Sonos Offering Users a Chance To Beta Test Apple Music Before Release Next Year

The notable exclusion of Sonos from Apple Music’s launch will be a nonissue soon. Sonos invited former Beats Music users Monday to join a private beta test of Apple Music on Sonos starting Dec. 15 “before the world gets their ears on it.” Sonos users can participate by joining Apple Music -- “free for the first three months” -- on their mobile devices and PCs, whether iOS, Android or Windows PC, said the company. After signing up, the update will display in the Sonos controller and users will receive additional instructions, it said. A disclaimer on the Sonos website says the beta isn’t the final product. “It’s a preview. A really solid one.” Most features “are working perfectly,” said Sonos, but a few “are still being dialed in.” Sonos will use beta users’ feedback to make “slight changes here and there” to improve the experience, the company said. For users who would rather wait, the final version will be available “early next year,” it said. Apple Music subscriptions are $9.99 per month per user or $14.99 per month for a family plan.