Apple buys Carpool Karaoke series, will distribute it on Apple Music

Apple and CBS today announced that it has agreed to exclusively license the Carpool Karaoke series, which was originally part of The Late Late Show With James Corden on CBS. CBS Television Studios will produce the show along with Fulwell 73, and it will appear on Apple Music. There will be 16 weekly episodes of the show, according to a statement.

This is the next step Apple is taking to bring original media content to Apple Music, which has more than 15 million paying subscribers.

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

Apple is also working on an original TV series with Will.i.am and Ben Silverman and is also reported to be working on a new TV show starring Dr. Dre. Plus, Apple has reportedly explored the idea of acquiring Tidal, which has brought its members exclusives from Jay Z, Beyoncé, and other music artists.

In April Apple reported that its Services business brought in nearly $6 billion in revenue for the second quarter of its 2016 fiscal year. Clearly the company is investing in bringing valuable content to its media platform, right alongside Netflix and Amazon.

The Carpool Karaoke segment will keep appearing on The Late Late Show With James Corden television show as well, according to the statement.