Apple gave its retail employees $100 priced Beats headphones earlier as a holiday gift, and in addition to that, a free nine-month subscription to Apple Music that is equivalent to $90. Eddy Cue, chief of iTunes reportedly hinted the employees of the gift in a video message on Monday, reported AppleInsider. Later this month, the employees will receive a redemption code.
The iPhone maker has more than 110,000 employees in total. Working in its US Apple stores are 30,000 retail employees and almost as many work in its stores outside the US. An Apple Music subscription means an "all access pass" service that includes unlimited music listening, expert music suggestions and subscribers can download tracks for offline listening.
Those without a paid subscription can still go into Apple Music with user login and an Apple ID. They can access live Beats 1 radio station, view and follow artists in the Connect social media feed in iTunes and listen to other stations with limited skipping. The service runs on Ios devices, Apple TV, Apple Watch, iTunes from PC or Mac and Android devices that run at least 4.3 Jelly Bean.
CEO Tim Cook revealed in October that Apple Music had drawn 6.5 million subscribers while 8.5 million are on three-month free trial.
According to 9to5Mac, the nine months sound odd as 12 months could be better, but considering Apple Music is giving three-month free trial, it is actually a total of a free year's subscription especially to those who have not signed up to the service yet.
MacRumors said it is a wise move for Apple so its retail employees will be more familiar with Apple Music and would recommend it to customers.
While Beats headphones could be cheaper in Amazon, Apple has given a total of $190 for this year's holiday gifts to its retail employees, that is more generous than last year's Incase Staple backpack last year, which is currently priced at $59.95.
