Tag: Charli XCX

Revealed: The Top Artists, Songs, Albums, Podcasts, and Audiobooks of 2024

December 4, 2024

Spotify Wrapped is all about celebrating the fans, artists, authors, podcasters, and creators who made 2024 the record-breaking, culture-making, fandom-shaking year it was. And this year, we’re celebrating this cultural moment that’s driven by the passion of hundreds of millions of fans around the world.

Wrapped has continued to command a global spotlight as artists, genres, and trends break into new spaces like never before. This includes:

In the world of podcasts, we have seen the growth of incredible fandoms across sports, comedy, and true crime in 2024. In fact, more than half a billion people have listened to a podcast on Spotify since we entered the space in 2019. And with more than 300,000 video podcasts soaring on Spotify in markets where they’re available, we saw fans enjoy the diversified way they consume content more than ever this year.

It’s also been a year since we launched Audiobooks in Premium (now available in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), and we’ve seen both new releases and back-catalog titles from notable authors garner new audiences across every genre on Spotify. To mark this big milestone, we’re thrilled to release our Global Top Audiobooks of the Year list for the first time ever, led by 2024’s buzziest author, Sarah J. Maas, and her A Court of Thorns and Roses series.

But there’s so much more that happened over the course of the year. Keep reading to discover the artists, songs, albums, and podcasts that topped our lists in 2024, and find out how they compare to your personalized Wrapped experience.  

The top global artist of 2024

With more than 26.6 billion streams globally, Taylor Swift is Spotify’s 2024 Global Top Artist. 

To celebrate Taylor’s monumental achievement, fans will see a first-ever special badge on her Spotify artist profile. Swifties from around the globe can be on the lookout for a special surprise to celebrate their fandom soon!

Most-Streamed Artists Globally in 2024

  1. Taylor Swift
  2. The Weeknd
  3. Bad Bunny
  4. Drake
  5. Billie Eilish
  6. Travis Scott
  7. Peso Pluma
  8. Kanye West
  9. Ariana Grande 
  10. Feid 

Most-Streamed Songs Globally

  1. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
  2. “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
  3. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
  4. “Gata Only” by FloyyMenor, Cris Mj 
  5. “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims 
  6. “End of Beginning” by Djo
  7. “Too Sweet” by Hozier
  8. “One Of The Girls (with JENNIE, Lily Rose Depp)” by The Weeknd 
  9. “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift
  10. “Die With A Smile” by Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga

Most-Streamed Albums Globally

  1. THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY by Taylor Swift 
  2. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish 
  3. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter 
  4. MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO by Karol G
  5. eternal sunshine by Ariana Grande 
  6. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift
  7. SOS by SZA
  8. Lover by Taylor Swift 
  9. Fireworks & Rollerblades by Benson Boone
  10. Starboy by The Weeknd 

Top Podcasts Globally

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. Call Her Daddy
  3. Huberman Lab
  4. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
  5. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
  6. Serial Killers
  7. Relatos de la Noche
  8. Crime Junkie
  9. Café Com Deus Pai | Podcast oficial
  10. El Podcast de Marian Rojas Estapé

Top Audiobooks in Premium Globally

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 
  2. The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
  3. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
  4. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 
  5. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover 
  6. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene 
  7. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas 
  8. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One by George R. R. Martin
  9. Icebreaker: A Novel by Hannah Grace 
  10. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Most-Viral Songs Globally

  1. “Die With A Smile” by Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga
  2. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
  3. “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
  4. “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims 
  5. “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
  6. “Too Sweet” by Hozier
  7. “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” by Ariana Grande
  8. “End of Beginning” by Djo
  9. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
  10. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar

Spotify 2024 Wrapped U.S. Top Lists

U.S. Most-Streamed Artists

  1. Taylor Swift
  2. Drake
  3. Zach Bryan
  4. Morgan Wallen
  5. Kanye West
  6. Future
  7. Kendrick Lamar
  8. Travis Scott
  9. The Weeknd
  10. Metro Boomin

U.S. Most-Streamed Songs

  1. “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
  2. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
  3. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey 
  4. “I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen)” by Post Malone 
  5. “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” by Tommy Richman
  6. “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan
  7. “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
  8. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
  9. “I Remember Everything (feat. Kacey Musgraves)” by Zach Bryan 
  10. “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan

