Apple hires BBC DJ Zane Lowe as tech giant bolsters its Beats team
Veteran BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe is heading to the US to join the growing music team at iPhone-maker Apple.
Lowe, who joined Radio 1 in 2003, will join Apple next month following his last show on 5 March.
“The station has allowed me to share incredible music with the country’s best music fans. I’ve loved every minute of it,” the New Zealand-born DJ said on his departure, teasing that: “Exciting times lie ahead.”
Last May Apple snapped up premium headphone-maker Beats Electronics for $3bn (£1.8bn) including its founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre.
Apple is thought to be working on a revamp of Beats Music subscription service, a Spotify competitor that currently only operates in the US, which Lowe could have been brought on board to work on.
The BBC said Annie Mac will take over Lowe’s weekday evening show. “I’d like to thank Zane for 12 wonderful years at Radio 1, and wish him and his family all the very best,” said Radio 1 boss Ben Cooper.