Apple Launches Apple Music Radio With Renamed Beats 1 and Two New Stations

In a bid to claim its curatorial authority in music and pop culture, Apple launched two new radio stations on Apple Music — Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Country. Its leading global offering Beats 1 has been renamed Apple Music 1.

All three stations will be available to listeners in 165 countries, announced Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music, Beats, and International Content, at a press briefing today. When Apple made its foray into music streaming in 2015, Beats 1 was announced as a sweet spot that brought together the best of two worlds – the human curation element of live radio and the algorithmic prowess of streaming. This tent pole station, led by presenters Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden so far, built a wide listenership in the past few years with its uninhibited interviews and music premieres which focused on music discovery and storytelling. Last year, breakout rapper Divine was the first Indian guest on Darden’s show.

Says Schusser,“Beats 1 was there bringing human curation to the forefront and drawing in listeners with exclusive shows from some of the most innovative, respected, and beloved people in music,” adding, “We will continue to invest in live radio and create opportunities for listeners around the world to connect with the music they love.”

The rebranded Apple Music 1 station will continue to play breakout pop, hip-hop and Latin music, and besides Lowe and Darden, feature presenters Nadeska, Rebecca Judd, Travis Mills Brooke Reese, Dotty, Hanuman Welch and Matt Wilkinson. Some of the station’s most popular shows include those by Billie Eilish, Elton John, Lil Wayne, Frank Ocean, among others. One can also look forward to exclusive segments by Laga Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Travis Scott, HAIM and others.

With the newly launched Apple Music Hits station, the streaming giant is aiming to curate and present yesteryear chartbusters in an all-new way. The programming will include hits from the Eighties, Nighties and Noughties, and the radio station will rely on special segments to present stories behind familiar music. Expect daily shows by hosts such as Jayde Donovan, Estelle, Lowkey, Jenn Marino, Sabi and others. Some of the yesteryear acts such as Backstreet Boys, Alanis Morissette, Snoop Dogg and Shania Twain will also be hosting exclusive shows of their own.

The Apple Music Country station, too has enlisted some of the genre’s leading voices and curators to present content to both young and old audiences that country draws in its various forms. The daily on-air presenters include names such as Kelleigh Bannen, Ty Bentli, Bree, Alecia Davis, Ward Guenther, Nada, and Tiera, besides weekly offerings from Ashley Eicher and Kelly McCartney. The exclusive programming includes exclusive shows featuring artists such as Luke Bryan, Pat Green, Carrie Underwood and Willie Jones, among others.