will.i.am is launching a brand new radio service that can enable listeners to work together with AI-powered DJs and customise their whole listening expertise.
Constructed underneath his tech firm FYI and titled RAiDiO.FYI, the service will transcend music and permit for conversations about information, sports activities, climate and extra. Folks can already begin listening at no cost with the FYI app on all smartphones.
Speaking to Billboard in regards to the new enterprise, will stated: “The request line has at all times been at all times been superior for radio with when the callers get to name in and speak to the DJ or speak to the company, however they’re restricted to 1 individual at a time. After which after the printed you couldn’t speak the host.”
He continued: “That is an infotainment revolution the place you may shuttle with info in a deep approach, and I’m so excited to be launching that with FYI, and to all the parents on the market listening.”
Nonetheless in its early phases, future plans embrace partnering with actual content material creators to make their very own devoted stations throughout a large number of genres and niches like terrestrial radio.
Ever the innovator, will.i.am just lately revealed how he made tens of millions from Dr. Dre’s Beats headphones after being concerned with the corporate from the start.
Speaking completely to HipHopDX in March, the Black Eyed Peas legend mentioned how Beats By Dre got here to be and recalled an preliminary dialog with Interscope Information founder Jimmy Iovine.
“I come dwelling from tour in the future and I’m like, ‘Yo Jimmy, these manufacturers are pimping us, utilizing our attain to promote their product. We have to make our personal product, our personal {hardware},’” he stated. “So Jimmy classically says, ‘You recognize why they name it {hardware}, Will? ‘Trigger it’s onerous.’”
The rapper and producer then proposed to Iovine that they need to promote their very own gear and promote it utilizing themselves. Whereas doing a spot-on impression of the report government, Will recalled Jimmy asking him be part of the corporate.
“So then a yr later, he’s like, ‘I used to be speaking to Dre and Dre was strolling down the seaside along with his supervisor, and his supervisor informed him he ought to promote sneakers.’ And I remembered our dialog and I informed Dre, ‘Fuck sneakers; let’s promote audio system!’ You wanna be part of it?’” he continued.
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“[Jimmy’s like], ‘Along with your concepts and Dre’s Dre-ness, we may do one thing.’ So I used to be part of Beats. Nobody knew it. I used to be simply an fairness shareholder. My contribution was to assume and brainstorm and see round corners.”
“One of many first commercials for Beats was ‘Growth Growth Pow’,” he added, referencing the Black Eyed Peas tune which namedropped the model and prominently featured its headphones within the music video.
“You don’t at all times must be the dude within the entrance — no, you simply need to be a participant that provides factors on the board, whether or not you’re doing it invisibly or visibly. Truly, being invisible is the place it’s at at.”
[Ed. note: will.i.am is a Partner/Investor at DX’s parent company, UPROXX Studios.]
