iTunes Radio launches in Australia

Apple have today made iTunes Radio available to users in Australia, the first country outside of the US to get access to it.

Apple's streaming music service is described as being most like Pandora in that it offers pre-set and customised stations based on artists and genre.

Apple says:

"iTunes Radio is a free Internet radio service featuring over 100 stations and an incredible catalog of music from the iTunes Store, combined with features only iTunes can deliver. When you tune into iTunes Radio on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC or Apple TV, you’ll have access to stations inspired by the music you already listen to, Featured Stations curated by Apple and genre-focused stations that are personalized just for you.

"iTunes Radio evolves based on the music you play and download. The more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more it knows what you like to listen to and the more personalised your experience becomes. iTunes Radio also gives you access to exclusive “First Play” premieres from top selling artists, plus the ability to tag or buy anything you hear with just one click.

"iTunes Radio offers music fans access to thousands of new songs every week, as well as serving up exclusive music from new and popular artists before you hear them anywhere else. Whether it’s an exclusive single from an up-and-coming band or a pre-release stream of an entire album, iTunes Radio has it all. iTunes Radio is home to special events including live streams direct from the iTunes Festival in London and other exclusive iTunes Sessions."

Users are also able to directly purchase songs from the iTunes store from iTunes Radio.

The service is free but comes with ads. It can be ad free with iTunes Match for $34.99 per year.

iTunes Radio is expected to be launched in New Zealand, Canada and the UK, along with 100 other countries later.

You can access iTunes Radio via the Music App.