Apple reportedly poaches more BBC Radio 1 staff for streaming music project
A report on Wednesday claims Apple poached a handful of top producers from BBC Radio 1 to work on a secret streaming music service rumored to debut later this year, potentially as a rebranded Beats Music.
Sources familiar with the matter told Music Business Worldwide that Apple snapped up four producers, including employees from BBC Introducing, a show that features undiscovered talent.
The publication named James Bursey as one producer leaving Radio 1 for Apple. Bursey will reportedly reunite with former BBC DJ Zane Lowe, a Grammy-winning tastemaker hired by Apple in February. Natasha Lynch and Kieran Yeates were also mentioned as potential new hires.
"There's no denying that there's something of an exodus to Apple from Radio 1 right now," one BBC source said. "With four producers joining Apple, that hiring of Zane all-of-a-sudden makes much more sense, doesn't it?"
The report also speculates that Deezer executive James Foley may also be headed to Apple, as he recently left his position as the streaming music company's head of editorial for a secretive competitor.
Apple is widely rumored to be working on a subscription-based streaming music service built on the Beats Music framework. Recent reports put Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor at the helm of Apple's unannounced project, which could feature artist exclusives and launch with a price tag of at least $9.99 per month. Jimmy Iovine and other Apple employees are also said to be working on the Spotify rival.
Sources familiar with the matter told Music Business Worldwide that Apple snapped up four producers, including employees from BBC Introducing, a show that features undiscovered talent.
The publication named James Bursey as one producer leaving Radio 1 for Apple. Bursey will reportedly reunite with former BBC DJ Zane Lowe, a Grammy-winning tastemaker hired by Apple in February. Natasha Lynch and Kieran Yeates were also mentioned as potential new hires.
"There's no denying that there's something of an exodus to Apple from Radio 1 right now," one BBC source said. "With four producers joining Apple, that hiring of Zane all-of-a-sudden makes much more sense, doesn't it?"
The report also speculates that Deezer executive James Foley may also be headed to Apple, as he recently left his position as the streaming music company's head of editorial for a secretive competitor.
Apple is widely rumored to be working on a subscription-based streaming music service built on the Beats Music framework. Recent reports put Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor at the helm of Apple's unannounced project, which could feature artist exclusives and launch with a price tag of at least $9.99 per month. Jimmy Iovine and other Apple employees are also said to be working on the Spotify rival.
Comments
And the same could also be said about the App Store.
To me it sounds like Apple is looking to have something special. Algorithms, such as what Pandora employs is absolute crap. Especially with music lovers who's knowledge and depth of music who find it maddening. The human element is not something you delegate to computer script. The human element, especially in discovery is something that is a must. There is so much music that more than ever before we need a concerted effort to make it accessible. To dig through it and sort it.
That was the magic of Beats Music. Combine that with the trillion-dollar Apple brand and the wealthiest customer base possible, and if it fails, it won't be for lack of support.
Minor gripe:
"Poaching" is probably an unfair verb. Apple is recruiting and hiring people from BBC Radio 1. That's normal and completely legitimate. Calling it "poaching" sounds sinister and underhanded... and is probably unwarranted.
Use of emotionally charged terms is commonplace in the SEO rankings race. In other words, clickbait.
In general I wouldn't turn to R1, but Zane's show is different. He is constantly revealing and pushing new artists who are not mainstream, although after featuring on his show they become mainstream.
As an aside, it's interesting to note that Zane has featured future streaming competitor Jay Z many times on his show and has interviewed him for prime time BBC documentaries. I wonder if Tidal v Beats will put a strain on that relationship?
And just because these producers work for Radio 1, it doesn't mean that their tastes in music align completely with the station.
I agree on reflection, although there was no hate in my post simply pointing out that the bbc radio 1 daytime audience is very limited.
Whatever the outcome, Apple needs a different icon for radio like functions. That little box with knobs and an antenna isn't a familiar looking technology to many users. Kinda like the CD icon for iTunes that was dropped a few years ago.
Amen to that. I used to listen to the daytime shows when I first moved to England, but put a stop to that last year when I got a new car with DAB. Thank god for 6 Music!