Only Just Begun Radio

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.

Every major artist has those standout blockbuster hits that come to define their careers. For Adele, it’s “Hello” and “Rolling in the Deep.” For Drake, it’s “In My Feelings,” “God’s Plan,” and “Hotline Bling.” For Maren Morris, it's "The Bones" and "The Middle." For Beyoncé, we admit, it might be too many to list here. Every other week on Essentials Radio, a rotating cast of hosts explores the hits that turned some of their favorite artists into superstars and household names, and celebrates the anniversaries of their most famous albums.

Since 2011, Soulection has been a global creative hub for innovative musicians, crate-digging DJs, and open-minded fans. What began as an independent radio show has blossomed into a worldwide community united in a borderless, genre-bending musical movement. It’s a testament to Soulection staying true to its roots in the age of digital music, from putting out independent releases with producers such as Ta-ku, Sango, Dpat, and Atu to being the first collective invited to play Coachella. Today, Soulection exists as an Apple Music show, an independent music label, a festival (Soulection Experience), and a world-touring concert and clothing line. Soulection Radio is now airing on Apple Music 1 Sundays 9 am LA | 12 pm NY | 5 pm LDN | #SoulectionSundays

As host of her namesake Apple Music 1 show, broadcaster Dotty has a big self-proclaimed goal: to bring Black music culture from around the world to life. And she’s remarkably suited for the task: She grew up in global music mecca London as a second-generation immigrant—“all of my grandparents came to the UK from the Caribbean during the Windrush generation,” she explains—and surrounded herself with soul from the US, dancehall from Jamaica, and much more. “I love all branches of the Black music tree, from reggae to R&B,” she says. The Dotty Show finds her interviewing the artists lighting up Apple Music with the biggest tracks across hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeats, and everything in between, from the UK and beyond. “It’s wall-to-wall Black music from all across the globe,” she says. “A guided tour of the very best.” Tune in to The Dotty Show every Monday through Thursday on Apple Music 1 at 7 am LA/10 am NYC/3 pm LDN.

A defining character of New York’s music scene and a trusted voice in hip-hop, Apple Music 1 host Ebro Darden brings the city's urgent mix of music and culture to the world. “When I hear something with real heart and energy,” he says, “I want everyone to hear it.” Ebro splits his time at Apple Music as host of his namesake show and Rap Life Radio and global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B, genres in which Apple Music has proved dominant. A longtime fixture in New York radio, he brings a five-boroughs outlook to Apple Music 1’s global audience, but in a way that incorporates both music from all over the African diaspora and Black culture’s worldwide impact. Shot in Apple Music’s studio near Manhattan’s Union Square, The Ebro Show “has a New York City lens, but because New York City is an international city, we embrace a lot of different cultures,” Ebro—who grew up in the Bay Area but has called New York home for decades—explains. “We lean heavily on rap, but hip-hop is a very international music, so through there comes what's going on in Africa, what's going on in the UK, what's going on in Latin America, what's going on in Australia, what's going on in Asia. I don't know of any show that plays as much Caribbean music as we play.” But the show doesn’t only touch on music. “I don’t shy away from talking about social issues as it pertains to the community, specifically Black and brown people,” Ebro adds. “I try to find records that speak to that, music that speaks to that.” Tune in to hear Ebro on The Ebro Show every Monday through Thursday at 12 pm LA/3 pm NY/8 pm LDN and on Rap Life Radio every Friday at 10 am LA/1 pm NY/6 pm LDN.

Our hosts revisit the most iconic Super Bowl halftime shows and highlight unforgettable moments through the years.