Tag: disney

Spotify Invites You To Celebrate 100 Years of Disney

October 16, 2023

Disney Wish Cover

October 16, 1923, is a magical day for generations of people around the world, as it marks the start of The Walt Disney Company. And as the beloved entertainment company gets ready to celebrate its 100th birthday, we’ve teamed up with Walt Disney Animation Studios—also celebrating 100 years—to make the day even more special for listeners.

Whether you’re belting out Mulan’s “I’ll Make a Man Out Of You” with friends or cleaning your apartment while singing Frozen’s “Let it Go,” Disney soundtracks have always held a special place in the hearts of fans, no matter what age they are.   

The stats don’t lie. To date, Spotify listeners around the world have created more than 8.5 million Disney-related playlists. Disney Animation’s Moana takes the top spot for the most-streamed Disney album of all time, followed closely by Encanto and Frozen in second and third, respectively. Meanwhile, fans who can’t settle on just one film soundtrack have enjoyed the Disney Hits playlist to the tune of 2.3 billion streams. 

Which Disney Princess Do You Blend With Best?

Have you ever wondered which Disney princess you’d be musical BFFs with? You can now Blend with some of your favorites to see how your music taste stacks up with princesses who have inspired generations. 

Blend with Cinderella, Belle, Tiana, Moana, and Ariel to find out if you listen to those “all the feels” deep cuts like Cinderella, high-energy foot-stomping bops that Moana loves, or the more fluid styling of Ariel. 

The Ringer Founder Bill Simmons Reveals the Secret Behind the Successful Brand Partnerships of ‘The Rewatchables’

June 16, 2023

Bill Simmons is a man who wears many hats at Spotify. In addition to being the founder and Managing Director of The Ringer—which includes a website and podcast network dedicated to sports and pop culture—he’s also Head of Podcast Innovation and Monetization at Spotify, where he’s leveraging his experience at The Ringer building a high-revenue business through innovation and strong partnerships and applying it across the rest of the company. On top of that, Bill also hosts multiple podcasts, including The Rewatchables.

Featuring a rotating cast of writers and editors each week, the show explores classic films that people will never forget—mostly because they can’t seem to stop watching them. As one of The Ringer’s most popular podcasts, The Rewatchables is a shining example of the podcast network’s creative use of integrated brand partnerships. 

Bill Simmons

This month, The Rewatchables is partnering with Disney to help promote the new film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In addition to giving the movie prime placement through custom cover art and the show’s pre-roll ad, as part of this month’s programming, The Ringer is also dropping a special Indiana Jones episode, which will feature branded segments promoting the new movie. 

Beyond working with The Ringer, Disney+ recently launched a new campaign with Spotify that drives awareness of Disney’s audio content in a delightful and immersive Spotify experience. Listeners across Germany, the U.K., Ireland, Italy, and Spain can now explore personalized in-app recommendations—as well as new genres and titles from the Disney+ soundtrack catalog—based on their listening habits. Plus, Spotify Free listeners receive audio, display, and video ads with a call to action to visit a branded in-app experience. Between these two brands, the connection runs deep.

For the Record sat down with Bill to dig deeper into the relationship between content and advertising, what makes a good advertising partnership, and how The Ringer makes these sponsorships sing.

We’ve heard you’re a big fan of the Indiana Jones franchise and are revisiting The Last Crusade in an upcoming Rewatchables episode. What excites you most about revisiting the franchise? 

Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first great modern action movie I ever saw. It changed everything. I even remember where I saw it—the Cleveland Circle theater in Brookline, MA! 

We waited and waited to do it on The Rewatchables for years because it’s one of the 10 most important movies of my lifetime. Indiana Jones is one of the best heroes ever, who fights the worst villains possible. And you’re talking about one of the biggest stars ever in Harrison Ford, who was working with two of the biggest behind-the-scenes creators ever in Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, soundtracked by one of the best composers ever in John Williams. 

So Indiana Jones lives forever after that. If it’s an Indiana Jones movie, I’m going. The difference between him and, say, Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt is that he always feels like a real guy with a little hero in him . . . not a hero pretending to be a real guy.

The Ringer is known for long-term deals with brand partners, like this month’s sponsorship with Disney. How do you approach these? What is the value in more integrated partnerships?

