Tag: audiobook

Neneh Cherry Takes Us on a Musical Journey Inspired by Her Memoir, ‘A Thousand Threads’

November 20, 2024

Neneh Cherry, a musical trailblazer for more than three decades, is full of stories. In her new memoir, A Thousand Threads, she pulls back the curtain on her extraordinary life, from her early childhood in Sweden to her mother’s marriage to jazz musician Don Cherry; from recording with punk group The Slits in London to her career as a solo artist.

To celebrate the audiobook release of A Thousands Threads, Neneh joined Spotify on Tuesday for a fireside chat at our London office hosted by presenter and author Annie Mac. The event was a rare opportunity for fans to hear from Neneh herself, alongside her daughter, singer-songwriter Mabel.

As guests arrived, they were treated to the beats of London-based DJ Sandra Omari. British Jamaican chef and artist Denai Moore provided a special menu of drinks and snacks inspired by Neneh’s iconic discography and the places woven through her memoir.

Join Author Bella Mackie on a Musical Journey Inspired by Her ‘Darkly Comic’ New Book

September 19, 2024

As many readers will attest, wit and humor make for excellent counterparts to the crime fiction genre. That formula certainly worked for Bella Mackie when it came to her 2021 debut bestseller, How to Kill Your Family. Now the author is back with another darkly funny mystery, What a Way to Go.

Out now, the book follows the aftermath of the death of a multimillionaire husband and father. It features a status-driven widow, four inheritance-obsessed children, and a murderous twist. Last week, Bella stopped by Spotify’s London office to celebrate the release of her second novel, joining creator Jack Edwards for a fireside chat.

The author also curated a Spotify playlist inspired by the themes and plot of the book, with tracks from the likes of Blur, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar.

For the Record sat down with Bella to hear more about her new novel, as well as her creative process and influences.

What can fans expect from What a Way to Go?

Readers can expect more rich people behaving badly, some pretty gruesome deaths, and a darkly comic look at the British class system. The book also covers the afterlife, true crime enthusiasts, and the financial system—there’s a lot going on!

You’re a British Vogue columnist and a former journalist. How did you get into fiction writing?

I wrote a nonfiction book called Jog On, which did well. After the release, I had some offers to write more nonfiction, but I knew I really wanted to try writing a novel. I thought this would be my best shot, so I offered up some chapters I’d written and luckily a publisher liked it. It was a lot of luck and good fortune.

Speaking of Jog On, that book explores mental health and exercise. Is listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks part of that healthy routine for you?

Definitely. All three! When I want to run long, I listen to podcasts and audiobooks, and when I want to run fast and get that runner’s high, I listen to playlists which keep the tempo upbeat and pacey.

Walk us through your writing process.

It’s a lot of thinking—letting ideas percolate is such a massively important part of writing fiction. I don’t even realize how much the random ideas that pop into my mind at 11 p.m. knit together to form a story until it’s halfway done. And then you’ve just got to write—even if it’s not working the way you want, you can write through it.

Audiobooks have become a popular way to consume novels. How do you think having your words read aloud changes the experience for the listener?

It’s fantastic, honestly. Listening to Charly Clive read How to Kill Your Family was so interesting—she brought the character to life in a new way. It’s lovely to have my words in people’s ears.

What book has had the biggest influence on you?

Probably Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. I think it’s perfect crime fiction, and it inspired How to Kill Your Family with its structure and motivations.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick, which is a book that tells the stories of North Korean defectors. It’s both shocking and tender. Highly recommend.

Stream Bella’s playlist to hear some wonderfully wicked tunes.

Blake Lively Reveals the ‘Entire Sonic Universe’ of Music That Inspired ‘It Ends With Us’

August 9, 2024

Humans are complex creatures, capable of experiencing joy, sorrow, and everything in between. It Ends With Us, the first Colleen Hoover novel brought to life on the big screen, captures that kaleidoscope of emotions, weaving a tale of love, resilience, and the choices we make.

The movie, which hit U.S. theaters on Friday, stars Blake Lively as protagonist Lily Bloom, a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to begin a new life in Boston and pursue her dream of opening a business. She falls for charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) but soon begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents’ relationship. When Lily’s childhood love Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar) reappears in her life, her relationship with Ryle is upended, leaving her with an impossible choice.

Adapted for the screen by Christy Hall, the film has sparked a fresh wave of interest in the 2016 novel. The day after the official trailer dropped, the audiobook reached its biggest listening numbers ever on Spotify, while searches for “It Ends With Us” shot up nearly 600% throughout the week.