U.S. Most-Streamed Albums

  1. THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY by Taylor Swift 
  2. One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen
  3. Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter 
  4. Stick Season by Noah Kahan
  5. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan 
  6. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish 
  7. SOS by SZA
  8. Dangerous: The Double Album by Morgan Wallen
  9. Zach Bryan by Zach Bryan 
  10. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

U.S. Top Podcasts

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. Call Her Daddy
  3. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
  4. Crime Junkie
  5. The Daily
  6. The Tucker Carlson Show
  7. Huberman Lab
  8. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
  9. Smosh Reads Reddit Stories
  10. Shawn Ryan Show

Top Most-Anticipated Podcast Launches in the U.S. 

  1. Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick
  2. Talk Tuah with Haliey Welch
  3. Drowning Creek
  4. Hysterical
  5. Murder in the Hollywood Hills
  6. Media Pressure
  7. Therapuss with Jake Shane
  8. Basically Unfiltered with Remi, Alisha, Zane and Heath
  9. The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
  10. Clooless Podcast

U.S. Top Audiobooks in Premium

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 
  2. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
  3. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas 
  4. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover 
  5. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene 
  6. The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
  7. A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas 
  8. Icebreaker: A Novel by Hannah Grace 
  9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
  10. Funny Story by Emily Henry 

Explore your personalized 2024 Wrapped and learn more about this year’s campaign and experience on our 2024 Wrapped hub.

Your Exclusive Look Inside Our Charli xcx and Troye Sivan SWEAT Tour Afterparty

October 17, 2024

Since Charli xcx and Troye Sivan kicked off SWEAT, their joint tour of North America, in September, the live shows have become part of the cultural canon. Together, the longtime friends and occasional collaborators take pop music to new heights, transforming arenas into full-on raves. And on Tuesday, after Charli and Troye took the stage at the Kia Forum for the first of two shows in Los Angeles, Spotify teamed up with the pair for a SWEAT tour afterparty.

The co-headliners kept the night going and celebrated with their teams and friends at the Forum Club. It was a star-studded affair with artists like JENNIE, Halsey, Benny Blanco, Fergie, Dom Dolla, and The Dare in attendance, plus Kesha, who made an appearance after her surprise performance at the show.

Meanwhile, Charli helped provide the soundtrack for the event while DJing with her fiancé (and The 1975 drummer) George Daniel and Zoe Gitter.

Check Out Our Updated Songs of Summer Predictions (Complete With Five New Wild Card Picks)

July 25, 2024

Last month, Spotify’s annual Songs of Summer predictions made their return, and fans have rallied around the anthems they can’t get enough of. Some have been working late (…’cuz they’re a singer), while plenty have been feeling so Julia. Meanwhile, others have been looking for someone to match their freak. 

Now, for the first time ever, we’re giving you a midsummer update that reveals the top 15 songs from our original list, along with five new “wild card” songs. These updated predictions reflect our final contenders for the Song of Summer as we approach the end of the season.

Backed by Spotify data and cultural buzz, and hand-picked by our global team of editors, our wild cards were either released after we made our initial predictions, or they’ve experienced a recent spike in global streams. Wild card track “360” by Charli xcx, for example, has experienced an 80% increase in U.S. streams in the past month, while streams of “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan have spiked 110% globally on Spotify. 

Spotify’s updated Songs of Summer list 

(Listed alphabetically by artist first name; wild card picks in italics) 

Over the last year, we’ve seen increased popularity of dance and Afro house globally, and summer is the perfect time for these songs to cross over into the mainstream.

“‘Move’ has been an undeniable hit this summer and an obvious choice for our editors as one of our wild card additions,” said Luisa Kristen, Senior Editor, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at Spotify. “The song features the perfect recipe of beautiful Afro house production, earwormy melody, and pop lyricism—sounds that tend to thrive with listeners in warmer weather globally.”

Luisa also noted that in the last few weeks, the song has charted all around the world across many parts of Europe, the U.K., and the U.S. It drove record streams for the German group globally on its release day and was recently added to Today’s Top Hits—a monumental achievement for German artists and the Afro house genre overall. 

“Stumblin’ In,” which was released in November 2023, is also a strong example of how a song can have an extensive lifespan, cross borders, and experience a cultural resurgence during different moments of the year. It highlights the power of Spotify—our editors have tested it in various playlists, and since its release, it has grown and reached new listeners around the world. 

