Apple is retiring the Beats 1 brand from its flagship streaming radio station and launching two new stations with different formats, the company announced in a press release on Tuesday.
Going forward, the station formerly known as Apple Beats 1 will be called Apple Music 1, bringing it in line with Apple’s streaming music brand Apple Music.
The company said Apple Music 1 has “grown into one of the most-listened to radio stations in the world, consistently delivering the best in-depth artist interviews, more global exclusives and premieres than anywhere else, and unique programming that produces culture-moving, news-making moments year after year.”
Apple Music 1 will continue delivering artist-led music programming alongside pop culture-centric conversation, the company said. The streaming radio station is one of the few Apple Music services available to users without a paid subscription.
In addition to Apple Music 1, Apple said they will launch two new streaming radio stations in the future.
Apple Music Hits will curate popular songs from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and will include artist-driven shows hosted by popular musicians and bands, including Huey Lewis, Alanis Morissette, Snoop Dogg, Shania Twain and the Backstreet Boys.
Apple will also launch Apple Music Country, a streaming radio station featuring popular country music artist and bands. Shows will be hosted by Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Florida Georgia Line and other well-known country music artists, the company said.
Like Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Country will be free offerings within Apple’s hardware and software ecosystem. The company says Apple Music’s radio stations are accessible on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac OS, Apple Watch and Apple Homepod devices.
