Tag: billie eilish

Spotify Refreshes Popular Playlist New Music Friday with Global Rebrand

February 21, 2020

Whether you’re a music fan or an artist, Fridays are about to get even better. Today, Spotify’s highly influential New Music Friday playlist—a curated selection of the most anticipated new tracks of the week—is debuting a global rebrand.

The revamped playlist, which has 43 versions worldwide, will continue to serve as the leading destination for listeners who want to discover new music from both established and emerging talent. With over 3.5 million followers in the U.S. and 8 million globally, it’s an achievement and milestone for artists to have their new tracks included on the list.

With today’s visual relaunch, Spotify is continuing to support its ongoing investment in the must-hear playlist brand, with a major social campaign, New York and Los Angeles billboards, and new cover art. Inspired by a trend of artists making their own celebratory New Music Friday social media assets, Spotify For Artists will now test a new feature where all artists added to the U.S. version—to start—of New Music Friday will be able to grab and share a branded and personalized social asset a la Wrapped.

Spotify Fêtes Best New Artists at 2020 Celebration

January 24, 2020

For the past four years, Spotify has celebrated the Best New Artist nominees at a one-night-only party to remember. The event is intended to help further amplify the voices of several breakout stars, and this year was no different. All eight members of the 2020 class—Billie Eilish, Black Pumas, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Maggie Rogers, Rosalía, Tank and The Bangas, and Yola—hit the stage last night and delivered electrifying performances.

Collectively, the category’s nominees have racked up a total of more than 15 billion Spotify streams to date. We caught up with the artists from the red carpet at The Lot Studios in Los Angeles, California—read on to hear what they had to say and to check out the night’s picture-perfect moments.

Lizzo

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

“Aye yi yi” did Lizzo knock her performance out of the park. On the red carpet, Lizzo shared her thoughts on what the Best New Artist nomination meant to her: “For me, it was really cool to be like ‘Oh, I was impactful.’ Not only did I put out a good album, but I really showed the world who I was this year; and the world really fell in love with who that person was.”
Lizzo is the collaboration queen. Everyone wants her voice on their tracks. With 23 collaborations to her name, Lizzo is the most featured artist of all the Best New Artist nominees.

Yola

Credit: Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Spotify

Born in Bristol, England, Yola’s country-soul vibe spans across genres, and at last night’s event, she highlighted the impact of her Best New Artist nomination: “It means a sense of validation … It just feels so much like I’m being lifted up by people. People are seeing me for my ability to write, for my ability to perform. Yeah, it’s an utter joy.”
Many listeners are discovering Yola’s music on Spotify’s Best Folk & Americana Songs of 2019 playlist. Also, Yola covered Elton John on her debut album—check out her soaring version of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

Billie Eilish

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

“Don’t say I didn’t warn ya,” but Billie Eilish’s performance was “!!!!!!!” The singer’s stripped-down set, with brother Finneas on piano, included “bad guy” and “everything i wanted.” “The video for this song just came out today,” Eilish told the audience as she introduced the latter. “Very exciting!”
With roughly 55 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Billie conquered the charts in 2019—and then some. Last year the singer had the largest number of songs on our Global Top 50 Chart at the one time. On April 1st—and this is no April fool’s joke—14 of the tracks on the Top 50 were Billie’s, and “bad guy” was in the number one spot.

Black Pumas

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spotify

This soul-funk duo from Austin, Texas, said the nomination caught them by surprise. “We just started working on music two years ago with humble goals, you know,” said Black Pumas’ guitarist-producer Adrian Quesada. “‘Let’s just make songs that move us,’ and here we are two years later. It’s exciting.”
Since the Best New Artist nominees were announced, Black Pumas saw the largest percentage increase in the number of playlists their music was added to.

