Tag: 10 year anniversary

Spotify’s 10-Year Journey Elevating Latin Creators

December 18, 2023

In 2013, Spotify embarked on a transformative journey in most of Latin America’s Spanish-speaking countries, a journey that has since reshaped the rhythm of global music. This tenth anniversary of our presence in the region is not just a landmark in the history of Spotify; it’s also a celebration of how Latin creators—propelled by the power of streaming—have taken the world by storm.

Back then, Spotify’s global Top 100 charts featured no Latin songs. Today the musical landscape is radically different. Latin beats have not only appeared on these charts, but they’ve conquered them, growing at 28% annually on Spotify. More than one out of every five songs in the global Top 100 is Latin—a clear indication of the genre’s rising dominance and widespread appeal.

This era has been marked by the emergence of groundbreaking artists from cultural hotspots like Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Puerto Rico who have topped charts and reshaped the cultural fabric. “The music scene has experienced a revolution in recent years, where Latin rhythms from reggaeton to música Mexicana are dictating the global pulse,” says Mia Nygren, general manager of Spotify in Latin America. “At Spotify, more than simply witnesses to this phenomenon, we have been facilitators; we’ve seen constant and permanent growth of the industry in the last decade. It is an honor to be the bridge that unites these talented artists with global audiences.” 

The impact of Spotify in this Latin music surge is undeniable. It’s been the digital confluence where artists have met fans, resulting in a 986% increase in Latin music listeners on Spotify worldwide from 2014 to 2023.

 

“I am extremely excited about the future for us in Latin America. We’ve come so far and we have room to grow, but of course that comes with a huge responsibility,” Mia continues. “There is still more talent to be discovered, and we are excited to help them go from local stages to regional to finally the global scene. It’s noteworthy that 21% of all Spotify global users are in Latin America, highlighting the significant impact and potential of this market.”

For the Record also had the opportunity to hear from a few artists who’ve been with Spotify from the beginning of our journey in Latin America. Read on for thoughts from Argentina’s Yami Safdie, Mexico’s Ha*Ash, and Colombia’s TIMO below.

Yami Safdie

How do you think Spotify has played a role in advancing your career?

Spotify is absolutely essential for anyone starting out in the music industry. It’s been a key player in my journey, unlocking opportunities from being featured on playlists to recommendations that introduce my music to potential fans. I’m so thankful for this; I don’t think I could have come this far without Spotify’s platform.

Can you share a story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with your audience?

I absolutely love checking out the playlists that feature my songs. It’s thrilling to see that a significant portion of my tracks’ streams come from these playlists and the listeners’ own libraries. The creative titles of these playlists are always a highlight for me—they’re just so much fun. I often share these playlists on my social media and have great conversations about them with my friends and family.

Ha*Ash

How do you think Spotify has played a role in advancing your career?

Spotify has played an essential role in the growth of our career. The playlists and the platform’s wide audience have allowed people who possibly weren’t familiar with our music to now know and enjoy it.

Can you share a specific case or story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with your audience?

Spotify has democratized music in every sense. Today an artist can create a song at home and freely release it for the whole world to listen to. Similarly, the audience has the freedom to decide whether they like it or not, without any intermediary. It’s democratic for both musicians and audiences alike.

TIMO

How do you think music streaming has transformed the consumption habits of fans around the world?

We think the most significant impact since Spotify entered our lives is the expanded access it provided to music and artists. Previously there were numerous constraints with the formats available, but streaming has simplified everything. This simplicity has skyrocketed the number of times artists’ music is played. Undoubtedly, the advent of Spotify has transformed our lives.

Can you share a specific case or story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with your audience?

We leverage features like Canvas for our music promotion. When releasing a new track, we invite our audience to share videos of them singing or enjoying the song. We always select the best ones and include them in our Canvas. This helps us attract more listeners to our music on the platform and fosters a deeper connection with the song.

