June 30, 2015: Apple launches 24/7 radio station Apple Music 1 (launched initially as Beats 1). A part of Apple Music, the brand new world radio station options high DJs starting from former BBC presenter Zane Lowe to high musical artists like Lil Wayne.
Apple calls Apple Music 1 “the largest radio station on the earth” and says it beats (no pun meant) all different music stations relating to concurrent listeners. Nonetheless, with out onerous figures to again that up, some name out Cupertino on this declare.
Apple Music 1 launch brings 24/7 dwell music to Apple followers
As its identify suggests, the origin of Beats 1 may be traced again to Apple’s $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014. This gave Apple the music-themed model and tech with which it began constructing the idea for its subscription-based streaming service Apple Music.
Nonetheless, Zane Lowe — one of many first Beats 1 DJs — mentioned the timeframe for creating Beats 1 proved extremely tight. The group, he mentioned in interviews through the years, had simply three months to “construct Beats 1 from scratch.”
In contrast to Apple Music, Beats 1 required no subscription to take heed to. In idea, this opened it up to an enormous viewers, even when Apple by no means revealed the precise variety of listeners.
In 2020, Cupertino modified the station’s identify to Apple Music 1 and launched two different radio stations: Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Nation. And in December 2024, Apple added three extra free stations: Apple Música Uno, Apple Music Membership and Apple Music Chill.
6 dwell radio stations on Apple Music
As of June 2025, Apple Music operates six dwell world radio stations:
- Apple Music 1 is a 24/7 dwell radio station that includes music, artist interviews and unique exhibits. Essential presenters embody Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, Matt Wilkinson and Brooke Reese. The station additionally options artist-hosted exhibits from the likes of Woman Gaga, Elton John, Nicki Minaj, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd and a few dozen extra.
- Apple Music Hits broadcasts the largest songs from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, together with exhibits hosted by notable presenters and artists, together with Othertone from Pharrell Williams and Deep Hidden Which means hosted by Nile Rodgers.
- Apple Music Nation is a 24/7 station devoted to, you guessed it, nation music. It options exhibits from high nation artists and personalities like Kelleigh Bannen, Ward Guenther and Fancy Hagood.
- Apple Música Uno performs a broad vary of Latin music, together with reggaetón, tropical, Música Mexicana and Latin pop.
- Apple Music Membership broadcasts dance and electronica. All exhibits can be found on-demand as DJ Mixes on Apple Music.
- Apple Music Chill performs a mixture of chill music throughout genres to assist listeners chill out and unwind. Assume Brian Eno and Stephan Moccio.
The six stations stay free for individuals who don’t subscribe to Apple Music.
Free dwell radio on Apple Music
Picture: Apple
Lowe mentioned early on that he was “undecided” how important Beats 1 was to the general Apple Music expertise — though he hoped “there’s a spot for it.” Within the years for the reason that Beats 1 launch, Apple’s principal radio station continues to garner big-name interviews and movie star hosts, notably within the hip-hop world. (Lowe nonetheless hosts The Zane Lowe Present.)
Surprisingly, Apple does comparatively little to advertise its radio stations. And the deal with them as a key differentiator for Apple Music appears to have gone the best way of the streaming service’s controversial early deal with exclusives.
Do you take heed to any of Apple’s radio stations? What do you consider them? Tell us within the feedback under.
