Spotify Snags Former Apple Music Hip-Hop Programming Head

Carl Chery, Apple Music's head of hip-hop programming, has left Apple to work for Spotify, reports Variety.

As head of hip-hop programming, Chery secured Apple exclusive releases from Chance the Rapper, including Grammy Award-winning album "Coloring Book," and he also helped discover artists like Cardi B, Bryson Tiller, Post Malone, Khalid, Daniel Caesar, 6LACK, and H.E.R.

Image via Variety
Chery was behind several popular playlists on Apple Music, including A-List: Hip-Hop and A-List: R&B, and his absence will likely be felt at Apple Music, where hip-hop has become one of the genres the service is known for.

Chery first joined Apple in 2014 when Beats Music was acquired by the company, and prior to that date, he was a music journalist for SOHH.com, XXL, and BET. At Spotify, Chery will likely work with the service's popular RapCaviar playlist, which lost its curator last month.

The news of Chery's hiring comes as Spotify prepares to introduce changes to its mobile app, which will be announced next week. It's not entirely clear what new features are coming to the Spotify app, but the company has been testing voice control and new free subscription options designed to make the streaming service easier to use.

Tag: Apple Music

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

H3LL5P4WN

8 months ago

Does this mean that Apple Music will finally focus on something, anything, other than rap?

Rating: 12 Votes

jacjustjac

8 months ago

I’m always rooting for Spotify. Besides loving their service, I’d hate to see it fold under the sheer size of Apple. They’ve built something amazing (and cross platform), whereas it feels like Apple spends more effort marketing Apple Music than improving/curating it.

Rating: 7 Votes

Wide opeN

8 months ago

For the first time ever I'm thinking about giving Spotify a shot.

I downloaded it, and was immediately impressed at the algorithm used to tailor music to my taste.

Not to mention the dark theme is easier on the eyes.

We'll see...

Rating: 5 Votes

H3LL5P4WN

8 months ago

Does he have anything to do with Beats 1? That's mainly where hip hop is overrepresented. The music catalog itself seems about the same as everywhere else.

Catalogue-wise, yes. But any sort of promotion is always rap.

Rating: 4 Votes

jasonkratz

8 months ago

Hip hop is the most popular music in the US so Apple promoting it is not a surprise. Just like rock & roll in its time, some don't get it.

The A list was a good new music playlist (it helped me weed out the trash from the good stuff), I hope they keep it around.

Some don't get it? Or more likely some just don't like it?

Rating: 4 Votes

jgdeschamps

8 months ago

Does this mean that Apple Music will finally focus on something, anything, other than rap?

You are in heaven. In Latin America we get extreme focus on reggaeton. :mad:

Rating: 3 Votes

WestonHarvey1

8 months ago

Does this mean that Apple Music will finally focus on something, anything, other than rap?

Does he have anything to do with Beats 1? That's mainly where hip hop is overrepresented. The music catalog itself seems about the same as everywhere else.

Rating: 3 Votes