Apple Music Exploration

In this project, I explored how I might better connect listeners with an artist’s content and brand.

User Research

I surveyed 28 users to determine what it means to connect with an artist.
I learned that social media platforms are the primary channels for artist-to-fan engagement and music promotion.

Brainstorm

Opportunities to enhance the artist-to-fan connection:
Genius data integration for interactive lyric annotations + credits
Surfacing artist tour information
Artist news feed

Given that social media was the most popular channel for artist-fan engagement, I decided to focus on what that might look like as an Apple Music feature.

Market Research

It turns out that Apple implemented this exact idea, dubbed “Connect.”

Connect was an attempt at bring a more social component into the Apple Music product by allowing artists share posts with fans, but it never took off.

Instead, Twitter, Instagram, and Soundcloud were the go-to platforms for this purpose.

Then I shifted my focus to how I might make it easier for users to keep up with new content from their favorite artists.

How can Apple Music facilitate sharing releases directly to users?

Solution

Subscribed Artist Notifications are a way for users to be directly alerted when their favorite artists release new material.

Users can subscribe or unsubscribe from any artist at any time.

Subscribing to an Artist

Subscribe-to-Artist Prototype

Brief Summary:

Native Notification

Native Notification Prototype

Brief Summary:

In-App Notification

In-App Notification Prototype

Brief Summary:

I also set out to improve the visual experience of Apple Music.

Music Player

Music Player Prototype

Brief Summary:

Album View

Playlist View

Playlist View

Apple Music  (Feb. 2022)

The End

Final takeaways: