On March 13, Apple kicked off celebrations for its 50th anniversary with a special performance by 17-time Grammy Award-winning artist and producer Alicia Keys at Apple Grand Central in New York City. Keys delivered an incredible set of her timeless songs from the venue’s iconic steps. iPhone 17 Pro brought the energy and intimacy of the event to life.
Throughout the month, the company is commemorating the milestone around the world. Each gathering highlights human creativity and ingenuity in action, and showcases the remarkable things people can do when they have the right Apple products in their hands.
Apple Battersea, London
Nia Archives is a multi-award-winning DJ, producer, singer, and songwriter born in Bradford and now based in London. Featured as a UK “Up Next” artist on Apple Music back in 2022, she has since been at the forefront of the jungle scene resurgence. A dedicated Logic Pro user, Nia has created remixes for the likes of Jorja Smith, PinkPantheress, Jamie xx, and Fred again.
Formed in London in 2007, Mumford & Sons has won multiple awards, including Album of the Year at both the Grammys and the BRIT Awards. The folk rock band’s 2012 album Babel became the fastest-selling rock album of the decade. Recently, the band joined Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in Los Angeles to share stories about their just released sixth studio album, Prizefighter, which reached No. 1 on the UK album charts.
Apple Taikoo Li Chengdu, China
Chris Lee, a prominent figure in Chinese pop culture, is an artist who is not afraid to experiment. As a singer, songwriter, and actor, she has made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, winning more than 260 music awards at home and abroad. Known for blending pop, electronic, and alternative sounds, Lee has released multiple platinum albums accompanied by mind-blowing visual projects and stage concepts.
Over a 20-year career, Lee has remained true to her artistic roots. Early on, she cited Apple’s iconic “Think Different” campaign as a creative inspiration — an influence that fed into her pioneering musical expression, dynamic stage presence, and forward-looking aesthetic. Today, she stands as an iconic cultural figure spanning music, fashion, and the arts.
Apple Grand Central, New York
An artist who transcends genre and time, Alicia Keys is the human embodiment of performance, producing, storytelling, and innovation. With multiple decades in the industry under her belt, Keys has never stopped thinking different.
Keys became one of the first artists to release her catalog in Spatial Audio on Apple Music and headlined an Apple Music Live performance. In 2024, Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room was among the first Apple Immersive experiences for Apple Vision Pro, offering fans a unique glimpse into her creative process during an intimate rehearsal session.
Apple Carnegie Library; Washington, D.C.
In 2022, Troy Kotsur became the first deaf male actor to win an Academy Award for his performance in the Apple Original Film CODA, and today, he’s starring in Apple TV’s Foundation. On March 24, Kotsur took the stage at Apple Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C., with Roberta Cordano, the first deaf woman to be president of Gallaudet University, for a discussion with Apple’s Sarah Herrlinger about the legacy and future of Deaf creativity. After the discussion, disability rights advocate Haben Girma shared how Apple technology helped her become the first deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law and connect with others in the most essential ways.
Over the course of the evening, hundreds of accessibility advocates, artists, leaders, and allies gathered to reflect on what it means to have technology that works for everyone, including people with disabilities: an Apple Watch that tracks wheelchair pushes, an iPhone that speaks, an iPad that works for every learner, or a Mac that works seamlessly with a wide range of assistive technologies. Attendees from a wide range of disability communities reflected on how they launched their artistic careers, started companies, and made their messages known, with Apple’s accessibility features powering them along the way.
The Sydney Opera House, Australia
The Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s best-known cultural landmarks, symbolizes the arts and community. Celebrating a new yearlong collaboration to champion the next generation of creativity, Illuminating Creativity transforms the Opera House’s eastern Bennelong sails into a canvas to showcase digital artwork from 11 emerging Australian artists and six members of the public. A mix of static imagery and motion, set to a score composed by musician Bailey Pickles using Logic Pro, the celebration represents the intersection of technology and the liberal arts.
The artworks were all created using Procreate — a powerful drawing and animation app developed in Tasmania, Australia, by Savage Interactive. A multiple Apple Design Awards winner, Procreate bridges Australian creative talent with an Australian-made creative tool, on one of the world’s most iconic canvases.
Pickles, a recent graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, composed his first piece of music at the age of 3, and started creating music on Mac with Logic Pro at the age of 10. Composing the musical score to accompany Illuminating Creativity was a way for Pickles to celebrate the arts and recognize the transformative power of iPad, Mac, Procreate, and the Australian creative community.
Apple Iconsiam, Bangkok
Thai artist Molly Yllom began her creative journey sketching on paper, and her passion for art grew during her university years, when she saved up to purchase her very own MacBook Pro — an investment she credits with helping to launch her career. In 2017, Molly introduced Crybaby, an original character and deeply personal work that explores emotion through visual storytelling.
As her practice evolved, she added iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro to her creative toolkit. She often comes across inspiration on the go, capturing ideas on her iPhone and sharing them with her team. Since her breakthrough, the Crybaby universe has expanded far beyond its origins, growing from paintings to sculptures and encompassing some of the world’s most instantly recognizable characters.
Apple Myeongdong, Seoul
K-pop sensation CORTIS only debuted last summer, but the group has already taken the world by storm. Their 2025 debut EP, Color Outside the Lines, is a testament to their mission of redefining artistry, and promoting self-expression. The group joined fans at Apple Myeongdong for a special conversation about their journey as artists and surprised guests with a performance of three songs, including “YOUNGCREATORCREW” from their upcoming album.
Early in their career, the group appeared on The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music Radio, helping them build a loyal fanbase around the world. Recently, CORTIS released an Apple Immersive music experience for Apple Vision Pro, offering fans unprecedented access as they rehearse the choreography for their track “GO!”
Stay tuned for more updates.
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