Apple Music Launches ‘Up Next,’ a Program to Elevate Rising Stars

Apple Music has launched Up Next, a new program that showcases developing artists.

Each month, Apple Music will choose a rising artist and place a spotlight on them, giving their music visibility to new audiences.

Promotion of the artist includes a short documentary, an audio EP from a live session, and an interview on Beats 1.

For the first month, Apple chose 6LACK, a rapper-singer out of Atlana, who recently dropped an album called FREE 6LACK.

The launch of Up Next closely follows Apple Music’s release of “House of Strombo,” a concert series, highlighting Apple’s increased effort toward differentiating its streaming platform through exclusive content.