ZANE LOWE GOES
ON THE RECORD

In Zane Lowe’s first interview since Saturday’s announcement that he’d be leaving BBC Radio 1 for Apple, the media star discusses his present and future gigs with Laura Barton of The Guardian.

“It’s not easy being faced with the prospect of leaving somewhere as amazing as the BBC,” Lowe acknowledges. “It’s about the best place I’ve ever worked in my life. And it’s got the most inspiring people, who do things for all the right reasons—because they love it, they feel proud to do it there, they feel honored at the privilege of being able to do it for the people, and they take that responsibility very seriously. And you don’t leave. You just don’t.”

Unless you’re given the opportunity of a lifetime—to work with the A-team in California. “It’s about being able to get great music to an audience on a global level,” Lowe explains, all but confirming that he’ll be part of iTunes’ new streaming service.” I know that there is an opportunity to come out here and to build something that will reach parts of the world that I’ve never reached before.

“And that’s not an ego-driven decision,” he continues. “I’m just trying to connect with the listener, and connect with the artist, and put you guys together.”

As Barton points out, Lowe’s role with Apple hasn’t yet been made public, which makes it difficult for him to talk in specific terms, so he talks in the abstract about platforms, curating, connecting and extending his role as a musical cheerleader.

“I really want a platform for the most passionate people who love music,” he says. “I want to be able to bring that human experience that we all had growing up with record stores, but actually make it something you can listen to in a world where you’re left to your own devices. Does that make sense?” he wonders. “It hasn’t really sunk in.”