Apple is turning up the volume on its content production efforts with a new three-story, 15,000-square-foot studio in Los Angeles designed specifically for artists, reflecting the tech giant’s long-term push into original programming and live performance.
Opening this summer, the Culver City facility includes two Spatial Audio-equipped radio studios, a 4,000-square-foot soundstage and a suite of creative amenities such as podcast booths and edit bays. It is to serve as the new anchor for Apple Music Radio in Los Angeles and as a production hub for artists to create and broadcast live content over Apple’s streaming platform.
The project marks Apple’s latest investment in physical infrastructure to support its growing media operations. The company launched its first Apple Music Radio studio in London in 2015 and has since expanded to New York, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin and Nashville, Tennessee, each location tailored to local music communities.
The Los Angeles facility is Apple's largest and most ambitious yet. “This new studio is more than just a space — it’s a commitment to creativity, community and the future of sound,” Rachel Newman, co-head of Apple Music, said in a statement.
Artists will be able to record, perform, mix and broadcast from one purpose-built location that adds a bit of what Newman called brand polish.
Artist-first studios — facilities designed around the creative needs of musicians rather than corporate workflows — are gaining momentum across the entertainment industry. These spaces are typically flexible, acoustically tuned, visually striking and able to double as event venues or social media stages. Apple’s new studio, in Culver City’s architecturally adventurous Hayden Tract, reflects that trend while deepening the company’s ties to one of LA’s most creative neighborhoods, Newman said.
Artist-first amenities
Los Angeles has long been a global music capital, from the rise of the Sunset Strip in the 1960s to West Coast hip-hop in the 1990s. The city remains a launchpad for musical movements and a magnet for artists, producers and entertainment companies.
SiriusXM operates a major studio and programming hub in the Sycamore District, supporting its satellite radio, Pandora and podcast services. Spotify runs a large campus in the Arts District with podcast studios and performance spaces, anchoring its growing footprint in L.A.’s creative economy.
Apple’s new studio comes as music and media companies continue to build similar artist-first spaces. Nashville-based music publisher Concord is moving into an event-ready penthouse at 9171 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Its new office includes listening rooms, social spaces and work zones tailored to songwriters and composers.
Sony Music Publishing also opened a 48,000-square-foot songwriting hub in the Sycamore District in December. The facility includes five writing studios, six listening rooms, an artist lounge and a state-of-the-art recording suite with a control room and two independent booths. It’s one of five such studios the company operates globally.
These next-generation studios blur the lines between office, production facility and cultural venue. Popular features include live performance stages, rooftop decks, Spatial Audio mixing rooms, photo labs and content-ready lounges.
Newman said Apple’s Culver City facility reflects that ethos, with a museum-style corridor of framed artist moments, fan engagement areas and flexible setups for interviews and performances.
Though Apple hasn’t disclosed the exact address, the studio adds to its growing Culver City presence. The company already leases hundreds of thousands of square feet in the area for its film, television and music divisions. Its 132,000-square-foot headquarters at 8777 Washington Blvd. is nearby, and Apple is developing a sprawling office and studio complex at 8888 Venice Blvd. to house Apple TV operations.
The Hayden Tract, once an industrial zone, has been transformed into a creative district by developers Frederick and Laurie Samitaur Smith and architect Eric Owen Moss. The area now features experimental architecture and is home to media, tech and design firms, with convenient access to the public transit.
Apple Music launched in 2015, built on the foundation of Beats Music after Apple’s acquisition of the headphone retailer Beats. The service is tightly integrated into iPhones, Macs and other Apple devices and includes Apple Music Radio, which offers 24-7 live programming.
The platform faces tough competition from Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon Music and YouTube Music, all of which continue to expand globally. With streaming growth slowing, Apple and its rivals are leaning on exclusive content, artist partnerships and immersive experiences to stand out.