Tinashe’s “Nasty” also surged during the first two weeks of the Songs of Summer predictions reveal, both globally and in the U.S. Since then, the song has seen over a 110% increase in streams globally and in the U.S.

Celebrating 2024’s Songs of Summer

To continue the summer fun, we hosted our 2024 Songs of Summer event in Brooklyn this week, featuring electric performances from two of our contenders, Tinashe and Tommy Richman.

Artists Can Now Start Countdown Pages To Promote Their Upcoming Albums

July 24, 2024

Building anticipation ahead of a new album release is one of the most important ways for artists to ensure its success. But in today’s music landscape, gaining prerelease momentum across multiple platforms that are often disconnected from where streaming actually happens is exhausting and inefficient. That’s where we come in. Spotify for Artists arms you with powerful tools to unleash your release’s full potential, reach a global audience, and deepen connections with fans before your music is released.

After having tested Countdown Pages with a select group of artists over the last year, we’re excited to announce that starting today, we’re expanding this feature to all eligible artists.

Countdown Pages is the ultimate prerelease destination where fans can presave an artist’s upcoming album, preview the track list, watch Clips, purchase merch, and see the timer count down to the release moment—all on Spotify. All artists with at least 5,000 active listeners in the 28 last days will now be able to create their own Countdown Pages to build hype for an upcoming album and ultimately drive streams once the album is released. 

Listeners can find Countdown Pages across the Spotify app, including in the artist profile, Now Playing view, Search, and Home. Plus, once an artist’s new album drops, Spotify sends a push notification to all presavers and adds it straight to their libraries.

“The lead-up to an album’s release is arguably the most important time during a project’s life cycle. With this in mind, we took a step back as a company to come up with ways that we can help artists build momentum with fans during this period and elevate the album as an artistic statement,” said Sam Duboff, Global Head of Spotify for Artists, Marketing & Policy at Spotify. “The prerelease moment can often be disjointed across many different platforms; through the powerful tools offered in Spotify for Artists and our upcoming expansion of Countdown Pages to hundreds of thousands of artists, Spotify is focused on becoming the best home for artists and labels to release and promote their new music.”

Artists like Taylor Swift, Anitta, KAYTRANADA, Billie Eilish, Peso Pluma, Dua Lipa, Khruangbin, Charli xcx, Maggie Rogers, Whethan, Clairo, John Summit, and hundreds of others have already used Countdown Pages—in fact, earlier this year, Taylor Swift’s THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT became the most presaved album Countdown Page in Spotify history! We’ve seen impactful results for artists and their teams that include multiple benefits . . . 

Fans are presaving albums

More than 80% of Spotify presaves happen the week an album is announced and during the week leading up to its release. This is also when we typically see strong social promotion from artists’ sharing their Countdown Pages with fans directly. For example, pop superstar Meghan Trainor uploaded a snippet of the “To the Moon” music video to her Countdown Page before sharing on social media, which helped drive additional presaves.

“Adding Clips to my Countdown Page has been a game changer,” Meghan said. “It gave me the chance to promote my single ‘To the Moon’ and provided fans a look into the creative world of my album Timeless ahead of its release. It’s like a hub for my album to make everything so much more convenient!”

Presaving leads to increased streams 

On average, nearly 70% of users who presave an album stream it in the week following its release. And with the ability to reveal additional details about their upcoming albums, artists like country star Conner Smith have used Countdown Pages to keep fans engaged as release day nears. 

“One thing I love about the Countdown Page on Spotify is being able to tease your track list,” Conner said. “Fans see what they’re going to get with the record. The Countdown Page just kind of puts it all in one place and makes it simple for fans to kind of see and understand.” 

Clips help drive engagement

In a study of more than 500 artists with Countdown Pages, artists who uploaded Clips to their Countdown Pages averaged twice as many presaves as artists who didn’t.

“We used Clips to share studio footage of us recording the album and the album trailer video, which helped drive presaves on the Countdown Page and excitement for the record,” alt rock band Wallows said.

With the expansion of Countdown Pages, Spotify continues to invest in new tools designed to amplify the release moment and give each release its best chance at breaking through while helping artists build their fan bases on Spotify. 

For artists who want to use features like Countdown Pages, Clips, Canvas, Campaign Kit, and more to promote their new music, Spotify for Artists’ recently launched New Release Guide offers a comprehensive resource that will guide them on their journeys.