Los 10 años de Spotify elevando a los creadores latinos

December 18, 2023

En 2013, Spotify comenzó un viaje transformador en la mayoría de los países de habla hispana de América Latina, un viaje que, desde entonces, ha redefinido el ritmo de la música global. Este décimo aniversario de presencia en la región no es solo un hito en la historia de Spotify; es una celebración de cómo los creadores latinos, impulsados por el poder del streaming, han conquistado al mundo.

Hace diez años, las listas globales Top 100 de Spotify no incluían canciones latinas, hoy en día el panorama musical es totalmente diferente. Los ritmos latinos no sólo han aparecido en estas listas; los han conquistado, teniendo un crecimiento del 28% anual en Spotify. Actualmente, más de una de cada cinco canciones en el Top 100 global es latina, una clara indicación de su creciente dominio y atractivo en general.

Esta era ha estado marcada por el surgimiento de artistas innovadores que no sólo encabezaron las listas de éxitos, sino que también redefinieron nuestra cultura. “La escena musical ha experimentado una revolución en los últimos años, donde los géneros latinos, desde el Reggaetón hasta la Música Mexicana, están dictando el pulso global”, comentó Mia Nygren, General Manager de Spotify en Latino América. “En Spotify, más que simples testigos de este fenómeno, hemos sido facilitadores, hemos visto un crecimiento constante y permanente de la industria en la última década. Es un honor ser el puente que une a estos talentosos artistas con audiencias globales. Es importante mencionar que el 21% de todos los usuarios de Spotify están en América Latina, lo que definitivamente demuestra el impacto y potencial del mercado”.

El impacto de Spotify en este auge de la música latina es innegable. Ha servido como puente digital donde los artistas conectaron con sus fans, lo que resultó en un aumento del 986% en los oyentes de música latina en Spotify a nivel global entre 2014 y 2023.

 

El extraordinario impulso de la música de habla hispana está profundamente arraigado en el género latino. Artistas de puntos culturales clave como México, Colombia, Argentina y Puerto Rico están a la vanguardia y sirven como embajadores globales.

“Estoy muy emocionada acerca del futuro para nosotros en Latino América. Hemos llegado muy lejos y tenemos espacio para crecer, pero, por supuesto, eso conlleva una gran responsabilidad”, comentó Mia. “Todavía hay más talento por descubrir y estamos emocionados de ayudarlos a pasar de los escenarios locales, a los regionales y finalmente a la escena global. Vale la penadestacar que el 21% de todos los usuarios globales de Spotify se encuentran en Latino América, lo que resalta el importante impacto y potencial de este mercado”.

For the Record también tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con algunos artistas que han estado con Spotify desde el inicio de nuestro viaje en Latino América. Sigue leyendo para conocer las opiniones de Yami Safdie de Argentina, Ha*Ash de México y TIMO de Colombia.

Yami Safdie

¿De qué manera crees que Spotify ha jugado un papel en el avance de tu carrera?

Creo que Spotify es totalmente fundamental a la hora de ser un artista emergente y empezar a construir una carrera musical. A mi me abrió muchísimas puertas, desde las playlists, hasta las funciones de exploración algorítmicas, como le va sugiriendo mi música a gente que le puede llegar a gustar. Estoy super agradecida con eso y probablemente no hubiese sido nada posible si no hubiese tenido la herramienta de Spotify.

¿Puedes compartir un caso o historia específica o que destaques como Spotify ha cambiado la forma con la que t e conectas con tu audiencia?

Me gusta mucho ver las playlists a las que agregan mis canciones, ya que gran porcentaje de las reproducciones de mis temas, vienen de ellas, y de las bibliotecas de los oyentes.  Disfruto mucho poder ver los títulos creativos de las playlists, son muy divertidos. Siempre las comparto en mis redes y converso mucho sobre el tema con las personas cercanas.

Ha*Ash

¿De qué manera crees que Spotify ha jugado un papel en el avance de tu carrera?