Now, fans can experience the romantic drama in a whole new light—and music plays a crucial part in the adaptation. It’s also a huge source of inspiration and creativity for Blake, who helped pick the songs that make up the movie’s soundtrack. But to truly capture the full extent of artists, songs, and genres that define It Ends With Us, the actress also created a special (6.5-hour-long!) Spotify playlist.

For the Record sat down with Blake and her costar Isabela Ferrer, who plays young Lily, to discuss their creative processes, the vastness of the human experience, and the power of music.

Blake, you curated a Spotify playlist for It Ends With Us. What was your approach?

I was asked to include a few songs—I included 100. One hundred songs. I was lucky to get to select the music in this movie with our music supervisor, Season Kent, and one of our editors, Shane Reid. And the music in this movie is everything. Lily’s story, what she’s feeling, comes through in the music—sometimes she can’t express it in words, but you can feel it in songs. So, these are songs that are not only in the film, but also songs that I listened to while making the film, songs that were in early cuts of the movie, and songs that inspired the score. This really is the entire sonic universe that we all lived and breathed while making this film.

If you could pick one anthem for Lily, what would it be?

Blake: Lily is so multifaceted. She’s somebody who is like a contradiction of herself at all times, yet it makes perfect sense for her, and it’s totally harmonious. That’s why I have a 100-song playlist. My anthem is 100 songs long. Enjoy!

Isabela: I would pick “God Turn Me Into a Flower” by Weyes Blood. That song is the most atmospheric, most beautiful. It feels like the movie The Tree of Life but in a song. Every time I would listen to it, it just felt like what I feel Lily’s inner life is like—just the fullest, most expansive thing. It’s one of my favorite songs.

Blake: Will you send me a playlist? Because I love all the music you’re talking about, and I want to hear it. 

Isabela: Yeah, I’ll send it to you! I love Weyes Blood so much. Her voice—there’s something so angelic and emotional [about her music] and I feel like it just keeps me in touch with myself.

On that note, how does music play into your creative process? Does it help you get into character?

Isabela: I feel like you can build a world around music. At least for me, what I listen to really affects my day. If I’m walking somewhere through the streets of New York and I’m listening to something upbeat, that gets me in the mood. Or if I’m feeling really sad and just need to cry, I’ll put on Jeff Buckley. And I feel like that’s such a cool part of playing these types of roles, where you actually get to ask yourself: What would they listen to? You get to world-build. You get to really invest more in that character with music.

Blake: For me, the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve gotten involved in the filmmaking and storytelling outside of my character. Music is storytelling. I never look at it as character specific, I look at it through moments in the story. Are we trying to underscore something, are we trying to juxtapose the moment with a song, are we trying to lean into it, are we trying to bring back nostalgia? That’s why Dashboard Confessional is in [It Ends With Us]—that’s something that sounds like high school, where you’re like, “Oh my gosh, I forgot how much I felt and how much I loved!” Music can really transport you. So, I look at it less through the character of Lily and more through what we want the audience to be feeling at that moment.

And my husband and I both help each other so much with music. We’re like uncredited music supervisors on each other’s movies. I mean, you see that all over Deadpool & Wolverine, all that millennial girl music. He loves Avril Lavigne—fellow Canadian—but he was not feeling the feels, in his car in middle school, screaming “it’s a damn cold night” [from “I’m with You”]. So, both of our loves are all over each other’s work, and I think that’s really special.

Can you describe It Ends With Us in three words?

Blake: No! I choose one word: No. Because I cannot describe it in three words. I think that this is a movie about feeling. It’s a movie about feeling with other people, whether it’s a loved one or a friend or strangers. You go to the theater, where you’re surrounded by a bunch of strangers, to laugh with a group of people, to cry with a group of people, to be afraid, to be excited, to feel nostalgic, to feel passionate about the future, or to feel someone’s dreams come to fruition. Feeling the whole messiness of the human experience with others and that connectivity that you feel in a theater, there’s nothing like it. We watched this movie with 3,000 fans in Dallas and it was just so beautiful and so cool to experience that. So, I hope people come and feel. I hope they come and feel all of it. It’s a whole roller coaster.

Hit play on Blake’s playlist to hop on the roller coaster of emotions.

