Apple Music Radio: New stations launched as 'Beats 1' name is dropped

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Apple has launched "Apple Music Radio", replacing its old Beats 1 station and launching two new ones.

As well as Apple Music 1 – which will replace the Beats branding and continue to serve as Apple's flagship station, playing new pop music – Apple will also host Apple Music Hits, playing top songs from previous decades, and Apple Music Country.

When Apple first launched its Music streaming service in 2015, it leaned heavily on its radio stations as well as human curation across its playlists. In doing so, it looked to stress its difference from rivals such as Spotify, which uses more algorithms to generate recommendations and playlists.

Apple Music 1 keeps the same programming as Beats 1, and the same line-up of DJs, including Zane Lowe. But the decision to drop the Beats branding represents a major step for Apple, which bought Beats for $3 billion in 2014 and has been gradually integrating its technology into Apple's own line-up, as well as continuing to offer its products.

But Apple has continually committed to the Beats by Dre hardware brand, and it will continue selling its ear- and headphones as normal.

Apple claimed the Beats 1 station was "one of the most-listened-to radio stations in the world", though it does not share how many people regularly listen to it. The company says that "tens of millions of subscribers" have signed up to Apple Music.

As well as Apple Music 1, the Hits station will include special shows from "Backstreet Boys, Ciara, Mark Hoppus, Huey Lewis, Alanis Morissette, Snoop Dogg, Meghan Trainor, Shania Twain, and more", Apple said.

The Country station was built with an awareness of the important role that radio programming plays in country music, Apple said, and also includes shows and exclusive music from a host of artists.

Other technology companies have launched their own radio programming in recent months. Sonos, for example, launched its own streaming service in the form of Sonos Radio earlier this year.