“Apple’s deep love for music dates all the way back to the very beginning,” Apple Music vice president Oliver Schusser said, introducing a venue built to turn small London shows into global events.
Baby Keem will become the first hip-hop artist to perform at Apple Music Hall, the company’s new 600-capacity venue inside London’s Battersea Power Station, when he takes the stage on October 2.
Apple Music Hall London: how the venue works
The venue opens on September 28 with a rare performance from Elton John, before Baby Keem follows just days later on October 2. Rising British singer Skye Newman plays October 7, with Troye Sivan, Arlo Parks, Burna Boy, Chase & Status, and Charli XCX rounding out the rest of the debut programme through late November.
Built around a 38-foot stage and 48 speakers designed for spatial sound, Apple Music Hall functions as both a concert room and a fully equipped recording space. According to multiple outlets covering the announcement, most or all of the debut concerts are expected to become available on Apple Music at a later date, meaning a set played for a few hundred people in London can effectively reach a global audience.
Why Baby Keem’s Slot Matters
Placing Baby Keem second in the lineup, right after Elton John, signals how Apple wants this space to function: pairing legacy artists with the sound of right now. Keem has spent the past few years building a catalog defined by tight production and his ongoing creative partnership with cousin Kendrick Lamar, including his 2026 album “Ca$ino,” which featured Lamar and Denzel Curry on the track “House Money.”
Apple has partnered with UK promoter Communion ONE to handle bookings, while ticketing runs through DICE. The company previously ran the iTunes Festival, later renamed the Apple Music Festival, which paired major artists with small audiences before ending in 2017. Apple Music Hall effectively revives that idea, but as a permanent, purpose-built space rather than a temporary annual event.
What’s Next
With shows confirmed into late November and a livestreaming component built into the venue’s design from day one, Apple Music Hall’s opening run will be closely watched as a test case for how the company plans to blend intimate live performance with global reach going forward.