Maggie Rogers

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

“We’re always searching for language,” Rogers told Spotify before her set. “If you’re an artist, you were born an artist. Everyone here has been working for ten, five, seven, eight, however many years to make music and be at this place; and I think tonight is really about celebrating that work.”
Of all the Best New Artist nominees, Maggie Rogers saw the biggest increase in streams in the week following the announcement of her nomination: Her music shot up more than 103%.

Lil Nas X

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spotify

Lil Nas X crushed the stage with his performance of “Old Town Road,” with Billy Ray Cyrus beside him. “It means I’m one of the few artists who the Grammys saw as deserving of a nomination in a year of so much amazing music. And I’m thankful for that. With Spotify, it’s easier for a new artist to be heard; and when ‘Old Town Road’ was just coming up, the playlisting helped so much.”
While five of the Best New Artist nominees have remixed versions of some of their tracks, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road – Remix” with Billy Ray Cyrus is the top streamed, with more than 870 million streams.

Rosalía

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spotify

Rosalía Vila (aka Rosalía) hails from Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Spain, though she’s certainly made her mark beyond her hometown. At Spotify’s Best New Artist event, she performed a rousing five-song set, which included a surprise appearance by Ozuna for the hit track “Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi.”
Rosalía, who has collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, Pharrell, and James Blake, has the most geographically diverse audience of all the Best New Artist nominees.

Tank and The Bangas

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

The night ended with a “banga” performance from Tank and the Bangas, who had noted earlier that the best new artist category is a catalyst for discovery. “(We) definitely checked out the Black Pumas and … Rosalia, everybody. You really are a Best New Artist because I’m checking out people who I never knew and that’s pretty dope within itself.”
Listeners from Japan to the UK to Germany to Brazil have been streaming this band’s music. Their 2019 album Green Balloon has generated their two most-streamed songs, the curiously titled “Ants” and “Smoke.Netflix.Chill.”

The Top Songs, Artists, Playlists, and Podcasts of 2019—and the Last Decade

December 3, 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, so too does a stellar year of streaming on Spotify. You may be reflecting back on the past 12 months, thinking about your own music discoveries and the songs you repeated over, and over, and over. (You’ll be able to check them out on your personal Wrapped cards later this week). We’re doing the same—but for the entire world.

We dove into the newcomers, showstoppers, and top performers who united the globe with music and podcasts this year. And ahead of the brand-new decade, we also looked back on the last 10 years in music to reveal who dominated global listening.

So, what did the world listen to in 2019?

This year, Post Malone claimed the spot of most-streamed artist with over 6.5 billion streams from fans around the globe. It’s the rapper-singer-songwriter’s first time topping Spotify’s Wrapped list, and he did it just 12 weeks after dropping his album Hollywood’s Bleeding (which also happens to be the second most-streamed album globally this year). His collaboration with Swae Lee on “Sunflower” from Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse rounded out the top three most-streamed songs of the year, which gives the artist a spot in each of our three major music categories (top artists, top songs, and top albums).

The second-most-streamed artist of the year is 17-year-old singer-songwriter and first time Grammy nominee Billie Eilish, who by now, definitely deserves that crown. In this year alone, she dropped her album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? and surpassed 6 billion streams. The album has proven to be the top-streamed release of 2019, marking a milestone—Billie is the first female artist to have her album top the Wrapped most-streamed album category. Her dark staccato hit “bad guy” also ranks as the second-most-streamed song of the year.

Finally, Ariana Grande released her immensely popular album thank u, next in February, propelling her to number three on Spotify’s list of most-streamed-artists globally. Her song “7 rings” was also in the top five most streamed this year, giving Ariana a strong two years in the top 10 of Spotify’s Wrapped list. Listeners also showed Taylor Swift lots of love, making her the year’s third top-streamed female artist after her album Lover generated popular tracks like “ME!” and “You Need to Calm Down.”

When it comes to the most-streamed female artist of the decade, Ariana once again takes the cake. Only tears of joy left to cry for this one. (And the top male artist? Last year’s Scorpion king, Drake.)

