Apple Music Signs Global Deal for Carpool Karaoke

LOS ANGELES: Apple Music has signed up as the global home of Carpool Karaoke, a new series from CBS Television Studios based on a popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Produced by CBS Television Studios and Fulwell 73—the production company formed by Ben Winston, co-creator of the show with Corden—the new series will be available on Apple Music in more than 100 markets via an exclusive first-window licensing agreement.

The series will consist of 16 episodes, rolling out weekly on Apple Music. In the series, celebrities sing along with the host (to be announced) as they visit places meaningful to them. A premiere date has not yet been announced.

“We love music, and Carpool Karaoke celebrates it in a fun and unique way that is a hit with audiences of all ages,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior VP of internet software and services. “It’s a perfect fit for Apple Music—bringing subscribers exclusive access to their favorite artists and celebrities who come along for the ride.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Apple Music on this exciting new series of Carpool Karaoke,” said Ben Winston, executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden as well as of the new Carpool Karaoke series. “The joy of Carpool is both the intimacy it creates, while seeing the love our passengers have for music. Where better to showcase that than with Apple Music.”

The Carpool Karaoke segment on the late-night CBS show has notched up more than 830 million YouTube views since its launch last year. It will continue as a recurring segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Apple Music costs $9.99 a month for access to more than 30 million songs, radio stations curated by artists and music experts, and exclusive music and video content. It has been stepping up its original video initiatives.