Apple Music Passes 40M Subscribers, New Global Head Of Music Named

Apple Music now has 40 million subscribers, according to an internal memo obtained by Variety. That's up from 38 million reported just a month ago, continuing a new user growth rate that appears to exceed Spotify and other streaming competitors. 

8 million of the 40 million users are on a 90 day free trial.

The internal memo was written by Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue to announce the promotion of Oliver Schusser to VP of Apple Music & International Content, unifying the leadership of Apple's television, music and artificial intelligence initiatives. 

With Apple for 14 years, Schusser will relocate to California from the UK where he led Schusser led iTunes, Apple Music and app teams in 38 international offices. He was reportedly instrumental in Apple's recent purchase of Shazam.

Originally a Cue hire, Schusser's ascendancy to head Apple Music worldwide may also be part of an executive realignment ahead of Jimmy Iovine's reported scaling back of his role at the company.