Apple "to launch music social network"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Apple appears to be going all out with its Beats Music revamp as the latest reports indicate that the new service will include an exclusive social network for musicians, Digital Spy reports.

This platform will allow artists to connect with their fans and share sample tracks with the community, according to 9to5Mac's "briefed" sources.

Leaked information from the iOS 8.4 beta adds credence to the report, with extracted code appearing to confirm that users will have the option to switch off 'Artist Activity'.

Reports suggest the Beats streaming service will be rebranded as Apple Music when it relaunches to coincide with the release of iOS 8.4 in the coming weeks.

It has also been rumoured that the platform will not be limited to iOS devices, with a launch on Mac computers and Android hardware touted as a possibility.

Apple's last attempt at a music-based social network - the iTunes-powered Ping - failed to gain traction and was shuttered in 2012, but the new service is expected to take an entirely different form and will not be open to consumers.