The year’s top song comes from the duo that took the Northern Hemisphere’s summer by storm: “Señorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello saw more than 1 billion streams. After “Señorita,” “bad guy,” “Sunflower,” and “7 rings,” the year’s fifth-most-streamed track came from Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. They took their horse all the way to the front with “Old Town Road – Remix.”

This year was a big one for podcast growth on Spotify. There are now more than 500,000 podcast titles available, and our podcast audience has grown by more than 50% since the start of the year. We’ve also seen a 39% increase in podcast hours consumed by listeners quarter over quarter. People are clearly loving podcasts, tuning in the most to Spotify Original The Joe Budden Podcast with Rory and Mal, followed by My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark and Germany’s Gemischtes Hack. The most-streamed podcast genre of 2019 was comedy, showing that laughter is truly universal.

Take a look at some of the world’s top songs, artists, genres, and trends:

Can’t get enough of the chart toppers? Check out our lists of the top artists, songs, albums, groups, podcasts, and more below—and don’t forget to tune in later this week to the Wrapped microsite to see your personal favorites and receive a playlist based on your tastes. Plus, we’ve also created the ultimate Playlist of the Decade: the biggest songs of the past 10 years according to fan streaming.

So without further ado …

Spotify’s Global Top Lists 2019:

Most-Streamed Artists

Most-Streamed Female Artists

Most-Streamed Male Artists

Most-Streamed Tracks

Most-Streamed Albums

Most-Streamed Podcasts

Most-Streamed Spotify Original Podcasts

“A Decade Wrapped” Spotify’s Top Lists 2010–2019

Most-Streamed Artists of the Decade (Global)

Most-Streamed Female Artists of the Decade (Global)

Most-Streamed Male Artists of the Decade (Global)

Most-Streamed Tracks of the Decade (Global)

Click here to download the infographic.

Scary is Nothing to Be Afraid of at Spotify’s Artist-Inspired NYC Costume Pop Up

October 29, 2019

This Halloween, step beyond trick-or-treating—and out of your comfort zone. Dare to listen to some of the artists who have endeavored to push culture forward in the pursuit of their art, whether via provocative on-stage performances, music videos, or their uncompromising style.

At Spotify’s Stay Scary pop-up this past weekend, we celebrated artists who have done just that by inviting music fans to check out—and even take home—costumes inspired by artists like Billie Eilish, Freddie Mercury, Lil Nas X and Madonna at a thrilling immersive pop-up in New York’s Soho neighborhood.

The costume accessories included an Eilish crown adorned with spiders, similar to the one featured in the singer’s “you should see me in a crown” music video, and the Lil Nas X rhinestone-accented jacket patch seen in his “Old Town Road” music video.

Also available was Trippie Redd’s iconic fang grillz and as well as a replica of the live python Britney Spears famously draped around her shoulders during her 2001 MTV VMA’s performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U.”

Fans Couldn’t Wait for Vampire Weekend’s Father of the Bride—And Their Streams Show It

June 19, 2019

American indie rockers Vampire Weekend are all grown up—and in the six years since their last album, 2013’s romantic Modern Vampires of the City, their fans have grown up, too. But in the band’s absence, more than six million monthly listeners never strayed too far. And when Vampire Weekend began teasing their newest album, Father of the Bride, in early 2019, fans were equally excited to jump on board with the new songs—while also revisiting old favorites.

For months, Vampire Weekend teased their new album with a working title of Mitsubishi Macchiato. It wasn’t until January 24, when lead singles “Harmony Hall” and “2021” appeared, that the new album name, Father of the Bride, was announced along with a spring release date. Immediately, streams of their entire catalogue skyrocketed 219%, and fans eagerly awaited what would come next.

Vampire Weekend released three single sets featuring two songs each, which kept anticipation high. After the first set came “Sunflower” and “Big Blue” on March 6, followed by “Unbearably White” and “This Life” on April 4. These semi-surprise drops led to 60% and 63% catalogue streaming increases, respectively.