It may sound simple, but the most important thing is understanding what brands want to get out of the partnership. The brands that always succeed with us are the ones that tell us what their priorities are ahead of time.

One of The Ringer’s secret sauces is that we have multiple avenues to raise awareness for something—podcasts, the network itself, the website, our social handles, and our individual talent. But we also have a good creative team and we understand how to make things a little more special and unique. 

In 2018, State Farm was blowing out a campaign around the state of the NBA season, so we turned it into a special event. We did a two-day Previewpalooza with a bunch of live video talk content, pre-taped shows, and upward of a dozen podcast episodes. State Farm is still a valuable partner all these years later, and I think that week is a big reason why.

Brands don’t want to just fork over money; they want to feel like you elevated their product and put some thought into what they value.

Are there any films you’re still dying to cover?

We are closing in on 300 episodes—which just seems like a crazy-high number—but I have a surprisingly meaty master list of the best Rewatchable movies we haven’t covered yet, which includes classics like Almost Famous. Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, Road House, Anchorman, and most of the Marvel movies. 

There are so many times when I’ll get inspiration for an episode when I’m flipping channels, or I’m on an airplane, or I’m surfing around Netflix. It’s then that I realize, “Wait, I love this movie!” That happened with Casino Royale recently. So, I feel like we can get to 500 episodes pretty easily. From our first episode on the 20th anniversary of the noir film Heat to now, I’m so glad people still like listening to it because we love doing it.

Discover The Ringer’s impactful brand partnerships for yourself by streaming the latest episode of The Rewatchables.

May the Fourth Be With Your Spotify Listening

May 4, 2023

Check your calendar: The annual moment for date-related puns, internet frenzy, and fandom has arrived. May the 4th, aka Star Wars Day, is a celebration of one of the seminal sci-fi series of the modern age. And as always, Spotify is in on the fun. 

While we don’t have lightsabers, we’re bringing a galaxy far, far away a bit closer to home with some future-forward tech of our own. Spotify Premium users in the U.S. and Canada can tune into their DJ today, May 4, for a Star Wars surprise. Your personalized DJ will be greeting you with Star Wars commentary alongside your curated music sets, serving as your wise and thoughtful Jedi master. Just head to the Music Feed on Home to begin.  

Star Wars content for Jedi masters and young padawans alike

There’s nothing like the original series’ iconic music, so head to the Star Wars shelf on the Disney Hub to find all the classics, remastered. But after your jump to hyperspace, you can also find the Best of Star Wars playlist and Jedi Survivor Soundtrack, both of which bring together John Williams’s classic Oscar-winning score with newer works from the likes of Ludwig Goransson, Joseph Shirley, Kevin Kiner, and Michael Giacchino. 

If you’re as into the new series as Star Wars fan Lizzo (who was literally in the series!), you may already be familiar with our Mandalorian Official Playlist, which has grown in popularity alongside the release of Season 3. Today, press play from your desktop app to discover a special Star Wars Easter egg in the playlist. 

Looking for a Star Wars saga to sink into? Fans in the U.S., U.K, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada can head to the Spotify’s Star Wars audiobook shelf to hear classics like Star Wars Jedi Battle Scars; Star Wars: Light of the Jedi (The High Republic); Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith; Shadow Hunter: Star Wars Legends; and Star Wars: Brotherhood. 

No matter how you choose to celebrate, may the force be with you. 

How To Celebrate Star Wars Day With Spotify

May 4, 2022

Calling all Jedi masters and young Padawans! You probably don’t need reminding that today is May the Fourth (aka Star Wars Day), but Spotify is here to help you celebrate by taking our Blend feature to a galaxy far, far away. You can now merge your musical taste with that of Yoda, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia to create a shared playlist full of your favorite songs.

After you Blend with one of these iconic Star Wars heroes (or villain), you’ll receive a share card showing your taste-match scores and the song that brings you two together. You can then share the cards, which also reveal your listening preferences compared to the character, directly to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.

Cómo la compositora de ‘Encanto’, Germaine Franco, llevó la magia y los sonidos de Colombia a oyentes de todo el mundo

February 3, 2022

De vez en cuando, se lanza una película con una banda sonora que los fanáticos no pueden quitarse de la cabeza. Tal es el caso de Encanto, que se estrenó en los servicios de streaming de Disney en noviembre y desde entonces ha presentado a la familia Madrigal a personas de todo el mundo.