Spotify ha desempeñado un rol esencial en el crecimiento de nuestra carrera. Las playlists y la amplia audiencia de la plataforma han permitido que personas que posiblemente no estaban familiarizadas con nuestra música, ahora la conozcan y disfruten.

¿Puedes compartir un caso o historia específica o que destaques como Spotify ha cambiado la forma con la que te conectas con tu audiencia?

Spotify es la verdadera democratización de la música en todo sentido. Hoy un artista puede hacer una canción en su casa, y ponerla libremente a que literalmente la escuchen en todo el mundo a través de la plataforma. Del mismo modo, la audiencia decide con la misma libertad si le gusta o no, sin tener ningún tipo de intermediario. Es democratico para los músicos y para las audiencias por igual.

TIMO

¿Cómo crees que el streaming de música ha llevado a transformar los hábitos de consumo de los fans de todo el mundo?

Consideramos que lo más importante, desde que llegó Spotify a nuestras vidas, fue el mayor acceso que generó a la música y a los artistas. Antes existían muchas limitaciones en los otros formatos que existían, con el streaming todo se volvió mucho más sencillo, lo que ha disparado la cantidad de reproducciones de los artistas. Sin duda, la llegada de Spotify nos cambió la vida.

¿Puedes compartir un caso o historia específica o que destaques como Spotify ha cambiado la forma con la que te conectas con tu audiencia?

Usamos herramientas como los canvas para promocionar nuestra música. Por ejemplo, al lanzar una nueva canción, animamos a las personas a enviarnos videos cantándola o disfrutándola. Siempre seleccionamos los mejores y los incluimos en nuestro canvas. Esto nos ayuda a atraer más oyentes a nuestra música en la plataforma y fomenta una mayor conexión con la canción.

For the Record’s 2020 ‘Year in Review’

December 17, 2020

2020 was an unprecedented and challenging year. It was also one that inspired curiosity and creativity—both of which were reflected in the songs and podcasts listeners streamed, the new ways creators connected with fans, and in the For the Record stories that resonated with readers the most. 

So we’re taking a look back on a year of For the Record to highlight the Spotify moments and stories that have meant the most to us—and you. 

This year, we…

Unveiled the pawfect playlist for you and your pet.

It’s hard to put into words the emotions pets give us—other than pure happiness. So it’s only natural that we want to make them feel good, too, and many pet owners believe they do exactly that with music. In a study on how pet owners use music with their pets, we found that 71% of pet owners play music for their pets, and that’s not all we learned. Check out the rest of the furry (read: fun) facts or make your very own Pet Playlist.

Connected listeners to each other and to creators with new app functionality like Group Session Beta and Video Podcasts.

After unveiling the Group Session Beta in May, we then took it one step further in July with brand-new functionality allowing Spotify Premium users around the world to tune into the same playlist or podcast simultaneously. So no matter the distance, you and the members of your squad can now each listen to the same content at the same time on your own devices—as well as control playback. Learn how. 

We also unveiled the first version of our new video podcast feature with select podcasts. Now listeners in all markets where podcasts are supported will be able to listen to or watch those podcasts as the feature rolls out, allowing select creators to bring both audio and video content to Spotify. You can now even watch video podcasts on select Android TV devices, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Nest Hub devices. 

Launched in Russia, Croatia, Ukraine, and 10 Other European markets.

Our latest expansion in Europe brought the total number of markets with Spotify to 92 and marked the embrace of streaming in the region. Now, listeners in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Ukraine can enjoy a listening experience that includes 60 million tracks, 4 billion playlists, and localized music personalization features. Check out some of the features that listeners can look forward to.

Announced new audio content from popular storytellers.

In 2019, we announced our intention to be an Audio-First company. 2020 saw plenty of new podcast content to further deliver on that commitment. This summer, First Lady Michelle Obama joined the ranks of Spotify storytellers with The Michelle Obama Podcast from Higher Ground and Spotify. This fall, The Joe Rogan Experience became an exclusive Spotify podcast through a new partnership. Most recently, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced a partnership with Spotify through their new production company, Archewell Audio. With over 1.9 million (and growing) podcast titles, there’s something for everyone.

