Apple Music is branching out further into the world of radio, with two new global stations announced this week and a rebrand of its existing station.
Beats 1, Apple Music’s flagship station since its launch in 2015, has been renamed Apple Music 1. The station isn’t changing its DNA – it will still be hosted by Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and friends and broadcast globally from studios in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, and London. It will still offer guest shows to big names like Elton John, Lady Gaga, and Billie Eilish and celebrate music from all around the world.
Apple hasn’t released official figures, but it says that Beats 1 became “one of the most-listened-to radio stations in the world,” so it’s no wonder they want to get the Apple name back in there. But the name change will also create unity with the two brand-new stations just launched.
First of the new stations is Apple Music Hits, which is a love letter to the pop smashes of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. We’re not sure if Apple is implying there were no hits prior to 1980, or just paving the way for the swinging 60s and 70s to get a station all to itself in the future. Either way, this station will be hosted daily by names including Jayde Donovan and Estelle, and promises guest slots from Huey Lewis, Snoop Dogg, Alanis Morissette, and more.
Finally, we have Apple Music Country, a station to celebrate “every lane of an increasingly diverse genre.” Whether you’re a fan of the great country music stars of yesteryear or looking to discover the best country music of tomorrow, this station has you covered.
If you subscribe to Apple Music, you’ll already have access to these stations. You can find them in the Music app, at music.apple.com, or by asking Siri something like “Play Apple Music 1.”