Author Colleen Hoover Takes Us on a Journey With a Playlist Inspired by Her New Book, ‘It Starts With Us’

October 18, 2022

graphic art depiction of the cover of "it starts with us" by colleen hoover

You can’t pin author Colleen Hoover to a specific genre. The Texas native is responsible for both suspense thrillers like Verity and heart-wrenching romances like Reminders of Him. Readers never quite know what story will unfold through the pages. In 2016, Colleen published It Ends With Us, a romance novel that introduced readers to the lives of Lily, Ryle, and Atlas. Fans followed Lily’s journey of love and loss, from Maine to Massachusetts. Now, six years later, her story continues.

Photo credit: Chad Griffiths

Colleen wasn’t planning to write a sequel to the best-selling book, but requests from readers made her realize she wasn’t quite done. And today, fans can get their hands on the next installment of the story: It Starts With Us. As a bonus, Colleen created a Spotify playlist that incorporates songs that stuck with her as she worked on the novel and built onto the lives of Lily and Atlas. For the Record had a chance to chat with Colleen about her work, her playlist, and audiobooks.

Do you listen to music while writing? Does it help you get into a certain mindset?

I actually can’t listen to anything at all while I’m writing. In fact, if there’s any noise, even the sound of a clock, I have to remove the batteries. Yet music is what inspires books and characters for me, and gets me into the mood to write. And yes, I definitely have to listen to songs that I feel fit with the story. For example, “Bride & Groom” by The Airborne Toxic Event was a big one for me when I would pump myself up to write All Your Perfects. 

Is the music you listened to for It Starts With Us the same as It Ends With Us?

I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to music. If I want to get into a certain mood, I use music for that. And for me, I’m almost always searching for sad music. 

How did you approach picking the songs on this playlist?

After writing It Ends With Us, I had a lot of readers who would send me songs that remind them of the book. I almost always go listen to the song to see how they interpret the book and the characters. A lot of those songs have stuck with me, so I chose them. Some songs I chose because they are common recommendations, like several of Taylor Swift’s songs. 

Can you tell us about a few of the songs and what they mean to you or your characters?

“She Dreams of Boston” by Erick Baker was actually written specifically for Lily. Erick and I met because I had reached out to him years ago regarding his music and hopefully collaborating on something. He was on board immediately and wrote such a perfect song for Lily’s character. 

As for Atlas, I feel like “All For A Woman” by The Airborne Toxic Event is a good fit for him. He just has so much love for Lily, and that song bleeds heartache. 

I’d go back to X Ambassadors for Ryle’s character. The song “HISTORY” is my anthem for Lily to Ryle. I imagine him hearing it and being full of guilt and regret, but knowing there’s nothing he can do to get her back. 

Can you share how The Avett Brothers inspired you to write?

I found their music at a time when I felt lost inspirationally. I had young kids; I worked full time; I was in college. I was going through the motions of being a wife and a mom and an employee, and had absolutely no time for myself. I think I was losing myself, not because I wasn’t happy—because I was—but because I wasn’t spending time nourishing my artistic side. That’s when I found their music. 

Their lyrics spoke to me, and the passion they had when they played made me jealous. I used to have passion like that, and until I saw them play live, I didn’t realize how much I missed being passionate about life and using my imagination. Their music reignited my love for my hobby, and I think that’s a beautiful thing when one artist’s art can remind another artist how important it is to make time for what feeds your soul. After attending my first concert of theirs, I immediately went home and started writing. I’ll always be grateful to their music for that, and to every artist in any area who continues to create. 

Your new book, It Starts With Us, begins right where It Ends With Us left off. Why did you decide to continue with the story of Lily and Atlas?

I honestly never thought I’d continue with their story. I always received pleas for more It Ends With Us, but I thought that was because people wanted Ryle to be redeemed, and I’ll never go that route. But when more people began to read the book and make videos on social media, I’d watch these videos and see them begging firsthand for more Atlas. I love Atlas, so the requests from readers, combined with a storyline that was slowly beginning to build for him, ultimately sparked an idea that I finally felt would be good enough to create a book out of. I may not have intended to write this sequel, but I couldn’t be more excited that I did. 

If Lily and Atlas had a song, what would it be?

Definitely “If It’s The Beaches” by The Avett Brothers. I feel like Atlas would give Lily the world if he could, and that is such a beautiful love song. It always reminds me of the two of them when I hear it. 

For audiobook lovers, how do you think having someone read aloud your words changes the experience for the listener?