The double-single sets kept fans satisfied, but it wasn’t until May 3, when Father of the Bride was released in full, that fans really turned up the devotion. Catalogue streams of the band jumped 320% during release week in comparison to the previous week. And by May 10, the album had racked up almost 24 million total streams.

It’s no surprise that fans were eager to return to Vampire Weekend’s wonderful world of clever references and bright, tender songwriting. Father of the Bride takes adulthood’s most sacred rite of passage and playfully spins a sprawling narrative about love, loss, family, and time. It’s the band’s first album minus founding member Rostam Batmanglij, and the first since front man Ezra Koenig moved to Los Angeles and became a dad—hence the songs’ introspective themes and newfound mature vibes.

It was surprising, though, to find another indie rock fave, Danielle Haim of the sister trio HAIM, featured on three Father of the Bride tracks. Their duets helped inspire more HAIM listening on Spotify too, with noticeable streaming increases each day after May 3 and a peak on May 4 in particular. Recently, Vampire Weekend fans have also turned to other artists like indie vets The National, genre-bending pop star Billie Eilish, and breezy rocker Mac DeMarco, who all released new albums this year.

Vampire Weekend’s college days may be far from over, but even as tastes evolve and times change, their listeners have remained loyal—and their streams have shown that Father of the Bride is well worth the wait.

Spotify’s 2019 Summer Song Predictions

June 12, 2019

Summer is right around the corner, and once again we’re predicting which songs will dominate speakers and headphones while the Northern Hemisphere sizzles.

From Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” and Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” to Tyler, the Creator’s “EARFQUAKE” and Daddy Yankee and Snow’s “Con Calma,” many of these “song of the summer” contenders are already seeing strong engagement in Spotify’s key playlists, like Today’s Top Hits, RapCaviar, and ¡Viva Latino!.

Then there are the tracks with massive potential. Take, for example, “I Think I’m OKAY,” the newly released collaboration between Machine Gun Kelly, YUNGBLUD, and Travis Barker. We’re also seeing interest in Yonaka’s song “Rockstar,” and Clairo’s new track “Bags” is resonating with our 18-24-year old listeners in particular.

From Tony Bennett to Tyla Yaweh, Here Are the Artists 18- to 24-Year-Olds are Discovering

May 20, 2019

In the soundtrack of your life, every day probably sounds just a little bit different. The weather, your workout, your mood—anything can inspire a song that brings out your best dance moves, has you reaching for tissues, or something in between. On Spotify, not only is there music you already know and love for every moment, but there’s also a world full of new artists, songs, and genres to explore. Just ask any 18- to 24-year-old Spotify user: This important audience has a unique and somewhat unexpected taste for discovery.

In fact, listeners in that age group in particular have no boundaries when it comes to the artists they stream for the first time. We looked back at the musicians they played over the past 60 days and found that they’re as drawn to the “latest and greatest” as they are to “oldies but goodies.” They’re discovering the artists their parents and grandparents listened to, like Gladys Knight and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, as well as playing the jams their own peers—like Normani and Nora en Pure—are creating. They have their fingers on the pulse of pop culture and are simultaneously interested in learning about the bands that inspired them.

Below are 10 artists, both emerging and established, that 18- to 24-year-old listeners have streamed for the first time over the past six months. Get to know them for yourself:

THE EMERGING

Kina

2018 saw the introduction of Italian electronic production duo Kina. Pasquale Renella and Giuseppe Garotti create downbeat-electronic lo-fi music with a lot of heart. They site XXXTENTACION, Shallou, Madeon, and Porter Robinson as being their greatest musical influences.

ITZY

This burgeoning South Korean all-female K-pop group is the latest to be formed by JYP Entertainment. They’re considered monster rookies, meaning they’ve found significant early success. Case in point: ITZY set a new record for the most-viewed K-pop debut music video on YouTube and won their first music award just nine days after dropping their single “DALLA DALLA.”

