# Apple Music Data API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/apple_music)

> Apple Music API: 4 endpoints for artist, album, and track metadata plus keyword search. Every request costs 1 credit on the standard tier, with 100 free credits on signup and no card. Skip MusicKit and developer tokens. One x-api-key returns the same unified JSON schema as 48 other platforms.

TL;DR: SocialCrawl's Apple Music API exposes 4 endpoints, 1 credit per call, all returning one unified JSON schema with AI-enriched fields. Single x-api-key auth, 100 free credits on signup.

## Endpoints

| Endpoint | Method | Path | Credits | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Search | GET | `/v1/apple_music/search` | 1 | Search Apple Music |
| Artist | GET | `/v1/apple_music/artist` | 1 | Get an Apple Music artist |
| Album | GET | `/v1/apple_music/album` | 1 | Get an Apple Music album |
| Track | GET | `/v1/apple_music/track` | 1 | Get an Apple Music track |

## Code example

```bash
curl "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/apple_music/search?query=taylor%20swift" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

Every response shares one JSON envelope: `{ success, platform, endpoint, data, credits_used, credits_remaining }`.

## SocialCrawl vs Apple MusicKit API

| Feature | SocialCrawl | Apple MusicKit API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Authentication | One x-api-key header | MusicKit identifier plus a signed developer token (JWT) |
| Setup | Sign up and call, no Apple Developer account | Apple Developer Program and MusicKit key before the first call |
| Rate limits | Credit-based: your only quota is your balance | Per-token Apple rate limits with 429 retry handling |
| Response schema | Unified JSON shared across 49 platforms | Apple Music catalog objects documented for MusicKit |
| Pricing | 1 credit per request; 100 free credits on signup | Catalog reads are free within Apple's rate limits |
| Data coverage | Search, artist, album, and track catalog metadata | Full catalog plus playback and user-authorized library data |
| Maintenance | One integration covers Apple Music and 48 other platforms | Separate MusicKit SDK and token logic just for Apple Music |

## FAQ

### How do I get Apple Music data with an API?

Send a GET request to any of SocialCrawl's 4 Apple Music endpoints (search, artist, album, track) with your x-api-key header. Each returns unified JSON without MusicKit, a developer token, or Apple Developer Program setup.

### Is there an Apple Music data API?

Yes. SocialCrawl is an Apple Music data API that returns artist, album, and track metadata plus keyword search as unified JSON from one x-api-key. Apple's MusicKit / Apple Music API is the right tool for playback and user-library work, but it needs a developer token (JWT) and often a user token. For public catalog reads, SocialCrawl skips all of that: 4 endpoints at 1 credit each, with 100 free credits on signup.

### Do I need MusicKit or an Apple developer token?

No. The official Apple Music API requires a MusicKit identifier and a signed developer token before the first catalog call. SocialCrawl needs one API key, the same key that covers 48 other platforms on the same unified schema.

### What Apple Music data can I get?

Keyword search (optionally filtered by type such as song, album, or artist); artist name, artwork, and catalog URL; album title, artist, artwork, and track count; track title, artist, duration, preview audio URL, and catalog URL. Playback control and private library data are not included.

### How much does the Apple Music API cost?

Every Apple Music endpoint costs 1 credit per request on the standard tier. New accounts get 100 free credits with no credit card required, so you can make around 100 calls before paying anything.

### How does SocialCrawl handle Apple Music rate limits?

You never deal with Apple's per-token rate limits or 429 retry logic. SocialCrawl's upstream layer manages that for you. Your only quota is your credit balance, and repeated requests for the same resource are served from cache.

### Can I use the Apple Music API in production?

Yes. The endpoints are built for production workloads with a unified schema that stays stable even when Apple changes its catalog response format. One envelope, one auth model, one credit system.

### What is the best Apple Music scraper API?

For catalog metadata without MusicKit, SocialCrawl is the simplest route: 4 Apple Music endpoints (search, artist, album, track) at 1 credit per request, with 100 free credits and no card. Apple's official MusicKit API is broader for playback and user libraries, but requires a developer token and Apple Developer setup.

## Pricing

- Standard endpoints: 1 credit per call
- Advanced endpoints: 5 credits per call
- Premium endpoints: 10 credits per call
- 100 free credits on signup, no credit card required. Cached responses cost 0 credits. Credit packs never expire.
- Full pricing: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/pricing

## Explore with AI

Questions this API answers, phrased for an AI assistant:

- What is the SocialCrawl Apple Music API?
- How to get Apple Music artist and track data without MusicKit
- Compare SocialCrawl vs Apple MusicKit API for catalog metadata