulating many regionalized versions of tracks, like foreign language recordings. Are translations considered distinct songs?
These complexities mean any service’s song count should be viewed as an estimate rather than an exact, carved-in-stone figure. The exercise requires some subjective judgment calls and efforts to clean up inconsistencies across massive databases.
The Significance of Milestones
Apple announcing major milestones every 10 or 50 million songs is primarily a marketing move. It provides news hooks and signals to consumers that Apple Music offers an industry-leading catalog.
But these milestones also represent important moments in the continual evolution of Apple Music. Passing 50 million and then 90 million songs demonstrates how much ground Apple has covered since launch. And it sets a competitive bar for other streaming players eager to tout their own totals.
For comparison, Spotify launched in 2008 but did not pass 50 million songs until 2017. So Apple has managed to match and surpass Spotify’s growth in a fraction of the time since launching in 2015.
Hitting these new heights requires making inroads with important labels and indie providers around the world. The higher totals mean more music lovers can find what they are looking for on Apple Music rather than rivals.
Future Milestones
Apple will surely continue celebrating these types of big milestones as the Apple Music catalog expands. We can expect announcements when they crack 100 million, 150 million, and eventually 1 billion songs – assuming the counters don’t bug out first!
Reaching new goals also indicates that all genres and subgenres of music are represented. The larger the total gets, the more niche, underground, and historic content users can hope to find.
For perspective, Spotify’s stated goal is to one day offer “all the music in the world” to users. Apple likely shares this aim. While physically housing 90 million+ audio files is no small feat, the number will inevitably keep climbing for the foreseeable future.
Criticisms of the Total Count
The accuracy and usefulness of Apple Music’s huge total song count has generated some criticisms.
Detractors argue:
- Many tracks are duplicate versions or recordings so obscure they get little to no listens.
- Inflating the count with multiples versions of the same song is misleading.
- The average listener only interacts with a tiny fraction of what’s available.
- Focus should be on quality over quantity when building the catalog.
Essentially, some believe Apple prioritizes a bigger number over offering the right mix of popular music people actually want. For them, 90 million songs is not inherently better than, say, 5 million if it mostly represents filler.
Apple’s Response
Apple asserts a massive catalog provides consumers with more choice, catering to diverse tastes. Even less-played tracks and regional offerings find their fans. While the average listener may not take full advantage, the sheer scope increases the chances of satisfying individual preferences.
Apple also continues improving music discovery features. Algorithms like “For You” recommend tracks based on listening history. This surfaces songs a user may enjoy from the broader catalog. So having more options aids discovery.
Lastly, Apple argues long tail content keeps the service feeling fresh. Having vast troves of music ensures there is always something new to find, even for long-time users.
Conclusion
The massive size of Apple Music’s catalog is an important part of the service’s identity. Tallying 90 million+ tracks is no simple task. But the headline number matters when competing for subscribers. Even if the average listener barely scratches the surface of what’s available, a bigger catalog represents more choice.
Apple will continue adding songs at a rapid clip for the foreseeable future. Exactly how they count tracks and define duplicates remains unclear. But reaching milestones like 100 million in the next couple years will be a benchmark of growth as Apple Music cements its position as a top streaming service.
The total song count is imperfect and involves assumptions by Apple. But having tens of millions of tracks showcases an undeniably deep music collection. It gives peace of mind to users with eclectic tastes who want access to more than just mainstream hits. As the music world continues expanding, Apple Music aims to encompass it all under one very crowded roof.