Apple is considering making iTunes Radio a standalone app.

We recently learned about Apple 's plans for iTunes Radio. The company is reportedly considering making iTunes Radio a standalone app in the upcoming iOS 8 update.

As we know, the music platform currently allows us to access its service through the app. But what Apple is really looking for is to offer it as a standalone app so that users can access their music service more quickly .

This will allow iTunes Radio to compete directly with apps like Pandora, Spotify , and iHeart Radio, all available on the App Store. Furthermore, it's known that iTunes Radio 's features will be similar to the app found in iOS 7.

In other words, once iTunes Radio becomes a standalone application , all users will be able to browse the application, buy music, locate stations, create their own stations based on songs, artists, and albums , manage stations, and many other features.

However, another benefit Apple would gain by turning iTunes Radio into an app is to encourage an increase in advertisers who will only seek to promote their products on Apple's new music service.

Finally, we believe that if this important change is implemented, Apple will have expanded the service's reach to more regions internationally, thus boosting iTunes Radio's market share. And just yesterday, we learned that iTunes Radio has overtaken Spotify, becoming the third most popular music streaming service in the United States.

Statistical Tables thanks to: statista