Join Spotify at ADE 2023 for Artist Talks, Industry Masterclasses, Networking, and More

October 11, 2023

As the biggest club festival in the world, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) plays home to more than 1,000 events in nearly 200 locations across its multidisciplinary program. And for five days and nights, the city of Amsterdam truly breathes electronic music.

This is our second year as an official ADE partner, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to continue this extraordinary journey. 

“Our partnership is a testament to the unwavering commitment that ADE and Spotify share for nurturing the growth of the dance and electronic genre to reach even greater heights,” said Lisa Ritchey, Spotify Artist Partnerships Manager, Pop, Dance & Indie. “ADE serves as a haven where enthusiasts and experts converge, and this year, we’re not just celebrating the tunes that make us dance; we’re empowering individuals to explore and harness the immense potential within this ever-evolving scene.”

For the 2023 edition, we’re curating a space to let industry partners take a breather from the ADE hustle.

Spotify Huis @ ADE 2023

Spotify Huis at Het West will be open for all ADE pass holders, industry members, and artists, offering something people need: meeting space, nourishments, networking happy hours, and a content studio to bank content with artists who are in town. 

“The Benelux region is a hotbed of electronic music talent, and together with ADE, we’re creating a unique opportunity for artists, producers, and fans to connect, celebrate, and share their passion,” said Milena Taieb, Spotify Head of Music, France and Benelux. “ADE underscores the deep-rooted importance of electronic music in the heart of Europe, and at Spotify, we’re committed to amplifying this vibrant culture.”

If you’re interested in stopping by Spotify Huis, you can fill out this request form and find additional details below:

Date: Wednesday, Oct 18 and Thursday, October 19

Time: 12:00 – 20:00 CET

Venue:  Herenmarkt 99, 1013 EC 

Spotify Talks @ ADE 2023

In addition to Spotify Huis, we’ll be hosting a number of talks at ADE venues throughout the week. Attendees will discover the art of writing a hit song, learn more about Spotify’s playlist ecosystem and how that fuels music discovery, and receive actionable tips for thriving in today’s music industry. 

“We’re delighted to welcome Spotify back as a valued partner for ADE. This collaboration holds significant value for the artists, DJs, and producers attending ADE, offering them a unique opportunity to access the insights and expertise of the Spotify team,” said Jorinde Boom, ADE Head of Partnerships. “We’re passionate about helping talent advance their careers by harnessing Spotify’s powerful capabilities. Our partnership seamlessly aligns with the shared goals of ADE Pro and Lab audiences—to foster creativity within the music industry through a diverse range of platforms. Together, we’re opening doors for artists and creators, enabling them to reach new heights.”

Take a look at our lineup—there’s something for everyone:

Spotify Presents: Written By (Live with Jin Jin)

Date: Wednesday, October 18 

Time: 17:15 – 18:00 CET

Venue: Main hall De Brakke Grond (ADE Lab)

Details: In a new live interview event series, Spotify engages in thoughtful conversation with some of the industry’s most distinguished songwriters and producers. Join the Spotify team as they welcome renowned songwriter Jin Jin to dissect her chart-topping works, including standout hits like Joel Corry‘s “Out Out,” featuring Jax Jones, Charli XCX, and Saweetie; and Jax Jones’ collaboration with RAYE, “You Don’t Know Me.” Ahead of the talk, you can explore Jin Jin’s “Written By” playlist and explore her catalog of hit songs.

Panelists:

Aaron Buckingham (Spotify Songwriter & Publishing Relations)

Jin Jin (songwriter)

Spotify for Artists Masterclass: Playlists & Music Discovery

Date/Time: Thursday, October 19 

Time: 12:15 – 13:00 CET 

Venue: Main hall De Brakke Grond (ADE Lab)

Details: Take a deep dive into the Spotify playlist ecosystem and how music is discovered with Spotify’s expert team, who will run through how Spotify is supporting the Dance and Electronic community, both on and off-platform. We’re delighted to be joined by Martin Garrix’s management team, Watse De Jong and Steven Hiemstra, who will share valuable insights into how they harness Spotify’s full potential.

