Apple's iRadio to feature targeted audio ads

iAds to appear on iRadio?
will iTunes get the iRadio treatment?

The much-rumoured iRadio streaming service will feature an audio version of iAds, Apple's mobile advertising platform, according to the latest reports.

Ahead of WWDC 2013 in San Francisco, where many have speculated that Apple will announce the music radio streaming service, Ad Age has reported that Apple is planning to include "highly targeted [audio] ads" in iRadio.

The new audio adverts will be sold via Apple's iAd platform, alongside banner adverts on the streaming service.

As details of the streaming service are few and far between until Apple officially announces the thing, it's not clear if all users will be subject to the ads or if you'll be able to sign up for a premium subscription to by-pass them - although we'd imagine the latter.

Smooth operator

Apple has set up the new advertising platform to be competitive, offering 10% of ad revenue to music rights publishers – 6% more than rival service, Pandora, currently offers.

People who also use iTunes and iTunes Match will benefit most from iRadio. They'll be able to purchase songs they're listening to in iRadio, through iTunes, and store them on Apple's cloud – with the added ability to access the songs through any iOS device.

Other services like Last FM, Spotify and Pandora also offer free ad-radio, but the adverts aren't targeted like Apple's will supposedly be, which allows Apple to charge more for them and, in return, pay music rights holders a higher percentage.

Via Ad Age

TOPICS
Latest in Apple Music
A close up of the new web version of Apple Music Classical
Apple Music Classical is now available on the web, but its Mac app is still nowhere in sight
King Charles III sat at his desk in promo for his radio broadcast for Apple Music 1
Apple Music gets the royal treatment with special King Charles show – and the playlist has some real jewels
Apple Music
Apple Music is only $2.99 per month for six months with this limited-time offer
The Apple Music app icon against a red background on an iPhone.
Apple Music's awesome $2.99 deal is your reason to finally switch from Spotify
Three iPhone 15 screens showing Apple Music Replay stats, on teal background
Apple Music Replay walked all over Spotify Wrapped in 2024, and after years of ridicule, you love to see it
Three iPhone 15 Pros, displaying Apple Music Haptics and the feature on Grian Chatten's The Score and David Gilmour's Black Cat
Why you need to try Apple Music Haptics even if you’re not hard of hearing
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over