How Apple, Amazon and Others Are Trying to Gain on Spotify

Apple Inc. AAPL 0.78% launched its music-streaming service in 2015 a year after buying Beats Electronics LLC. Its debut stumbled over user interface and engineering problems, but the service was revamped within a year and quickly became the No. 2 on-demand service. Apple's iTunes, where customers pay to download individual songs or albums and own them permanently, is separate but accessible through the platform. Apple Music has benefited from its integration with Apple devices, from iPhones and MacBooks to Apple Watches and HomePod voice-activated speakers, which sync easily with Apple Music but less so with Spotify or other services. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook has said streaming isn't a moneymaking business but has emphasized the importance of providing music and supporting artists.