# Apple raises Apple Music prices as licensing costs climb

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/apple-music-hikes-subscription-prices-citing-rising-licensing-fees/
- Published: 2026-07-18T13:32:05+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-18T22:13:40+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/apple-music-raises-prices-licensing-fees-1236814878/
- Topics: Business, Entertainment, Markets, Music

## Key points

- Apple Music raises US prices for the first time since 2022
- Individual plan up to $11.99, family plan to $19.99 monthly
- Still undercuts Spotify, which hiked prices earlier this year

## Summary

Apple has raised Apple Music subscription prices in many markets, including the US, citing rising music licensing costs. It is the first price increase for the service since autumn 2022, and comes as streaming platforms continue to face higher costs for securing music rights from labels and rights holders.

In the US, the individual plan rises from $10.99 to $11.99 a month, the family plan (covering up to six accounts) increases from $16.99 to $19.99, and the student plan goes up from $5.99 to $6.99. Despite the rise, Apple Music remains cheaper than rival Spotify, which raised its US prices earlier this year to $12.99 for individual and $21.99 for family plans. Apple said 2025 brought record listenership and subscriber numbers, though it does not disclose exact figures, and has recently added features such as Lyrics Translation, AutoMix and expanded Apple Music Sing.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Apple raises Apple Music prices as licensing costs climb](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/apple-music-raises-prices-licensing-fees-1236814878/)
- [Engadget: Apple Music and Apple One prices rise for the first time in years](https://www.engadget.com/2217745/apple-music-and-apple-one-new-price-increase/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.