Apple debuted a new commercial for its Apple Music service Sunday night, and it has a cast and creative team as good as any TV show featured at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Directed by Ava DuVernay, the ad opens with Kerry Washington of “Scandal” and Taraji P. Henson of “Empire” laughing as they walk up to the front door of a house. “Wait a minute, wait a minute. Is that Slick Rick?” Henson asks. She and Washington then begin dancing as the door opens up to reveal — Mary J. Blige.
Playlists, the new mixtapes. Go ahead ladies! @maryjblige @kerrywashington @TherealTaraji http://t.co/cctGZAhwuP https://t.co/VTnkmeEr4E
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) September 21, 2015
Once inside, Washington, Henson and Blige commiserate over the death of mixtapes, then extol the virtues of Apple Music.
DuVernay tweeted after the commercial premiered that it’s the first of three slated to roll out this week.
Yep, first of three. @AppleMusic rolls them out throughout the week. Loved playing w/ Queens Kerry, Taraji + Mary xo https://t.co/OhBynqoXA0 — Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) September 21, 2015
Apple launched its streaming music service in June. A subscription to the product costs $9.99 per month.
