Why do you need Apple to listen to music?

There is radio (online and in the ether), there are alternative platforms (e.g., Bandcamp), concerts and other live venues, (second hand) physical media (e.g., CDs or vinyl), open access music, etcetera.

On top of all that there is the big middle finger of 'piracy' if you are so inclined. For many this is a morally acceptable alternative to a rotten system, for others it may remain an imponderable transgression of law and or ethics — either way, it is a viable alternative in addition to the above.

I'd love to support bandcamp but then they removed their API.

Amazon sells music and lets you download DRM-free mp3s.

So does Apple... the call here is to use something other than MP3.

Apple doesn't use MP3, they use AAC (.m4a), which is technically superior to MP3 but also patent encumbered.

They are not patent free, which is the point at hand. Do they allow ogg/vorbis or other unencumbered formats?