Drake Helps Unveil Apple's Spotify & Tidal Rival, Apple Music

After months of speculation, Apple has officially gone public with their plans to stream music to the masses.

CEO Tim Cook unveiled the not-super-imaginatively titled Apple Music during the company’s keynote address in San Francisco.

The culmination of their $3 billion purchase of Beats back in 2014, Apple Music intends to disrupt streaming market leaders Spotify and Pandora, as well as their big-money rival Tidal, when it launches June 30.

Though a paid subscription service, Apple users will have access to a free three-month trial before having to dish out $10 a month for the privilege.

Families of up to six people can share a subscription for $15 a month.

Apple Music intends to differentiate itself from the competition by capitalising on the iTunes Store’s massive catalogue, a 24/7 curated radio station named Beats 1 and something they’re calling Connect, which will allow artists to share their work directly with fans.

The latter was explained by Drake, who hinted his next album might be a Connect exclusive.

Siri even gets involved. She’ll now act as your personal DJ when you ask her to play, say, the biggest selling songs of 1998 (if you have a particular desire to hear Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life" or "You're Still the One" by Shania Twain.

Tidal’s major misstep when it launched in March was the focus on its roster of superstar, multi-millionaire investors when telling users they’d have to pay a premium for the service.

Apple tried to avoid similar controversy by pointing out how unsigned artists could benefit from their new invention.

Unfortunately, the “random” unsigned artist selected by Apple for showcasing, Loren Kramer, might be more connected than they let on.

The Next Web has managed to tie Loren Kramer to a rep at Interscope Records, not to mention, in the most fascinating element of the Loren Kramer enigma, Tony Danza.

Anyway, the streaming wars are officially in full swing! Valar morghulis.