Apple Music 1 has been broadcasting live radio for 10 years now
10 years ago Apple launched its streaming service Apple Music and a live radio station called Beats 1.
At the time Apple Music specifically leaned on human curation as a point of difference against competing services like Spotify and Rdio (RIP). And while the radio station lives on, there are signs that Apple may also be reconsidering its human approach, with new leadership poached from TikTok and auto-mixing features that "[use] AI to analyze audio features".
Still, 10 years on the Beats 1 tagline of "Worldwide. Always on." has proven true. The station, now known as Apple Music 1, is today broadcasting anniversary specials and later this week will broadcast a Top 500 countdown of the most-streamed songs on the service.
From Apple:
“When we first launched Beats 1 it was a leap of faith, the first live global radio station for a digital world,” said Zane Lowe. “We knew we wanted to build something special where artists could come and tell their stories and fans could feel connected. Ten years on, Apple Music Radio is everything we hoped it would be. It’s a place where we can eventize music, a place where music comes first, always. I’m just as excited for what’s to come as I was on day one.”
To celebrate the 10-year milestone, Apple Music Radio will feature a week of specials and live programming, kicking off with “Don’t Be Boring: The Birth of Apple Music Radio with Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden” on June 30, from 6 to 8 a.m. PST. From the early days of launching radio on streaming, to the epic artist-led shows that defined a new era, Zane, Ebro, and special guests will reminisce about the last 10 years of Apple Music Radio. Then, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST, listeners can tune in to the “10 Years of Apple Music” special. This eight-hour broadcast event on Apple Music 1 will tell the stories of the greatest artist moments, exclusive releases, live events, and cultural milestones that only Apple could deliver. The day will culminate with “Live: 10 Years Of Apple Music” from 4 to 7 p.m. PST. The live broadcast, hosted by Zane and Ebro, celebrates a decade of Apple Music with a lineup of artists who have shaped the trajectory of the service. Listeners can tune in at apple.co/_Radio.
Additionally, Apple Music Radio will unveil the service’s top 500 most-streamed songs from the last 10 years in a special countdown beginning on Tuesday, July 1. Tune in to count down 100 songs a day, culminating with Apple Music’s top 100 most-streamed songs of all time on July 5, when the full 10 Years of Apple Music: Top Songs playlist will be available to stream.
