On June 30, 2015, the world experienced Apple Music for the first time. On the same day, Beats 1 went live. Beats 1 is an Internet radio station that offers a mix of pop, rock, rap and indie music, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you haven't listened to Beats 1 yet, we're here to tell you why you should. In this article, we'll explore six reasons why Beats 1 is worth your time and attention.
Subscribers to streaming music services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music Unlimited Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Amazon Music Unlimited:Which is the best? Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Amazon Music Unlimited:Which is the best? With the introduction of Amazon Music Unlimited, now is a great time to sign up for a streaming music service. In this article, we'll examine how Amazon's service compares to Spotify and Apple Music. Read More But let's be honest, we are all creatures of habit and often listen to the same kind of music on a regular basis.
Streaming services, including Apple Music, know this, which is why most of them rely on algorithm-driven playlists to keep subscribers happy. Sometimes, though, it's good to venture outside of your comfort zone. For those times, Apple Music subscribers can turn to Beats 1. The channel provides a great forum to find new music Discover new music by mapping music genres and artists Discover new music by mapping music genres and artists Mapping music doesn't is as strange as it may sound at first glance. In the same way that locations can be charted, so can musical genres and artists, with one style feeding into the next, a band… Read More across multiple genres.
Will you love everything you hear on Beats 1? No, of course not, but you will find great content that you would never have heard otherwise. You might even discover your new favorite artist, which would make that hour of listening to Beats 1 worth listening to.
Beats 1 doesn't just make music. It also has a growing cast of DJs whose only job is to entertain you. Each of these personalities offers a unique take on music, entertainment, pop culture, and more.
First, there's Zane Lowe, who left BBC Radio 1 to join Beats 1 on day one. The Grammy Award-nominated presenter has made waves over the years, including as a DJ, record producer, and TV host. In addition to BBC Radio, his career has included XFM and MTV..
Ebro Darden, who hosts a hip-hop-based radio show, and Julie Adenuga, whose show focuses on UK music, also play big roles in Beats 1. They each have a broad musical background.
Darden, for example, has served as a media executive and radio host for various stations over the years, while Adenuga is known for her popular music TV show on Channel AKA and Daily Motion called Play It .
Alongside these three headline Beats 1 presenters are temporary DJs and guests that change each month, including Frank Ocean, Beats co-founder Dr. Dre, Pharrell Williams, and more. All of these DJs offer something you just won't get if you keep listening to your own music over and over again.
As we mentioned earlier, music streaming services rely heavily on computer-generated algorithms to match subscribers with music from Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Google Play Music:Which is the best? Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. Google Play Music:Which is the best? While there are a plethora of music streaming services out there, there are three main ones that stand out above the rest:Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music. But which one is better? Read more . However, these machine algorithms can only do so much.
Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Beats Electronics and current Apple executive, has been promoting human healing since Apple Music and Beats 1 first launched.
As he told The Guardian:
Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue agreed, stating that, “Understanding that I have a lot of Latin music in my library doesn't give me a good Cuban playlist.”
And that is the point. Machine algorithms are great at finding music similar to songs and artists you already enjoy. However, human healing is needed to help you find something more off the beaten path that you might as well enjoy.
That's where Beats 1 comes in, as your DJs will be playing tracks that are trending or just need to be heard by more people. That human element should not be underestimated..
One of the things I like the most about Beats 1 is the channel's ability to mix things up by offering special shows throughout each month. Some of these shows are designed to promote a new album, while others focus on iconic or new artists. Others highlight a current or upcoming event, such as the annual Apple Music Festival.
Not surprisingly, famous performers often play a major role in these shows. For example, Rocket Time features Elton John, and offers a good mix of music How To Make Your Music Streaming App Sound Better How To Make Your Music Streaming App Sound Better Music services in general don't sound as good as vinyl records and CD. Fortunately, there are ways to make your music app of choice sound better. Read more, videos and interviews with other artists. The other tone Meanwhile, the Pharrell Williams stars do similar things but in their own unique style.
If you miss one of these shows when it's live, you can always visit Best of the Week , a kind of highlights reel hosted by Lowe.
Celebrities don't need a show named after them to find a home on Beats 1. The channel also offers a healthy dose of video interviews with established and emerging artists alike.
Beats 1 often has Lowe interview artists, and he always seems relaxed, regardless of who he's interviewing. And if you're not even a fan of the artist being interviewed, you should find it at least mildly entertaining.
Beats 1 broadcasts around the world every hour of the day. If you miss something, the Beats 1 section on Apple Music offers a library of past shows in various formats. You can go here to listen to past shows or enjoy video highlights.
The more you listen to Beats 1, the more likely you are to find songs and artists you'll want to listen to again. For this, you need to go to the Featured Playlists section of Beats 1. From here, you can quickly access the songs featured in each program. Best of all, you can add these songs to your iTunes library just like you would other Apple Music tracks.
I've been listening to Beats 1 on and off since it was released in 2015. And, possibly like you, I started listening with some skepticism. Before this, I used to listen to the same artists and songs in a continuous loop. Whatever new songs I found enjoyable, I found them through algorithm-driven playlists How to create, share, and discover playlists with Apple Music How to create, share, and discover playlists with Apple Music Playlists make easier to discover, share and create your own. Personal collections from Apple's huge music library. That is how. Read More or iTunes samples.
It took me a while to enjoy Beats 1. Early shows tended to focus more on rap music, a genre I never really embraced (even after trying a lot of rap music on Beats 1). Over time, Beats 1 shows have become more diverse, offering songs and artists from various genres.
Now, I listen to Beats 1 daily. It has improved my Apple Music experience 10 Essential Apple Music Tips You Really Need To Know 10 Essential Apple Music Tips You Really Need To Know Since its release in 2015, Apple Music has come a long way, baby. Unfortunately, it's still not the easiest or most intuitive service to deal with. Which is where we come in... Read More
Apple Music is available for $9.99 per month, with discounts for students and families. New users can get a free 90-day membership just for subscribing through the Music app for iOS and Apple Music for Android.
Do you currently listen to Beats 1? If so, what do you like about it? And what would you change? If not, why not? Do you prefer to listen to your own music? Is the idea of radio stations playing random music outdated? Please let us know in the comments below!