If it’s done right and the reader feels that the voice fits the character, I feel like it gives it an entirely extra dimension. Audiobooks breathe a little more life into the story for me. I’m a huge movie lover. Watching movies is my second-favorite pastime after reading, so for me, audiobooks are a way to bridge the gap and enjoy the best of both worlds.  

What aspect of audiobooks do you like, and when do you turn to them in favor of reading from the page?

I love audiobooks! I do a lot of driving and long road trips, so my favorite time to listen to them is when I’m alone in the car for long stretches of time. It makes the trip go by so quickly, especially when it’s an engrossing story.

 

Let music accompany you along the pages of the upcoming It Starts With Us by listening to Colleen’s playlist below.

Spotify to Acquire Leading Audiobook Platform Findaway

November 11, 2021

In 2019, Spotify announced its ambition to become the world’s leading audio platform with an expansion into podcasting through the acquisitions of Anchor and Gimlet. Since then, Spotify has not only become a leading platform for podcast creators and listeners, but also expanded on the very format of podcasting itself: taking a fixed format and making it a new audio experience. And today we are taking another step in furthering this mission to build the future of audio by announcing that Spotify has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Findaway, a global leader in digital audiobook distribution.

“It’s Spotify’s ambition to be the destination for all things audio both for listeners and creators. The acquisition of Findaway will accelerate Spotify’s presence in the audiobook space and will help us more quickly meet that ambition,” said Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s Chief Research & Development Officer. “We’re excited to combine Findaway’s team, best-in-class technology platform, and robust audiobook catalog with Spotify’s expertise to revolutionize the audiobook space as we did with music and podcasts.”

Findaway works across the entire audiobook ecosystem with a platform and offerings that serve authors, publishers, and consumers of this rapidly growing industry, which is expected to grow from $3.3 billion to $15 billion by 2027. In addition to offering the largest catalog of distributed titles, Findaway has actively worked to democratize audiobooks through leading technology tools available for independent authors to create and bring their stories to life. We plan to build on Findaway’s significant innovation in the space, and we’re going to supercharge its growth, bringing everything Spotify knows around personalization and discovery while also innovating on format, delivery, creator tools, and more.

Together, Spotify and Findaway will accelerate Spotify’s entry into the audiobook space and continue to innovate the industry, working to remove current limitations and unlock better economic tools for creators. Findaway’s technology infrastructure will enable Spotify to quickly scale its audiobook catalog and innovate on the experience for consumers, simultaneously providing new avenues for publishers and authors to reach audiences around the globe.

*Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. It is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021 and is subject to regulatory review and approval. 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

We would like to caution you that certain of the above statements represent “forward-looking statements” as defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “will,” “expect,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding the potential benefits of the acquisition and the anticipated timing of the closing of the acquisition. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include this statement for purposes of complying with the safe harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections, including but not limited to the risks as set forth in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof.

Storytel Audiobooks Will Be Available on Spotify Later This Year

May 20, 2021

Just a few weeks ago, we announced the Spotify Open Access Platform, which gives creators with existing subscriber bases the option to deliver paid content to their paid audiences using Spotify. Now, we’re excited to follow with a partnership with Storytel, one of the world’s leading audiobook streaming services. Later in 2021, Storytel subscribers will be able to enjoy Storytel’s library of audiobooks on Spotify by linking the two accounts. 

“It is Spotify’s goal to be the singular platform for all audio: music, podcasts, live conversations, and now via this partnership, audiobooks,” said Courtney Holt, Global Head of Studios, Spotify. “By utilizing the Spotify Open Access Platform, Storytel will be able to deliver its premium audiobooks offering using Spotify’s best-in-class platform, all while retaining direct control over their relationship to their audience.”

“We want everyone to have access to great stories, and today we offer more than 500,000 audiobooks on a global basis across 25 markets,” said Jonas Tellander, founder and CEO, Storytel. “Partnering with Spotify will make amazing audiobook experiences and exciting authorships easier than ever to access for our customers, while we will also be tapping into the opportunity of reaching new audiences who are on Spotify today, but have not yet experienced the magic of audiobooks.”

This partnership illustrates the power of open access as an opportunity for audio creators and providers everywhere to make a home for their content on Spotify while retaining complete control over their business model and a direct relationship with their subscriber base. As we open up the Open Access Platform, listeners will find a greater variety of content available for them to enjoy, all within one app.

Audiobooks are just one form of audio that will be available using Spotify’s Open Access Platform—the possibilities in audio are limitless. Stay tuned for the details on additional partners and widespread access to the program, launching later this year.