The App Store is filled with music-related applications, but one that has consistently remained a personal favorite is MusicHarbor. With the recent release of version 5.0, the app introduces a feature that Apple Music ideally should have implemented long ago: news integration. Here’s why adding Apple News would be a fantastic enhancement not only for the Music app but also for TV, Books, and beyond.
How MusicHarbor Exemplifies Seamless News Integration in Apple Music and Beyond
John Voorhees contributes at MacStories:
My favorite part of MusicHarbor is the News section, which gathers articles about the artists you follow from various sources. It includes a great mix of publications like chorus.fm, NPR Music, Pitchfork, and others. If you come across feeds you don’t like, you can easily disable individual publications, ensuring they won’t clutter your experience.
Apple Music should definitely take a cue from MusicHarbor.
Staying updated with news about your favorite artists seems like a natural fit in the Music app, especially if Apple curates this feature effectively.
For instance, I wouldn’t want to encounter news about artists I’m not interested in saturating my Music app.
However, articles about relevant artists? Absolutely.
According to MusicHarbor’s release notes: “you’ll only receive updates from the artists you follow.”
Apple could easily introduce a dedicated section on every artist’s page in Apple Music to display stories from Apple News. The most engaging and relevant stories about your favorite artists could also find a place on the Home tab.
The company has already implemented Apple News integration in two other applications—Stocks and Weather—so replicating a similar feature in Music likely wouldn’t require significant additional resources.
And there’s no reason to stop there! It would be fantastic to see pertinent Apple News articles integrated not only in Music but also across the Apple TV app and other platforms.
Enhancing User Retention and Engagement through Apple News Integration
One of the significant challenges that streaming platforms encounter is the ongoing struggle to capture users’ attention.
Platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ aim to create “sticky” apps that encourage repeat visits.
If every show and film in the Apple TV app highlighted thoughtful articles from Apple News related to that content, it would provide a compelling reason for users to revisit the app frequently.
This principle could extend beyond just TV and Music, but also to Apple Books and Apple Podcasts.
Apple possesses a robust resource in Apple News that, I believe, wouldn’t be too complex to merge with its various media applications. So, why has this not been accomplished yet?
Do you support the idea of integrating Apple News articles within Apple’s media applications? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments.
