Apple’s popular GarageBand app turns 15

The app, originally introduced onstage at Macworld ’04 by Steve Jobs and John Mayer, has grown to be the most widely used music app in the world – and is now on a billion iPhones, iPads and Macs globally.

Apple created the app to help “democratise music-making” for everyone, and since its release the app has done just that – helping novices and professional musicians alike bring their passion for music-making to life.
Educators around the world are also using GarageBand in their classrooms to inspire young people to create music for the first time, Apple said in a press statement.
There are even many examples out there of popular songs that were created with loops and sounds right from GarageBand. Below is a timeline with a few, fun GarageBand milestones over the years in case you want to use for a story around this anniversary.
January 2004: GarageBand debuted at Macworld by Steve Jobs with John Mayer
April 2005: NIN release “The Hand that Feeds” as a GarageBand project file that fans can remix
December 2005: T-Pain creates his first album, “Rappa Ternt Sanga”, in GarageBand for Mac
March 2007: Rihanna’s “Umbrella” built with GarageBand bundles drum loop “Vintage Funk Kit 03”
March 2007: Fall Out Boy records “Thnks fr th Mmrs” in GarageBand for Mac
November 2007: Duran Duran releases GarageBand version of “Nite-Runner” that fans can remix
February 2008: Usher’s “Love in This Club” built with GarageBand bundles synth loop “Euro Hero Synth 02”
February 2008: Ting Tings record “Great DJ” on GarageBand for Mac
April 2008: Radiohead release “Nude” as GarageBand project file that fans can remix
2008: “It Might Get Loud” documentary shows Edge from U2 using GarageBand on his laptop
2009: Learn to Play and Artist Lessons announced on GarageBand for Mac
May 2009: St Vincent creates “Actor” album in GarageBand
March 2011: GarageBand for iPad announced
November 2011: GarageBand for iPhone announced
October 2013: GarageBand 10 for Mac with new design announced
August 2014: Haim records “My Song 5” in GarageBand
June 2015: Marc Maron interviews President Obama in a podcast recorded in his garage using GarageBand for Mac
January 2016: Live Loops feature added to GarageBand for iOS
May 2016: GarageBand for Greater China announced with traditional Chinese instruments
April 2017: Steve Lacey produces the Kendrick Lamar song “Pride” using GarageBand for IOS.