Stood with the Black community in the fight against racism and injustice.

On June 2, we used the power of our platform to stand with Black creators, amplify their voices, and accelerate meaningful conversation and long-needed change. We committed to supporting our employees, friends, partners, artists, and creators in the fight against racism, injustice, and inequity. Over this year and into the next, our support will continue to evolve, and we hope that our initial steps and actions will help push conversations forward, promote deeper allyship, and usher in positive and lasting changes.

Explained how to customize and share your Spotify profile and playlists.

You already know that the music and podcasts you listen to serve as an incredible reflection of your interests and tastes. But did you know that you can customize your Spotify profile to match? Whether you’re streaming from your desktop or mobile, now you can update everything from your photo to your username and create a personalized music page unique to you. Speaking of customization, we also enabled the ability to upload custom covers and descriptions to your homemade playlists using your phone, just in time for gift-giving season.

Wrapped it all up. 

This year’s Wrapped was unlike any other. Alongside our annual naming of the most-streamed artists, songs, albums, and podcasts of the year, we also unveiled 6 new features in the 2020 Wrapped user experience, as well as 3 tips and tricks giving listeners new ways to hear and share their results. We even announced what kids and families have been listening to on the Spotify Kids app. Finally, we gave Spotify: For the Record podcast fans a behind-the-scenes listen to the convo where Bad Bunny learned he was the top-streamed artist of the year. 

2020 held unique challenges, but through it all, Spotify was a source for entertainment, comfort, education, and community—and For the Record was here to document it. We can’t wait to see what 2021 brings. 

Want more behind-the-scenes moments and stories? Follow the Spotify: For the Record podcast. 

10 Years, One Direction: Spotify Celebrates the Boy Band’s Streaming Legacy

July 23, 2020

When One Direction stepped onto the music scene 10 years ago in July 2010, they lit up the world like nobody else. Since then, they’ve played sold-out arenas around the world and have become one of the most beloved boy bands of our time. So to celebrate this double-digit milestone, we’re taking a look at their decade of hit singles and chart-topping albums. Plus, we’re revealing 1D’s top five most-streamed songs of all time and have created exclusive on-platform content for listeners. You know—the little things. 

One Direction and Spotify got a whole lot of history. So let’s start with a walk down memory lane to reflect on the group’s notable streaming dates, states, and numbers from throughout the decade.

  • 1D stans have streamed One Direction tracks over 8.8 billion times throughout the past decade. Nobody can drag them down.
  • November 13, 2015—that’s the date the group released their chart-topping most-streamed album on Spotify, Made in the A.M. Almost five years later, fans are still listening to it in the morning and well into the P.M.
  • If One Direction songs could talk, they’d probably say something along the lines of “Baby, I’m perfect for you.” But don’t just take our word for it. 65 million Spotify playlists feature at least one 1D song and listeners have created more than 4.4 million playlists dedicated specifically to the band.
  • Within the U.S., Connecticut currently holds the title of most active 1D listeners with more streams over the past 90 days than any other state. New Jersey and Wisconsin are also up all night listening, coming in second and third respectively.
  • Although One Direction’s last release was back in 2015, they’re more than just midnight memories. The band still racks up over 19 million listeners a month as of July 2020.

Now that we’ve taken a look back, here’s something new to look forward to: Spotify listeners can now check out a new vertical video with behind-the-scenes footage for the 2012 song “What Makes You Beautiful.” There are also more than 80 new looping song visuals and 10 new storylines featuring behind-the-song memories from songwriters Jamie Scott, Ruth-Anne Cunningham and Savan Kotecha. Directioners in New York City will also be able to check out a special billboard located in Times Square dedicated to the group’s 10-year anniversary.