Paul McCartney performed a private concert for employees of Apple at Apple Park in Cupertino, bringing the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations to a close.
The performance featured a career-spanning setlist that included material from The Beatles, Wings, and McCartney’s solo catalog, offering employees a broad retrospective of his decades-long influence on popular music.
The concert served as the culminating event in Apple’s anniversary festivities, which included global performances, internal gatherings, and commemorative digital tributes marking the company’s five decades since its founding in 1976.
Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced Paul McCartney to the crowd at Apple Park in Cupertino, describing him as “a songwriter, a pioneer and one of the most influential artists of all time,” and noting that he has “been a lifelong fan of his music and so have billions of people all over the planet.”
The performance took place beneath Apple Park’s rainbow arches, which were transformed into a full concert stage complete with lighting rigs and large video screens on either side.
A career-spanning setlist
McCartney delivered a wide-ranging set drawn from his entire career. The setlist included Beatles classics such as “Help!”, “Blackbird,” “Let It Be,” and “Hey Jude,” alongside Wings favorites like “Band on the Run,” “Live and Let Die,” and “Jet,” as well as solo material including “Maybe I’m Amazed.” The show concluded with “Golden Slumbers,” and also featured McCartney’s signature “Live and Let Die” pyrotechnic segment.
Anticipation and buildup
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had previously hinted at McCartney’s appearance, noting his enduring legacy and cultural significance. The confirmation of the performance was later reinforced when images from soundcheck circulated online, showing McCartney and his band rehearsing on the illuminated stage inside Apple Park.
A moment of historical symmetry
The choice of McCartney carried symbolic weight. The Beatles once founded Apple Corps in 1968—years before Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. The overlapping names led to decades of legal disputes, eventually resolved in 2007 when Apple Inc. acquired key trademarks and licensed them back to Apple Corps. Today, Beatles music is available on platforms like Apple Music, making McCartney’s appearance at Apple Park a notable full-circle moment.
Closing out Apple’s 50th anniversary
The concert marked the final major event in Apple’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which included global performances, internal employee events, and surprise shows featuring artists such as Alicia Keys in New York and Mumford & Sons in London, alongside commemorative gifts and installations for employees worldwide.