Apple Music announces new Up Next performer, adds Black Coffee Beats 1 show

Apple has announced two new talent developments within its Apple music streaming service. First, Apple Music has added a new artist for its Up Next discovery program. Nigerian afrobeat performer Mr. Eazi (Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade) is the fourth performer to be spotlighted via this campaign. He will be the focus of a documentary, a live performance, and a Beats 1 interview. The program has also arranged for Mr. Eazi to perform on the Late Late Show with James Corden, as previous Up Next artists did.

Up Next has spotlighted a different up and coming artist each month since its beginning this April. The campaigns subjects thus far have been performers with some amount of existing traction among listeners. For instance, Mr. Eazi already has multiple YouTube videos with many millions of views, but he has not attained mainstream popularity yet.

Second, South African DJ and producer Black Coffee is joining the roster of Beats 1. He will be hosting an eponymous Friday afternoon show every two weeks that will air exclusive remixes and upcoming tracks along with artist interviews. The first episode has already been recorded and features music from Swizz Beats and Burna Boy.

“I wanted to live in people’s homes,” Black Coffee said. “We spend two nights in the club, a Friday and a Saturday, the rest of the week we still want to listen to music. I want to be in people’s living rooms, in their cars when they’re driving to work.”

Anna Washenko