Apple applies for Beats 2-5 trademarks, hinting at future streaming radio stations

When Apple Music launched earlier this year in June, one of the major features of the package that differed from other streaming services was a real streaming radio station called Beats 1 hosted by actual DJs including Zane Lowe.

The Beats 1 station is free and doesn’t actually require an Apple Music subscription, but Apple has used celebrity-hosted radio shows by Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Jaden Smith and others on the streaming station to attract people to the subscription service.

Now a new report from French site Cosnomac (via MacRumors) says Apple has applied for trademarks in the US for use of Beats 2-5.

Many have wondered if Apple might eventually go beyond Beats 1 and offer multiple live streaming radio stations through Apple Music. Early criticism of Beats 1 focused on the single station, which leans heavy on pop and hip-hop, needing to cater to various music tastes, although I’ve personally found it to be a useful music discovery tool that satisfied my wider music taste.

A report earlier this year claimed that Apple had the rights to launch as many as five additional radio stations like Beats 1, which requires music label deals, although Beats 1 host Zane Lowe said only time will tell if Apple Music needs Beats 1.

It seems possible Apple is requesting these trademarks to preserve their names and prevent others from using a similar name. That scenario seems more likely than Apple planning four additional radio stations anytime soon, although additional stations in more languages than English could address a wider audience. Apple Music, after all, is offered in over 100 countries around the world.