Panelists:

Watse De Jong (Manager, Martin Garrix)

Steven Hiemstra (Manager, Martin Garrix)

Ronny Ho (Spotify Head of Electronic Development)

Ashley Graver (Spotify Head of Artist Partnerships, Pop, Dance & Indie)

Laura Kiesow (Spotify Artist and Label Partnerships, Benelux)

Spotify Essential Insider Knowledge: Navigating the Modern Music Industry

Date: Friday, October 20 

Time: 16:15 – 17:00 CET 

Venue: Felix Meritis (Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam) (ADE Pro)

Details: Reaching and engaging your audience when it matters most is always top of mind for artists. In this session, Spotify’s music team will explore the suite of tools available to artists and their teams to help them find and grow their audiences on Spotify. Through a combination of best practices, essential tips, and case study examples, you’ll gain invaluable insights into harnessing Spotify’s full potential.

Panelists:

Milena Taieb (Spotify Head Of Music, France and Benelux)

Laura Kiesow (Spotify Senior Manager, Artist and Label Partnerships, France and Benelux)

Jesse Jacobsen (Spotify Lead, Indie Label Partnerships)

Gearing up to experience a week of the world’s hottest dance music in Amsterdam? Check out the official ADE 2023 playlist to get your mind, body, and ears ready.

Parties, Playlists, and New Year’s Bops: The Music the World Is Playing to Ring in 2023

December 29, 2022

As the year comes to a close, we can’t help but be amazed at what a landmark year 2022 was for music. But now it’s time to look ahead and ring in 2023 with style.

New year, new hub

We’ve got plenty of music to kickstart your celebration, and it’s all in our freshly launched New Year’s Hub. At this one-stop destination you can find classic party playlists and special takeovers from artists like Charli XCX, Rita Ora, N-Dubz, and Madame Canada herself, Céline Dion. And whether you want a low-key night or a heart-pounding dancefest, we have you set with featured playlists to match the vibe you’re channeling. Plus, on Home starting January 1, you can find content to help you set your resolutions.

So that’s what Spotify is doing . . . but how do Spotify listeners like to ring in the new year? The best way to predict the future is to look at past results, so we checked the data archives to see how the world was celebrating in December 2021.

What the world is playing

There’s always some level of anticipation around the new year and that shows in the playlists fans put together. Last year 82,000 New Year’s Eve playlists were created between Christmas and January 31, with nearly 40,000 created on the night itself. 

When it comes to genres, as expected listeners went straight for the uplifting bops and hits. Pop, hip-hop, trap, k-pop, and indie pop were the top genres played worldwide. Genres that saw the most significant rises in listeners were cumbia, discofox, volksmusik, schlager, and partyschlager (for those who think regular schlager isn’t festive enough.)

NYE 2021 was all about the tracks you could sing and dance along to. “Hey Ya!,” “Uptown Funk”, and “Mr. Brightside” all received plenty of attention. Many of the songs that gained more streams were New Year-specific tracks like Mariah Carey‘s rendition of “Auld Lang Syne – The New Year’s Anthem” and ABBA’s “Happy New Year,” which led the pack with an approximately 2,000% increase in plays.

Whatever your plans are for ringing in the new year, we hope that 2023 is just as fantastic for listening as this one was. 

Plan your party now over on our New Year’s Hub or with the featured New Year’s Eve 2023 playlist.

Charli XCX, Paris Hilton, and Spotify Celebrate an Unforgettable Year of Listening at 2022 Wrapped Playground

December 5, 2022

Whether you discovered your music listening personality, explored new genres, or uncovered the songs and artists that you streamed most, 2022 Spotify Wrapped had plenty for fans to dive into.

This year’s Wrapped was all about self-expression and play, celebrating the two-way connections that bring millions of creators and fans together through audio each and every day. And after a memorable year of listening, what better way to cap it all off than with a one-of-a-kind, playground-inspired Wrapped experience? That’s why we invited Spotify fans to the 2022 Wrapped Playground, which featured custom rides, interactive games, DJ sets from Paris Hilton and Matt FX, and a live performance from Charli XCX. 

It was none other than Paris who got the party started with a special DJ set for our special guests, who enjoyed a drink as the multi-hyphenate spun a mix of dance and pop tracks.  

