Apple shuttered its Grand Central Terminal retailer on March 13 for a shock Alicia Keys live performance, marking the beginning of fiftieth anniversary celebrations.
Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner confirmed up with a number of senior executives. They reworked certainly one of Apple’s most iconic retail spots into a brief reside music venue.
The corporate invited choose media members, creators, and friends whereas conserving the performer secret till Keys appeared on stage.
Preparations started on March 12 with crews putting in a stage, lighting, and audio gear contained in the retail house. Keys carried out alongside her signature pink piano after the shop was briefly transformed right into a small live performance venue.
Grand Central Station in the course of the Alicia Keys live performance – Picture Credit score: Apple
Folks inside Grand Central Terminal may catch elements of the efficiency from exterior the shop. It is uncommon for Apple to shut certainly one of its most well-known areas, particularly since they normally hold their retail areas open throughout enterprise hours.
Tim Cook dinner and Apple executives attend the occasion
Cook dinner attended the live performance alongside Apple advertising and marketing chief Greg Joswiak, retail head Deirdre O’Brien, and {hardware} engineering chief John Ternus. The executives watched the efficiency contained in the Grand Central location with invited friends.
The Grand Central retailer sits inside certainly one of New York Metropolis’s busiest transit hubs and serves as certainly one of Apple’s most seen retail areas. The setting allowed Apple to host a personal occasion whereas drawing consideration from commuters and guests.
Keys has appeared at a number of Apple-related occasions over time. She carried out at Apple Music Pageant 10 in London in 2016 and later headlined Apple’s NYC Vacation Masquerade Ball in December 2022.
The artist additionally appeared on Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional by means of the immersive efficiency Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room, certainly one of the early music experiences launched for the spatial computing headset.
A part of Apple’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations
Apple introduced that it plans to rejoice the corporate’s fiftieth anniversary over the approaching weeks. Apple was based on April 1, 1976, inserting the milestone anniversary on April 1, 2026.
Cook dinner mentioned the anniversary would acknowledge the “creativity, innovation, and impression” made doable by Apple’s international group of customers and builders.
The Grand Central efficiency is likely one of the first public occasions linked to the anniversary. Apple has not but detailed further celebrations tied to the milestone.



