There was some concern over what role Beats Music would play relative to iTunes after Apple’s $3 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics earlier this year.
But it seems Apple is ready to offer the two services side by side – quite literally, in fact, in its iPhones.
Beats Music will be included as a pre-installed app for iOS-powered devices sometime next year, according to the Financial Times.
A Beats representative declined to comment.
The move could help bolster business for Beats Music, which is only available to paid subscribers. Powerhouses Spotify and Pandora both offer free ad-supported versions along with subscription-based services, giving them commanding control over the music streaming industry.
Beats Music spun off as a separate division within rapper Dr. Dre’s headphone company in January. The Culver City music service announced last month it would offer free listens for Southwest Airlines passengers connected to a plane’s in-flight Wi-Fi.
Staff reporter Melissah Yang can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @MelissahYang for the latest in L.A. tech news.
