When it was discovered that Apple applied for trademarks for Beats 2, 3, 4, etc, it seemed pretty obvious the company was considering expanding its 24/7 Beats 1 radio station that it’s promoted as a key part of its new Apple Music service since launch.
And it’s not a stretch to imagine how it could easily expand on the mainstream programming found on Beats 1 currently. Think of a 24/7 station that focuses specifically on one genre like rock, jazz, or hip-hop, for example, with shows programmed to focus on subgenres or featuring guest hosts and regular segments much like Apple’s Beats 1 station. To me this seems like a natural progression for Beats radio as part of Apple Music, but it’s possible Apple could also include more than just more music with Beats 2, 3, and beyond.
Sports/Talk Radio/Podcasts…
Apple already could have a bit of a head start with talk radio content beyond music if you consider iTunes and its dominance when it comes to attracting podcasters. Most popular podcasters are already distributing content through iTunes and as of this year estimates say most mobile podcast listening— around 82%— is happening on iPhones and in Apple’s own Podcasting app. With Spotify, Google and other music streaming competitors recently integrating podcasts, Apple has to be at least considering the potential of content beyond music for its streaming service.
A Podcasts app for the new Apple TV is apparently on the horizon, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out bringing sports programming, talk radio, and podcast-style series to Apple Music and Beats radio. Sports alone, for instance, is a category big enough to have a channel or more per sport or league. Sirius has a popular station dedicated to NFL programming, for example.
Add in the possibilities of 24/7 news coverage and the long list of hit podcasts on iTunes, and you can start to see what Beats radio might look like a year from now if Apple goes that direction.
Live streaming for iTunes Connect |
Opening up Beats streaming to any artist the way Apple Music is essentially open could get messy (Beats 4,205,405 anyone?), but integrating similar live streaming capabilities into Apple Music Connect— Apple’s service that lets artists upload content to their artist profile on the fly— could make it at least possible for any artist to host their own live content. And on that note, Apple has a lot of Beats radio video content we’ve yet to see…
Video content |
We reported earlier this year just before the launch of the new Apple TV 4 that Apple was also planning a new streaming video service. It’s currently working behind the scenes to launch the service, which would include bundled content from various networks for as low as $40 per month, sometime next year for owners of the latest Apple TV 4 and the previous generation Apple TV 3.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IoHRK33G2A]
Apple already releases short video clips of full-length interviews it’s done with artists on Beats 1 online (Beats has a YouTube channel) and in various places in Apple Music, which means it’s already compiling a catalogue of video interviews with artists and that could give us an idea of what a Beats video channel might look like on Apple’s new video streaming service. Add in the potential for artist performances, live streaming of concerts and other events (like Apple already does with its own Apple Music Festival), and it’s easy to see how Apple’s new video service could be a big part of expanding Beats in 2016.
Other languages/international stations |
Yet another possibility for the expansion of Beats is to launch channels in other languages, to help it expand into markets where the service is yet to launch or might not be particularly popular due to the english-language programming. One report regarding Apple’s plans for other Beats stations noted the possibility of “a Beats 2 station headquartered in Australia or Asia.”
Poll |
What content would you like to hear on Beats 2, 3, 4, etc stations? Sports programming? Talk radio and podcasts? 24/7 news? Have your say below in the poll, and hit up the comments to continue the discussion.
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One of the biggest complaints I read is that Beats 1 plays too much hip-hop and/or urban music, so perhaps something like Beats 1 without those genres. Also, a modern country station.
I get thier strategy, and think it was smart that they concentrated on hip-hop and genres popular with the under 35 set. That said, it would make sense to begin branching out. Not sure how many country fans would listen, but given that they’re doing commercials with Kenney Chesney, it seems this is likely a direction they will go. iPhone is taking over middle America and will need to cater said tastes. A few years ago, it was rare to see an iPhone in the rural areas of the Midwest. Not so much anymore.
NO THEY DO NOT! I am so tired of people saying this. I listen throughout the day and they play a very good variety!
They do for a lot of people. I have tried listening to it numerous times and find the music selection fairly unpleasant to my ears.
Any and every time I’ve ever tuned in, it’s been nothing but hip hop. Gave up on Beats Hip Hop a month or so ago.
I doubt so many people would keep saying “too much hip-hop” if there wasn’t some element of truth to it. I tune in regularly only to find I hit hip-hop about 60-70% of the time. 60% hip-hop (or whatever the actual figure is) does not sound like the promised “global experience” I was hoping for. It’s not that they don’t play any music I like, it’s just not the kind of thing I can leave playing in the background. Shows like Joshua Homme’s Alligator Hour, St. Vincent Mixtape Delivery, Zane’s interviews, and Brooke Reese Countdown, just to name a few, keep me coming back. There is a lot of music out there, from around the globe, that can really move you regardless of the language… but apart from a couple of french songs, Beats 1 hasn’t really delivered that experience. In my mind, it’s the hip-hop station with occasional good stuff.
Even if it didn’t come off as being a majority hip hop it would be fine. I’ve literally never heard a single non-hip hop track on Beats 1. Maybe I always tune in at a bad time, but there’s clearly some poor choices going on if I can tune in dozens of times over a two month period and hear the same stuff every time.
Anything that competes and provides a fresh alternative to beat-to-death things that can be found on your normal satellite radio and FM shows before that; eg, if there’s an alternative show, DIVERSIFY, a metal show, DIVERSIFY, insert genre here, DI-VER-SI-FY. We can tell when the programmer(s) lack music knowledge beyond a very certain niche, or play what is “expected”.
