Is Separating iTunes Radio From Apple's Music App The Right Way To Go?

Apple’s iTunes Radio is already the third most popular streaming music service in the United States. To make it even more popular, Apple is considering releasing a separate iTunes Radio app in iOS 8, according to 9to5Mac. According to “sources briefed on the plans,” Apple is currently testing a separate iTunes Radio app for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. The hope is to promote its presence in iOS and help spur growth in advertising revenue and usage. Right now, iTunes Radio is part of the iOS Music app. “Psychologically for users,” a separate app would allow it to compete with services such as Pandora Radio, Spotify Music, and iHeartRadio. This wouldn’t be the first time Apple has moved a digital service into its own app. Content available in the Videos, Podcasts, and iTune U apps were once part of the Music app, which itself was once called the iPod app. I’ve often felt that Apple should spinoff a separate music application from iTunes on OS X Mavericks. I’m not sure that separating iTunes Radio from the Music app in iOS makes a lot of sense. Apple’s iTunes Radio is a place to listen to music. Perhaps the answer here isn’t to separate, but rather to rebrand the Music app, iTunes Music? Launched with iOS 7, iTunes Radio sits behind Pandora and iHeartRadio in terms of usage. Spotify is No. 4. Apple's iOS 8 is expected to launch later this year. See also: Report: Amazon Is In Talks To Create Its Own Streaming Music Service, SoundTracking Update Brings New Features Integrated With Spotify And Rdio, and Big Changes Coming To Apple's Maps App In iOS 8.