Apple Music has issued updated subscriber numbers of 36 million around the world, up from 30 million last September. It follows the tech giant's strong quarterly figures.

The more intriguing figure that Apple revealed to the Wall Street Journal is the US growth rate of 5% a month in the subscriber base, compared to 2% for Spotify. That could mean Apple Music overtaking the Swedish rival in the US by the summer.

As Steve Cooper noted during the latest Warner Music Group earnings call, there are signs of increased competition among the digital service providers.

Spotify is still comfortably ahead on the global subscriber numbers, recently reporting 70m subscribers.

Apple Music released the latest figures as Spotify prepares for an IPO in the US in the coming months.

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