Ebro Darden is starting 2019 with a new executive job title on his extensive résumé in the music business.
The longtime radio show host and former program director of New York’s Hot 97 has been appointed as the Global Editorial Head of Hip Hop and R&B at Apple Music on Tuesday (January 2), according to Billboard. He begins his new job effective immediately.
“We’re excited that Ebro is joining us in a full-time capacity,” Apple Music’s global director of editorial Rachel Newman told Billboard. “Having dedicated his life and career to hip-hop, R&B and pop music, he has so much to offer. One of Ebro’s most defining characteristics is that he has great ears for where R&B and hip-hop are transcending and evolving to beyond even the borders of the U.S.”
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“He’ll obviously take a leadership position for us not just in hip-hop and R&B but also in the communities where the music is made, which is also exciting and something unique to Ebro.”
Darden will be supervising a group of hip-hop and R&B editors conceptualizing editorial strategies for artists, albums and singles released in the U.S. and abroad.
He also announced his new gig on his Instagram account with the caption, “2019. Officially joined the Apple Team. Thank you Apple Music. Thank you Hot 97. And I’ll still be talking shit daily.”
This new role is an expansion of Darden’s current duty as a host on his own live stream show on Apple’s Beats 1 Radio Monday through Friday from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. ET playing rap, R&B, interviewing artists and breaking news about the Hip Hop industry. He will remain hosting his radio show on Hot 97 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET.
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The appointment of Darden replaces Carl Chery, who was Apple Music’s head of artist curation for hip-hop and R&B before he left to join Spotify last April.
“First things first is making sure that we’re firing on all cylinders in the best way possible, helping consumers find the music that they love and also helping artists connect with consumers in a real way,” Darden said about the goals for his new position.
“Once I learn about what’s needed to achieve that, it will be about looking ahead and figuring out ways to serve the communities where hip-hop and R&B music is made. Black music comes from the community. This is music made by people living real lives and artists speaking on behalf of those real lives.”
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