You can finally use Alexa to control Apple Music
That’s right – you can now use Apple Music with Alexa, meaning anybody with an Echo speaker or Fire TV and a subscription to the streaming platform can link the two together.
The digital assistant can be used to play all your tracks with just your voice, and Amazon will even let you make Apple Music the default music service through your Alexa smart speaker, which also means you can use Alexa to get Apple Music playing via voice commands on connected speaker systems such as Sonos, too.
How to set up Apple Music on Alexa
1. Choose More in the bottom bar and then tap Settings.
2. Tap Music & More.
3. Tap the settings cog and then choose Link New Service.
4. Choose Apple Music.
5. Enable the Apple Music skill.
6. Enter your Apple credentials.
Once you’ve linked Apple Music and Alexa, this will allow you to use the music streaming service on your Echo and Fire TV devices, or any other speakers such as Sonos that you’ve associated with Alexa.
(Image credit: The Ambient)
Setting up Apple Music on Alexa is as easy as setting up other music streaming services. You’re just going to need to open up your Alexa app, then just follow these steps:
Make Apple Music the default service on Alexa
The next thing you may want to do is make Apple Music your default streaming service. If you do this, you won’t need to say things like “Alexa, play Justin Bieber on Apple Music” to ensure it plays on the right service.
1. Go to the Alexa app and tap More.
2. Go to Settings, then scroll down to Music & Podcasts and tap it.
3. You’ll see a section called Default Services – select it.
4. Tick Apple Music on both Music and Artist And Genre Stations to make it your go-to music platform.
View Amazon’s range of Echo products here
How to use Apple Music with Alexa
As for actually using Apple Music for Alexa, this is also a similar experience to using Spotify and other platforms. You can play your own playlists, which can include music from your iCloud Music Library, as well as Apple Music mixes inspired by your listening habits.
Naturally, you’ll also be able to listen to Beats 1 Radio and all its radio shows and mixes, plus all of Apple Music’s custom playlists. Obviously, you’ll also get free rein over every artist, song, and album available on Apple Music.
(Image credit: The Ambient)
Use Apple Music for Podcasts with Alexa
It isn’t just music you can use Apple Music for with an Echo speaker.
You can also grab your podcasts though Alexa speakers natively via TuneIn, Apple Music and Spotify.
Alexa commands for Apple Music
Here are some examples of the things you can say to Alexa when you have Apple Music set as the default music player.
“Alexa, play some Kanye West”.
“Alexa, play Today’s Hits”.
“Alexa, play the album OK Computer”.
“Play Beats 1 Radio.”
“Alexa, play on Apple Music.”
“Alexa, play Kings of Leon on Apple Music.”
“Alexa, play my Daily Rotation playlist.”