Apple Music Ranks #1 in Customer Satisfaction, Leaves 2nd and 3rd Place in the Dust

J.D. Power has concluded research on its 2016 Streaming Music Satisfaction Study, which measures overall satisfaction among customers who have used a subscription-based music streaming service within the last six months.

With Apple’s dedication to quality, it’s no surprise that the tech giant from Cupertino, California came out on top with its smash hit, Apple Music.

While the study is highly detailed, and rather lengthy, the study has provided us with four major insights detailing user perception and attitude towards music streaming services which I have broken down and simplified.

1. People Who Use Paid Music Services Much More Satisfied

While information regarding exactly why paid users are more satisfied is scarce, we can accept that less interruptions from advertising and better customer service from paid subscriptions are incredibly important to achieving high satisfaction, something that free plans have had trouble achieving.

2. Passive Listeners are Unsatisfied

Engaging with the music is key to high-satisfaction among paid users. Apple Music just so happens to be one of the most engaging paid-subscription services you can buy. With social media-like adaptions like Connect, and easy-to-use music sharing options in iOS 10, Apple makes it easier than any other music streaming service to engage with music.

3. Exclusive Content Improves Customer Advocacy

“Among customers who listen to content released exclusively on their streaming service, overall satisfaction is 52 points higher than among those who do not, and content satisfaction is 59 points higher. Nearly three-fourths (74%) of customers who listen to exclusive content say they ‘definitely will’ recommend their provider vs. 54% of those who do not who say the same.” Apple Music is chock-full of exclusive content from artists like Drake and Frank Ocean, and it’s evident users are fully engrossed with these unique albums.

4. Accessories Enhance the Listening Experience

“Overall satisfaction is higher among customers who use a peripheral device to stream music than among those who do not. Several devices that are not yet widely adopted have particularly high impacts on satisfaction: smartwatches (+57 points); home automation controllers (+50); and virtual reality viewers (+48). Bluetooth speakers, which are more widely used, also have a considerable effect (+23).” Apple Music’s full integration with the Apple Watch seems to have a major positive impact on satisfaction of Apple’s home-brewed streaming service, an advantage that Apple Watch users can’t deny.

In respect to the Apple Watch, which is part of the Apple ecosystem, we can see that Apple’s interconnected devices play a huge role in satisfaction. According to J.D. Power, “Apple Music is nearly always used on Apple devices, and the service performs highest in overall satisfaction in part because of the halo effect stemming from the brand’s ecosystem. Apple Music has the highest incidence of customers who say they selected their provider because it is part of their device ecosystem, and the brand’s phone and tablet customers have the highest levels of commitment. The rapid growth in Apple Music’s subscriber numbers and high satisfaction among its customers indicate that Apple successfully leveraged these advantages when it launched Apple Music.”

It’s undeniable that Apple Music is a fantastic service and the reports prove it with 62% of users stating they are highly satisfied. Following behind Apple in regards to satisfaction is Google Play Music with 53%, and Spotify with 52%. Find out if you qualify for 50% off an Apple Music subscription here.

What’s your favorite music subscription service?
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