Au/Ra

If you like Billie Eilish, you should check out Au/Ra—another teenage singer-songwriter making waves in the music world. Born in Ibiza, Spain, and raised in Antigua by her parents (including her father, German producer Torsten Stenzel), Au/Ra found a love for music and writing at an early age. Her single “Panic Room” was featured on Norwegian DJ Alan Walker’s “Darkside.” Look out for the multilingual singer-songwriter on her first tour.

Cuco

If Spanglish lyrics combined with a meme-influenced sense of humor is your jam, check out Cuco. The LA-based Mexican-American producer, singer, and self-taught multi-instrumentalist creates a music all his own that combines pop, jazz, and hip-hop. Recently, he’s made his voice known in more ways than one by headlining a benefit concert series for immigrant families.

Tyla Yaweh

The singer, rapper, and songwriter originally from Orlando, Florida, has toured with XXXTENTACION and Post Malone. Now he’s making a name for himself on stages at SXSW and on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show. “I’m living an ultimate high,” he says. “I went from being homeless to traveling the globe with rock stars, being able to connect with and spread positive vibes to so many different people.”

THE ESTABLISHED

Billie Holiday

Arguably among the most influential jazz singers of the 20th century, Billie Holiday is usually uttered in the same breath as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Along with her vocal power, she could alter lyric phrasings and tempo in manners that can be traced all the way through to today’s pop music.

Tony Bennett

Hit machine Tony Bennett is still singing and recording at 92 years of age, and even in recent years has been attracting contemporary collaborators such as Lady Gaga. His soulful voice first attracted attention in the 1950s. He came roaring back in the ’80s and ’90s by connecting with young audiences, culminating in an MTV Unplugged appearance in 1994. He hasn’t slowed down on performing or collaborating since.

Grateful Dead

Deadhead or not, you can’t help but be mesmerized by Grateful Dead—be it their lengthy jams, poetic lyrics, or eclectic sound. The band was a true product of ’60’s counterculture, combining elements of rock, folk, country, bluegrass, reggae, and space rock. Adored by baby boomers Gen X’ers, and now a new generation, The Dead is anything but.

Selena

The gone but not forgotten Queen of Tejano music paved her way in an overwhelmingly male-dominated genre to become one of the most celebrated Latin artists of all time. Her reach spans fashion, cosmetics, television and film. Texas even celebrates her birthday, April 16, as “Selena Day,” keeping her music and energy alive year after year.

LL Cool J

No one straddles the lines of hip-hop and R&B quite like LL Cool J. He’s a man of firsts—one of the first hip-hop artists to find mainstream success, and the first rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors. He started rapping at age nine, recorded his first demos at 16, and released his first record before turning 20. And through it all, he’s kept his cool.

And there’s plenty more where that came from. Stream our playlist of the artists 18- to 24-year-olds are discovering from around the world and across the years.

Billie Eilish’s Dark Debut Album Comes to Life Inside Spotify’s New Interactive Experience

March 29, 2019

Billie Eilish wants to know: WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? To find the answer, fans can embark on a journey through her strange world via Spotify’s Billie Eilish interactive experience, created in honor of her debut album released today.

Together with Billie, we’ve mapped out a weird and wonderful universe of immersive experiences — one for each chapter of the fourteen-track story that is her new album — to let fans inside Billie’s head for an intimate peek at her creative process. (At just seventeen, the dark-pop prodigy has collaborated with Khalid and Vince Staples and boasts over thirty million monthly Spotify listeners, not to mention the one million plus followers of the This is Billie Eilish playlist.)

Located in downtown Los Angeles, the activation launches for her fans today and will be open to the public for three days through Sunday, March 31. Step inside and see each song from WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? come to life as part of an immersive journey through Billie’s mind. Read on below for a room-by-room rundown—though when it comes to a Billie Eilish experience of any kind, you might have to see it to believe it.

