While a paid subscription is not needed, users are required to sign in with an Apple ID account to listen to the free radio stations.

On September 29, 2015, Zane Lowe said he wasn't sure that Apple Music needed Beats 1, but said "I hope that there's a place for it, however I really doubt it.

[18] In March 2020, Beats 1 transitioned to remote broadcasting from the respective homes of the radio hosts in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

However, they did note that "there is a reasonable amount of diversity..."[22] Mashable complained of "dynamic-range compression, which squashes the volume range of audio" and also said, "The variety can be a blessing and a curse...it jumps all over the musical spectrum...If I wasn't committed to listening to nothing but Beats 1 for this review, I would have turned it off.

"[24] Jason Cipriani of Fortune wrote, "I haven't liked every song played on Beats 1, but the personal bond I instantly felt with each DJ has been strong enough for me to resist the urge to go back to a lifeless algorithm.

"[25] Billboard said, "the tech community has been heaping praise on Beats 1...Internet-savvy people have fallen head over heels for old-school monoculture.

[38] Apple Music 1 also lets some musicians - such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Frank Ocean and the Weeknd - host their own shows on the station.

In an interview with Digital Trends' Keith Nelson Jr., Zane Lowe praised the format, saying, "We've been overwhelmed by...how great the artists are at doing it.

"[39] On Blackout Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Apple Music 1 (then known as Beats 1) replaced its entire schedule with a stream featuring Black musicians and artists.