As fans began to pour into the event space, they had the chance to enjoy a Wrapped-inspired photo moment, like custom carnival-themed activations inspired by some of the most popular artists this year. These included “Bad Habit” Skeeball, inspired by Steve Lacy’s smash hit; Latto’s “Big Energy” Hi-Striker, from the rapper’s megahit; “Good Ones” Claw Grabber, which taps into the energy of Charli XCX’s lead single from her latest album, CRASH; Gravy’s Groovy Funhouse, which draws from by the effortless 70s style of Yung Gravy; and Mitski’s “Stay Soft” Serve, influenced by the singer’s single released this year. 

Fans also took to new heights with rides on a Ferris wheel, treated their taste buds to funnel cake and corn dog bites, and enjoyed a photo booth and custom airbrush trucker hats. Throughout the evening, circus-like acts such as jugglers and stilt walkers performed around the playground. 

 

 

 

Blend With Lizzo, Post Malone, and The Chainsmokers—And Buy Their Merch

July 20, 2022

Lizzo, Post Malone, and the Chainsmokers on a green background

Listen to this story read aloud in 2 minutes and 20 seconds. 


Music fandom is about more than just listening to music and going to shows: It’s connecting with an artist, their songs, and their fellow followers. And what better way to signal your love, and maybe strike up a conversation with another fan, than by repping your favorites with a t-shirt or other merch? 

At Spotify, we’re always looking for new ways to grow the bond between artists and fans. Our latest feature, Blend, combines the best of our personalization capabilities and collaborative playlist functionality to help you create a playlist that syncs your music taste with that of your friend’s or artists’ like BTS, Charli XCX, Kacey Musgraves, and Megan Thee Stallion. 

Now we’re expanding the popular feature to even more artists including Lizzo, The Chainsmokers, and Post Malone. And we’re also adding a new element: the opportunity to shop artist merch from the Blend experience so you can literally wear your love on your sleeve. 

Here’s how you can Blend with one of these artists and then purchase their merch:

  1. Click on an artist’s name in this story to be directed to Blend. Or, check out the artist’s link from their social channels. You can now choose from Lizzo, The Chainsmokers, and Post Malone. 
  2. Let Spotify make a playlist tailored to your shared tastes.
  3. Check out your social sharecard. It contains your Taste Match score, which shows the percentage of music taste you two have in common. Then, share it directly to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.
  4. After you get your Taste Match score, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase the artist’s featured merch via our integration with Shopify. All the pieces of merch have been selected by the artists themselves and include items such as t-shirts, vinyl albums, and more. 

It’s our mission to build new opportunities for creators to live off their work, and our larger partnership with Shopify makes it easier than ever for artists to sell their merch on Spotify. By putting merch alongside the music experience, we’re increasing purchase opportunities and generating incremental sales for creators.

Blend with Lizzo, The Chainsmokers, and Post Malone by clicking on their names. And find a full list of all available artist Blends here.

Equalizer Project, Now in Its Fourth Year, Makes Strides in Increasing Female Representation in Music

October 27, 2020

In 2017, Spotify launched the Equalizer Project to highlight the underrepresentation of female and non-binary creators in the Nordic music industry—and provide them with the knowledge and inspiration they need to level the playing field. Since then, Equalizer has supported numerous Nordic creators, including Sarah Dawn Finer, Petra Marklund, Sabina Ddumba, Silvana Imam, and Janice, through networking meetings, producer camps, and more.

Initiatives like Equalizer are still much needed: Behind the 50 most played songs on Spotify in Sweden in 2019, only 4.1% of the producers were women. Among the songwriters, only 20% were women. This shows a marked increase from 2018, when only 0.8% of producers and 10% of songwriters were women, and from 2017, when none of the producers were women—but there remains significant ground to be gained.

“It feels more important than ever to continue working with Equalizer when the year has brought such extensive challenges for the entire music industry, says Jenny Hermanson, Nordic MD, Spotify. “Although the statistics show a small step in the right direction, with more women represented as songwriters and producers behind the most-played songs, gender equality is an issue that must constantly be addressed.”

This year, we’ve continued Equalizer by creating a totally virtual program that will continue to give music creators knowledge and inspiration. From new videos that teach music production to a digital inspiration conversation with British hitmaker Charli XCX, here’s what participants have to look forward to:

Equalizer Project landing page

To make all things Equalizer accessible in one place, we’ve created a new landing page, spotify.com/equalizer. Head there for information about the project, including the networking sessions, producer camps, dinners, and Way Out West Festival Talks we’ve put on so far, and how Nordic creators can apply for Equalizer’s upcoming events.