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The Story of Classical is your essential nine-part companion guide to classical music. In each of our commentaries, we unlock the mystery and beauty of every musical period—from the Middle Ages to the present day—by chronicling an encounter between vital figures in music history.

Composer and pianist Alexis Ffrench is one of today’s most popular classical musicians. His work taps into the vast musical galaxy—from Bach and Debussy to Hollywood, gospel, and beyond—which makes him the perfect host for Classical Connections Radio, a show that takes listeners along exhilarating and often unexpected pathways through classical music. “I want to present classical in the way I believe it’s meant to be presented—as beautiful music that’s there to be enjoyed and without barriers,” he tells Apple Music. “We’re going to be zipping from here to there, but everything is going to be connected and curated. I see myself as a musical concierge!” Classical Connections Radio features the best new releases, interviews with exciting stars, and a few surprises, too. In his “Sampology” feature, Alexis unlocks the classical roots of a recent chart hit, while we get to hear his incredible improvisational skills in “60 Second Sonata” as he spontaneously crafts a piece of music at the piano, inspired by a listener. And in “Journeys,” he finds the influences in his own work through the composers and artists who have formed his musical DNA over the years. “The powerful thing about music is that it can be like these emotional postcards from various points in your life,” he says, “which I find so beautiful.” If Classical Connections Radio is about gathering different musical strands, it’s also about bringing together a musical community. “Classical music is not about dates or understanding different periods. It’s people, it’s emotions, and it’s love. That’s why it’s so dear to me.” Tune in to Classical Connections Radio with Alexis Ffrench on Apple Music 1 every Saturday at 10 am PT/6 pm UK.

Huey Lewis and his band The News dominated radio in the 1980s, sending 12 singles into the top 10, including “The Power of Love,” “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” and “Hip to Be Square.” Here, on his own show, Huey's '80s Radio, the legendary musician shares music, stories, and one-of-a-kind insight into one of the most important decades in rock 'n' roll.

Welcome to 100 Best Albums Radio, where we reveal our definitive list of the greatest albums ever made. Assembled with the help of artists and experts, it’s a love letter to the records that have shaped the world we live and listen in. Below you’ll find the official countdown, daily radio episodes with our hosts’ reactions, and stories behind each of the albums. Dive in, (re)discover some classics, and see if your favorite albums made our list.

As a founding member of blink-182, +44, and Simple Creatures, Mark Hoppus has survived three decades of alternative music—from the punk clubs of Southern California to unlikely pop stardom in the TRL era to navigating the new millennium’s post-genre revolution. Each week on After School Radio on Apple Music 1, Mark focuses on the songs, artists, and culture that’ve defined the movement, with the sense of humor and perspective that have become his trademark.

Elton John’s career has spanned more than five decades. On his Apple Music Show, now over 400 episodes in, the international singer-songwriter and performer brings in special guests and has thoughtful conversations with established and rising stars—in many cases sharing music from his comprehensive record collection. Having begun his musical journey in the late ’60s, John is one of music’s top-selling solo artists—with more than 300 million albums sold worldwide and one of the biggest-selling singles of all time, “Candle in the Wind.” He is a multiple Grammy winner and the first recipient of the BRITs Icon Award. He has won a Tony, two Oscars, a Best British male artist BRIT Award, and an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside a Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime contributions to American culture and excellence through the performing arts. Since 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised more than $450 million for HIV prevention, treatment, and advocacy programs across the globe.