Apple hires BBC producers for music streaming service

The moves come weeks before Apple is widely-expected to launch its new music streaming service to take on Spotify and Tidal.

According to a source speaking to Music Business Worldwide, Apple has poached four of BBC Radio's top producers, including James Bursey, Lowe's previous producer at Radio 1, and a chap called Kieran Yeates.

Yeates' signing would be quite a coup, as he's the main man behind the 'BBC Introducing' initiative, a platform for new and unsigned artists that allows people to upload music and potentially have it broadcast on BBC Radio.

The BBC released the following comment on the news: "Radio 1 is respected worldwide for making great programmes and is vital to the record industry for choosing the best new music and artists. We are proud to have a proven record of discovering and developing staff that are seen as the best in the business."

Andy Madden

Andy is Deputy Editor of What Hi-Fi? and a consumer electronics journalist with nearly 20 years of experience writing news, reviews and features. Over the years he's also contributed to a number of other outlets, including The Sunday Times, the BBC, Stuff, and BA High Life Magazine. Premium wireless earbuds are his passion but he's also keen on car tech and in-car audio systems and can often be found cruising the countryside testing the latest set-ups. In his spare time Andy is a keen golfer and gamer.