Zane Lowe, the BBC Radio 1 DJ , is leaving the network for Apple’s new iTunes radio service.
New Zealander Lowe, credited with helping to make the name of British music stars such as Arctic Monkeys, Adele and Ed Sheeran, is moving to America with his wife and two sons to work at Apple.
His final show in the prestigious evening slot will go out on 5 March. Lowe, who joined the station from XFM in 2003, said: “I want to thank everyone at Radio 1 for their support and friendship.
“The station has allowed me to share incredible music with the country’s best music fans – I’ve loved every minute of it. Exciting times lie ahead.”
He will be replaced by Annie Mac, who currently presents the Friday evening dance music show. She takes up Lowe’s role in addition to her own show, but is stepping down from her Sunday evening late night stint.
Lowe began his music career in London with a job at the Record and Tape Exchange in Notting Hill before he was asked to appear on an MTV show. He went on to take a permanent position with the show, Gonzo.
Already popular in America and Australia, iTunes Radio is the Apple service designed to allow listeners to set up and customise their own live stream of music, tailored to their likes and dislikes.
Ben Cooper, controller of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said: “Annie has proven she is a great ambassador for new music, and I’m delighted that she’s bringing her passion and knowledge to young audiences across the week.
“I’d like to thank Zane for 12 wonderful years at Radio 1, and wish him and his family all the very best.”
The Apple service is free, although there are advertisements. Listeners with an iTunes Match account can listen to their music ad-free.
In the US, iTunes Radio’s success has been described as underwhelming, but it is claimed it is already bigger than the free download music service Spotify