Beats In Space with Tim Sweeney

Beats In Space with Tim Sweeney

There’s a funny, fake-it-till-you-make-it backstory behind Tim Sweeney’s Apple Music 1 program, Beats in Space. Long before the show was hosting exclusive mixes from electronic music royalty such as Carl Craig, Andrew Weatherall, DJ Harvey, and Four Tet, Tim was a college freshman with a 1:00-4:00 am slot on WNYU—on its now-defunct AM signal. “It really only broadcast to the dormitories,” Tim tells Apple Music. “I didn't tell people I was on AM, basically. I just told guests to come on the radio—and people did!” But you don’t make it to 1000 episodes, recorded and broadcast literally every single week for more than 20 years, by faking anything for long. Over the course of its time on WNYU, Beats in Space took adventurous listeners on an exploration of techno, house, ambient, and experimental’s outer reaches; for the DJs and producers who defined those genres, performing on the show became a rite of passage. The early vision for Beats in Space was heavily informed by the UK's pirate radio scene of the ’90s. “My brother brought back these tapes from London, and I would just listen to those all the time,” says Tim. “And I thought, ‘Why is this not on the radio here in the US? Why can't I find something like this?’ It was this feeling of playing something that you couldn't find anywhere else. And you were letting people in on something that you loved and you knew should be bigger.” Two decades later, now on Apple Music 1, Beats in Space continues to blur all sorts of musical lines, particularly with its guests, who’ll provide an exclusive one-hour mix for the show, following an hour set from Tim. “I want to try to find music that moves people,” he says. “How do I take this stuff that I love and find more people who say, 'Look, this is awesome. I want you to hear it.' I love connecting those dots.” Hear Beats in Space every Friday at 1 pm LA, 4 pm NY, and 9 pm London on Apple Music 1.

Shows with Subscription Benefits

  • 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.

  • Follow this show, because Apple Music Today is a daily series that highlights one song from Apple Music's catalog of over 100 million and digs into the story behind it. From massive hits to sleeper cuts to the newest surprise drop, our Apple Music hosts dive in across genres and decades to unpack untold stories about the music that soundtracks our lives, 365 days a year. Best of all, with an Apple Music subscription you get to hear the songs in full!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Disiz chantait « Retiens le beau, le vrai, le sublime ». Avec SUBLIME RADIO, il offre un prolongement radiophonique à son label Sublime, créé en 2022 pour l’album L’Amour. Une véritable plateforme d’expression autour de la création musicale, la production indépendante et la liberté que celle-ci permet. Bien entouré, l’artiste y partage sa vision artistique et met sur le devant de la scène de jeunes talents du rap, de l’électro ou encore de la pop alternative. Reflétant l’aventure humaine que représente un label indépendant, SUBLIME RADIO remet l’artiste au centre de la conversation, avec des discussions nourries d’anecdotes et, surtout, de bons sons.

  • Join Eladio Carrión on Sauce Boyz Radio as he gives an exclusive look through the lens of a multidimensional entertainer—the artist, athlete, comedian, storyteller, father, and son. The Puerto Rican rapper invites his fans into his creative process, reflecting on his journey and sharing the moments that shaped him with those who have inspired him along the way. With humor, honesty, and his signature style, he offers an authentic and personal perspective on his world, one episode at a time on Apple Música Uno.

Subscribe to Apple Music to access all shows.

About

There’s a funny, fake-it-till-you-make-it backstory behind Tim Sweeney’s Apple Music 1 program, Beats in Space. Long before the show was hosting exclusive mixes from electronic music royalty such as Carl Craig, Andrew Weatherall, DJ Harvey, and Four Tet, Tim was a college freshman with a 1:00-4:00 am slot on WNYU—on its now-defunct AM signal. “It really only broadcast to the dormitories,” Tim tells Apple Music. “I didn't tell people I was on AM, basically. I just told guests to come on the radio—and people did!” But you don’t make it to 1000 episodes, recorded and broadcast literally every single week for more than 20 years, by faking anything for long. Over the course of its time on WNYU, Beats in Space took adventurous listeners on an exploration of techno, house, ambient, and experimental’s outer reaches; for the DJs and producers who defined those genres, performing on the show became a rite of passage. The early vision for Beats in Space was heavily informed by the UK's pirate radio scene of the ’90s. “My brother brought back these tapes from London, and I would just listen to those all the time,” says Tim. “And I thought, ‘Why is this not on the radio here in the US? Why can't I find something like this?’ It was this feeling of playing something that you couldn't find anywhere else. And you were letting people in on something that you loved and you knew should be bigger.” Two decades later, now on Apple Music 1, Beats in Space continues to blur all sorts of musical lines, particularly with its guests, who’ll provide an exclusive one-hour mix for the show, following an hour set from Tim. “I want to try to find music that moves people,” he says. “How do I take this stuff that I love and find more people who say, 'Look, this is awesome. I want you to hear it.' I love connecting those dots.” Hear Beats in Space every Friday at 1 pm LA, 4 pm NY, and 9 pm London on Apple Music 1.

More From Apple Music

You Might Also Like

Content Restricted

This episode cannot be played on the web in your country or region.

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada