BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe is hanging up his hat at the station after more than a decade to take up a new position working for Apple in the US.
For many teens in the UK, radio stations like BBC Radio 1 serve as the first port of call for music discovery (or at least they used to when I was a teenager) in their lives. I remember tuning in as a new DJ Radio 1 had added to its roster took to the mic; a passionate, fast-talking Kiwi called Zane Lowe and I immediately loved his show. I still do, regularly tuning in to discover new music or be wowed by this man’s extensive knowledge of the wider music scene.
So, with my obvious fandom out in the open, news of his upcoming departure from Radio 1 leaves me feeling sad and a little lost, but also curious and excited. After 12 years working at Radio 1, DJ, performer and TV presenter Zane Lowe is officially leaving the Beeb next month and moving to the US, where he’ll be welcomed by Tim Cook and the rest of the Apple establishment.
Lowe has built an international fan base not only as a Radio 1 DJ, but also for his live performances and more recently, a series of high profile interviews with influential names in the industry including Jay Z, Kanye West, Rick Rubin, Chris Martin and Eminem.
What Lowe’s new post at Apple will entail is currently unclear, but with plans of a new music service, hewn from the ashes of the company’s Beats acquisition, there’s a strong chance that Zane’s music expertise will come into play for music curation purposes or perhaps to produce original shows and content on the yet unnamed service (there’s talk of the new service simply being integrated into iTunes Radio too).
On announcing his departure from the BBC, Lowe said, “I want to thank everyone at Radio 1 for their support and friendship. The station has allowed me to share incredible music with the country’s best music fans.” Zane’s final Radio 1 show will take place on March 5th after which fellow Radio 1 DJ, Annie Mac (who began her Radio 1 career as a broadcast assistant on Zane’s show) will be taking the reins for the 7pm to 9pm, Monday to Thursday slot.
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