Apple Music's free live-streaming radio station Beats 1 is set to launch on June 30, with celebrities alternating with popular DJs for one- and two-hour programming blocks.
Britain's most influential DJ Zane Lowe will run Beats 1, as well as host his own show — with Eminem as his first high-profile interview. Shows from Ebro Darden from New York's hip-hop station Hot 97 and London DJ Julie Adenoma will also be featured on the station.
Next week - My first Interview on @beats1 @eminem pic.twitter.com/lJwntalM3v
— Zane Lowe (@zanelowe) June 25, 2015
Big names in the music industry will join the programming lineup, including: Elton John, Drake, Pharrell Williams, Disclosure, St. Vincent, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age — and even Jaden Smith.
The celebrities will both host and plan the shows themselves. Among the shows featured will be "Elton John's Rocket Hour," which the New York Times calls "an eclectic mix of old songs and new." Dr. Dre, who founded Beats headphone company (which Apple bought for $3 billion) with Jimmy Iovine, will host his own show called "The Pharmacy."
Apple announced its new music streaming service at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. Apple Music will be integrated into the existing Music app on iOS as well as the Apple Watch, and can be downloaded on Macs and PCs on iTunes. An Android app is set the launch in the fall.
The new music service will feature playlists curated by well-known people in the music industry, along with content recommendations from industry professionals, instead of by algorithms.
Beats 1 was announced as part of Apple Music, which will be a fully programmed radio station that broadcasts with live DJs and will air 24/7. While many big names are on board for Beats 1 live radio, pop star extraordinaire Taylor Swift slammed Apple for not paying indie labels royalties during a 3-month trial of Apple Music.
Apple Music is expected to cost $9.99 per month, or $14.99 a month for a family of up to six people.
Photo: Jaden Smith | Facebook
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