iTunes Radio hiring musical experts to program

CURATION—WHAT A CONCEPT! iTunes Radio will feature stations programmed by “musical experts,” as well as celebrity Guest DJs including Katy Perry and Jared Leto, Mac Rumors reports, expanding on a CNET story. By contrast, Pandora relies exclusively on algorithm-driven methodology. Apple has always relied on humans in the iTunes environment, with editors reportedly choosing what albums and tracks to feature based on sales and personal preference, rather than a “pay-to-play” system, the Mac Rumors story continues. The company uses a similar methodology on the App Store with its Staff Favorites and Editor's Choice sections. iTunes Radio will also offer exclusive content—the Katy Perry station, for example, includes an unreleased track from the upcoming Prism. (9/18a)