Enter Billie’s world through a room inspired by the album’s opening track, “!!!!!!!” Check in and place your items on a conveyor belt that passes through an invisalign-clad mouth sculpture built into the wall. Leave all your personal thoughts and feelings aside: You’re about to begin your adventure.

bad guy

You’ll first meet a group challenge. While Billie’s “bad guy” track plays over speakers, you’ll drive a remote control race car through an obstacle course filled with cookie dough mountains and vegan milk waterfalls. The winding track holds the key to your next room.

xanny

Hold tight—the “xanny” room is brimming with lights, fog, and vibrating furniture. Keep your cool as the entire room vibrates beneath your feet.

you should see me in a crown

The world of “you should see me in a crown” is brought to life as you crawl through a web to get to the spider’s lair. Inside, among cold chains and videos of spiders in their most natural state— breeding, mating, spinning webs—you’ll find the Murakami crown from the video. Arachnophobes, beware.

all the good girls go to hell

Get ready to descend into the underworld. The experience heats up for “all good girls go to hell,” where you’ll find yourself surrounded by LED flames and scorching floors.

wish you were gay

“wish you were gay” invites fans to take a whiff inside a room inspired by Billie’s latest earworm album single. Blohsh cutouts are scattered throughout the room to step on, touch, and even sniff each different scent to find the one you connect with.

when the party’s over

The party might be over, but there’s still plenty of room in the pit. Jump in to the tune of Billie’s melancholy ballad “when the party’s over” and lose yourself inside a foam abyss. Billie’s jet-black tears ooze from the walls above.

8

Need a lighthearted escape from the sea of dark tears? Kick back with some adorable pups, each of which can be fostered as part of the Billie-supported Marley’s Mutts scheme. These four-legged friends will wander around the soft, fluffy “8” room, ready to pounce and play with you while images of Billie playing with puppies as a child fill the walls. Sign up to donate or foster a dog with a Marley’s Mutts representative onsite.

my strange addiction

In honor of “my strange addiction,” feel free to indulge in the not-so-guilty pleasure of crafting. Inside a deep-red art studio, decorate your own foam blohsh to add to a mini-forest diorama of blohshes.

bury a friend

The spooky, minimal beats of “bury a friend” pulse through this room. Climb under Billie’s giant bed to find the monsters buried underneath through a seeping darkness-to-light contrast. Uncover the invisible-ink messages hidden in the shadows.

ilomilo

Take a dip underwater in the “ilomilo” room, where fake seaweed, a bubble machine, and blue cubes create a subaquatic experience. Partner up with your friend to find the hidden blohshes.

listen before i go

In the next room, you’ll take a trip to the skies by climbing out a plane window. Then, lie among the clouds to experience “listen before i go.” This space-inspired space features cloud projections and props like mattresses, pillows, and duvets to create a heavenly area in which you can recline, relax, and watch the world go by.

i love you

We’ve recreated Billie’s beloved red bedroom for “i love you,” where you can tell Billie the ways in which she’s inspired you. Use a tablet to write your note, which is then projected onto the walls.

Goodbye

Our wonderful journey concludes in the “goodbye” room, a prismatic maze with shifting colors, as Billie says a fond farewell to each of her visitors.

To further support the album launch, Spotify will create a brand new multimedia playlist for WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? allowing for exclusive video content and new product features to enhance the on-platform fan experience. This playlist will allow for vertical video content, custom assets, and editorial storylines all with the goal of creating more meaningful and engaging context for Billie’s fans.

Stream Billie Eilish’s groundbreaking new album here.

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Spotify’s Global Top Lists 2019:

“A Decade Wrapped” Spotify’s Top Lists 2010–2019

THE EMERGING

THE ESTABLISHED

bad guy

xanny

you should see me in a crown

all the good girls go to hell

wish you were gay

when the party’s over

8

my strange addiction

bury a friend

ilomilo

listen before i go

i love you

Goodbye

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