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.
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MUSIC HISTORY
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.
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MUSIC COMMENTARY
One thing that today's biggest artists have in common: They all speak with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about their lives and the stories behind their songs. Hear why he is the interviewer the biggest stars open up to in these candid, in-depth conversations, now available in full on Apple Podcasts.
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MUSIC INTERVIEWS
On his namesake show and New Music Daily, Apple Music 1’s flagship shows, host Zane Lowe brings users unparalleled music knowledge with headline interviews, breaking news, and emerging music from around the globe every day. It’s become the world’s go-to for the best brand-new music, sure, but it’s also popular music’s premier confessional booth: Day after day, Zane—who’s also Apple Music’s global creative director and co-head of artist relations—gets the biggest, most elusive superstars, from Justin Bieber to Taylor Swift to Kanye West, to let their guards down—laughs, tears, and news-making quotes are the norm. “I’m a curious person, I ask questions, and I guess if I'm passionate about something, I'll talk about it and engage people about it. I want to start a conversation and learn,” Zane explains of his approach. “Because the more you share, the more you learn, and vice versa. It’s just a circle that keeps spinning.” Zane earns guests’ trust with a music obsessive’s curiosity and enthusiasm, compassionate questioning, and firsthand music knowledge of life as an artist—he started his music career recording and performing, and continues to write, produce, and record. “The artist side of it, that really drives what I do,” he explains. “I'm not a conventional media-type personality. I’m no good at being a host, really. I'm not a journalist. I don't write, I'm not a writer. What I do is feel and translate.” Check out Zane on The Zane Lowe Show every Monday through Thursday on Apple Music 1 at 9 am LA/12 pm NYC/5 pm LDN and New Music Daily every Friday at 9 am LA, 12 pm NY, and 5 pm LDN.
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MUSIC COMMENTARY
Over a career-spanning five decades, Nile Rodgers has helped write and produce some of the most iconic songs in pop music, both for his pioneering disco band Chic and for superstar collaborators like Diana Ross, David Bowie, and Daft Punk. On his Apple Music show, the composer, record producer, and rhythm guitar legend—a Rock & Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee—invites the most important established and emerging songwriters to discuss the ideas and inspirations behind their work. With each episode digging deep into the stories behind the songs, Rodgers’ candid discussions give invaluable insight into how your favorite music was created.
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MUSIC INTERVIEWS
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.
The best music stories from Apple Music are now available on Apple Podcasts.
Here, you can listen to can’t-miss specials and in-depth artist interviews—interspersed with full songs and hosted by some of the world’s best music experts, like Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, Matt Wilkinson, Dotty, and Kelleigh Bannen.
You’ll also find shows hosted by trailblazing musicians such as Nile Rodgers, Alexis Ffrench, Soulection’s Joe Kay, and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, who offer up an inside look at the creative process.
These shows already broadcast across Apple Music’s global radio stations—Apple Music 1, Apple Music Hits, and Apple Music Country—but now you can explore them, music and all, alongside a wealth of other creators and storytellers.