KEXP, KUT, KCRW – the wonderful music of some of the best NPR stations out there, with their radio personalities of course
Talk shows – sports, Howard Stern types, etc.
’80s New Wave
’80s Hair Metal
’80s AOR
’80s Pop Hits
Some rock/metal dedicated station would be awesome:)
Classical with sub genres like Piano, Violin, Organ, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Modern, etc.
I voted ‘other’, because I’d love a new source for curated ‘classical’ and other formal modes.
But I’d love for all of those choices to become a thing.
If Apple really wants millions of new subscriptions for Beats, the answer is straightforward: Add a Rush Limbaugh station. His audience is bigger than any music radio station.
Yeah, maybe in the US.
Meanwhile everyone else in the world has never heard of him.
Apple really missed the boat not pulling Stern away from Sirius for a dedicated station and on-demand content.
No chance Apple would match the amount of money Sirius pays Stern, he is also far to polarizing and controversial for Apple branding
Apple has over 200+ billion…Apple has the money to call the damn boat back, kick everyone off the boat and make it private it!
Beats 2 (Asian includes J-Pop and K-Pop): Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul or Mumbai
Beats 3 (Country): Nashville, Calgary, Melbourne
Beats 4 (Latin includes Reggae): LA, Buenos Aires, Barcelona
Beats 5 (Electronic includes House, Chill and Classic Dance): Amsterdam, New York, Ibiza
Feel free to substitute Austin for Calgary
Not sure why the cities are that important. If anyone thinks the music that is played on Beats 1 from London is wholly representative of our hugely diverse city they need to visit!
/looks forward to Beats 5
Beats 6 (Classic): Vienna, Berlin, Tokyo
Beats 7 (Sport): Football (Soccer), F-1, Rugby, Cricket and other sports.
Beats 8 (Podcasts): Top rated podcasts on all subjects. Think BBC without the news.
Beats 9 (World Music): Dublin, Ibiza, elsewhere
They have a lot to cover. Everyone has a different music choice. They will need at least 10 Beats stations.
I really (REALLY!) would love a Beats station devoted to trance. If you get Solarstone, Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, et al. I would listen to that all day long.
How about music that we have actually heard of. Most of what Beats plays now are unheard of music and artists that I don’t have a clue about. Let’s hear music that I know and artists that I hear on regular radio stations. I don’t what to hear that noise like a bunch of sounds effects with a drum machine behind it. Anyone with garageband can make that stuff.
………………………not sure if troll….
I think expanding the number of Beats shows is great, but what I hope we see is all of big Computer getting together on formats and streaming, and actually begin funding new production studios. I want them to kill cable and open it up to streaming + Live TV.
Apple doesn’t belong in the radio business. Epic fail.
Beats 1 was supposed to be a variety of the best music from around the world. Instead it’s an endless stream of mediocre hip hop garbage.
I would like a channel that is exactly what Beats 1 was supposed to be instead of the 2nd tier rap channel that it is.
A talk radio station dedicated to Apple rumors.
/s
I would love to hear anything but angry guys speaking fast and swearing. Maybe music for a change?
An Indie and/or under-the-radar musicians station. Those we may not hear about and deserve their big break.
Apple seems to be unaware of the substantial numbers of classical music listeners. iTunes is a disaster for us. Some some gesture to us, if sensibly done, unlike iTunes, would be appreciated.
I would like with more underground electronic music. SiriusXM has BPM and Electric Area radio but they play all the cheesy mainstream EDM music only. Even SiriusXM’s Chill station is not that great IMO. A station that plays some real Deep House, Tech House and Techno would be great.
– Music for targeted for 25-35 audiences
– Asian Music
– African Music
There are very few jazz radio stations any more. Though I like jazz, I admit I don’t listen a ton to it, however it seems to be a really underserved audience. Particularly once you move past the standards.
I can get some classical, and I have a large collection, though a lot on aging LPs, but many areas of the country/word don’t get much of that genre. Or they get greatest hits classical, which is sometimes just one movement from a work.
Them there is folk/world/etc. Mostly relegated to shows on college/public stations.
I think all three genres would attract listeners. (But then I like all three, and I have no research that shows that, so I’m just guessing.)
Beats 1 is cool for hearing mainstream pop music. I would love a station dedicated to other genres and/or subgenres. What would be REALLY nice is if the new Beats format gave Giles Peterson a shot. That would be crazy.
Overall, Beats1 seems to be mostly a pop station catered to the youth. Apple might follow the BBC Radio blueprint. Where Beats2 will be more adult centered music. Beats3 Special Interests – Jazz, World Music, Classical. who knows what Beats 4-5 will be, maybe news, comedy, sports, or other forms of music. Whatever it will be, I trust it will be pretty dope. I’ve been listening to Beats1 more than I’ve listened to the radio in a while. It sort of remind me of 80’s radio; I don’t know most of the artists that they play, and it all comes down to the music.
I would like a couple of R&B/Neo-Soul centered programs and an R&B countdown program.
…..I think a video program or station with VJs and not just random vis would be dope as well. I miss shows like video soul, rap city, mtv jams, and all the music vids from MTV back in the day. Those shows were a staple in pop culture.
Beats 1 English content
Beats 2 Chinese content
Beats 3 Korean&Japanese content