Apple Music, a new streaming service by the technology giant, launches today (Tuesday, June 30).

iOS 8.4 upgrades began at 10:00 a.m. CT. Desktop computers will need to upgrade to the newest version of iTunes. A full version is expected for Android this fall.

A free trial is available for three months, before automatic charges of $9.99/mo. apply for individuals. A family account, available for up to six people, will cost $14.99/mo.

The service debuts after much scrutiny about its royalty payments—most publicized was the Taylor Swift tussle resulting in the pop star’s music being added to the Cupertino, Calif.-based service.

In an interview with BuzzFeed after the Swift ordeal, Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue said the royalty rate… “will pay artists on a per stream basis during the free three-month trial. Afterwards, it will pay music owners 71.5 percent of Apple Music’s subscription revenue in the United States. Internationally, the number will fluctuate, but will average out at around 73 percent.”

Features of the subscription streaming service will allow people to freely upload and stream audio, will also offer a global radio station (Beats 1) to kick off at 11:00 p.m. CT, and Siri integration to kickstart listening to “hot songs from 1994” (as an example). The software can scan existing music libraries to add up to 25,000 matches to an iCloud Music Library, providing access on any device where the user is logged in. Offline listening is also key for subway rides or data plan conservation. The app will then let you see what songs have been locally stored.

Officials in Europe and the United States are investigating dealings with music labels for antitrust violations.

Lauren Iossa

ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews announced today (June 29) that marketing executive Lauren Iossa has been promoted to Exec. Vice President, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, effective July 1, 2015. Iossa will be based out of New York City and will join the organization’s executive leadership team and continue to report directly to Matthews. She will oversee all of ASCAP’s global public relations, brand and corporate marketing activities, as well as communications and special events.

Iossa joined ASCAP in 1984 and most recently served as SVP and Chief Marketing Officer. She has played an important role in raising ASCAP’s profile as an advocacy-focused, service-oriented organization. During a tumultuous time in the landscape of litigation, copyright reform and the consent decree review process, she helmed an effective multi-platform marketing and communications campaign. She is also the architect of one of ASCAP’s most successful brand initiatives, the annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, which just celebrated its 10th year, and has hosted more than 20,000 attendees.

“As we move towards increased efficiency and transparency for our members and licensees, Lauren and her team are a central component to executing these pivotal changes in the organization and providing strategic guidance,” said Matthews. “Her deep knowledge of ASCAP’s history, her commitment to our mission and her passion for music make her a uniquely effective advocate for this organization and for the rights of music creators worldwide. She is an incredible asset to ASCAP’s executive team as we navigate a transformation for a new era in advocacy and rights management.”

“Songwriters and other music creators are at a critical juncture in terms of how their music is valued in the marketplace, and ASCAP is on the front lines of the fight to modernize the music licensing system and protect their copyrights and their livelihoods,” said Iossa. “Building ASCAP’s brand as a modern rights management company calls for strategic activities that communicate our unmatched value to members, licensees, members of Congress and policy makers. I look forward to working closely with the other members of Beth’s leadership team to capitalize on our momentum and to protect the value of music and the rights of the people who create it.”

Iossa is active with the CISAC World Copyright Summit, an executive partner in the PENCIL program to aid New York City public schools, and was honored by Billboard as an influential woman in the music business.

Taylor Swift’s current album 1989 will be available for streaming on Apple Music, which is set to debut June 30.

The tech company and Swift have had a public discourse this week, regarding Apple Music’s initial plan to withhold royalties for music consumed during its three-month trial period.

Apple swiftly reversed that decision after the pop superstar posted a note on Tumblr Sunday (June 21). Later that day, Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue phoned Swift, who was on tour in Amsterdam, and publicly released a statement on Twitter confirming the company will indeed be paying rights holders.

Canaan Smith Gets First Gold Plaque

Mercury Nashville’s Canaan Smith played to a sold-out crowd of 2,500 last night (June 22) in his hometown of Williamsburg, Va.

During the performance Mercury Nashville VP Promotion Damon Moberly presented Smith with a plaque for his RIAA gold-certified single “Love You Like That.” The song is climbing up country radio’s top 10, and has garnered almost 33 million combined streams (total streaming partners).

Canaan Smith receives plaque from Mercury Nashville VP Promotion Damon Moberly. Photo: Carl Ratajski

Nathan Chapman Wows Opry Crowd During Debut

Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Nathan Chapman made his Grand Ole Opry debut this week and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Chapman is preparing for the release of his new album, Revival, which he co-produced with wife Stephanie. The project is available on nathanchapman.com for a limited time before its official release later this year.

Nathan Chapman (r) makes his Opry debut and is welcomed by WSM AM’s Bill Cody.

Erica Nicole Day Declared in Iowa

Erica Nicole recently returned to her adopted hometown of Hampton, Iowa where she first launched her career. She received a key to the city and June 16 was deemed Erica Nicole Day.

Pictured (L-R:) Mayor Brooke S. Boehmler, Erica Nicole, MusicRow chart reporter Mike Betten, KLMJ