La historia de Maribel Madrigal y su madre, tía, tío, hermanas y primas mágicamente dotadas tiene lugar en Colombia y cuenta con el apoyo de un elenco de actores, cantantes y productores latinos, incluida la compositora Germaine Franco, el compositor Lin-Manuel Miranda, y el cantautor Sebastian Yatra. Pero el mensaje de la película, sobre la obligación con la familia, el legado del trauma y la presión para conformarse, es universal, razón por la cual la banda sonora se ha escuchado masivamente en más de 20 idiomas y ha alcanzado el número uno entre los mejores álbumes escuchados en Spotify en 2022.*

Hasta el momento, la banda sonora de Encanto tiene más de 494 millones de streams en todo el mundo,** y los países con mayor índice de escucha son Colombia, Estados Unidos, Filipinas, Panamá, Islandia y el Reino Unido. 

Parte de lo que está atrayendo a tanta gente de regreso a Encanto son los múltiples éxitos destacados, como “Dos Oruguitas”, que le valió a Sebastián Yatra su primer sencillo entre los 20 primeros, y  “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” / “No se Habla de Bruno”, que se convirtió en la primera canción número uno de Lin-Manuel en Spotify en los Estados Unidos. a principios de enero y ahora tiene más de 100 millones de streams en Spotify.*** 

También está dominando las listas internacionales, asegurando el puesto número uno en la lista Top 50 del Reino Unido de Spotify. Otras tres canciones de la banda sonora se ubicaron entre las diez primeras en la lista de consumo de canciones de Estados Unidos, incluidas “Surface Pressure,” “What Else Can I Do?”, y “The Family Madrigal”. 

“Saber que ‘No Se Habla de Bruno’ ha tocado tantos corazones de tantas generaciones diferentes de manera orgánica es increíble, y estar en el Top 50 de las listas musicales de Spotify es enorme”, dijo Carolina Gaitan – La Gaita, quien interpreta a la Tía Pepa de Mirabel y lidera las voces en “Bruno” en las bandas sonoras en inglés y español de Encanto. “Creo que ha sido una sorpresa para todos, pero sin duda ha sido la sorpresa más bonita de mi vida”.

La creación de Encanto es quizás tan mágica como la historia misma. La huella sonora de Encanto se puede atribuir en gran medida a la compositora mexicano-estadounidense Germaine Franco, quien anteriormente había trabajado con Disney y Disney Animation como compositora, productora musical y orquestadora. Sin embargo, esta fue la primera vez que Germaine asumió el papel de compositora principal de una película de Disney, lo que la convirtió en la primera mujer en ocupar este puesto en la compañía. Después de trabajar con Lin-Manuel y Tom MacDougall, presidente de Disney Music, en una función animada anterior de Disney, la pareja le pidió a Germaine que se uniera al proyecto y colaborara con Lin-Manuel en los arreglos orquestales, la orquestación y la producción adicional de las canciones de Lin-Manuel.

For the Record habló con Germaine sobre la composición de Encanto, incluida la tarea que hizo para dar vida a la música colombiana en la pantalla.

¿Cómo te preparaste para este proyecto?

Para cada partitura que creo, me gusta sumergirme profundamente en la cultura de los protagonistas y las regiones específicas a la ubicación en la narración. Pasé muchas horas escuchando y estudiando las estructuras, instrumentación, estilos de interpretación, armonías, melodías y ritmos de la música tradicional colombiana. Sentí que los instrumentos colombianos me iban a dar inspiración, y así fue, especialmente la arpa llanera y la marimba de chonta, y sabía que la partitura sería mucho más rica si escucháramos las voces auténticas de músicos y cantantes colombianos.

¿Cómo introdujiste en la partitura elementos del “realismo mágico”, un tema literario prominente entre autores latinoamericanos/colombianos famosos?

Cuando recibí la llamada por primera vez, volví al corazón del realismo mágico leyendo a Gabriel García Márquez en español. También leí textos históricos sobre historia, música y literatura colombianas. Vi documentales y videos sobre la cultura colombiana. Quería conectar con ese mundo más allá de la “realidad” de lo que se ve. Me imaginé en ese mundo. Seguía pensando “¿Cuál es el sonido del realismo mágico?” mientras trabajaba.

Un elemento clave del realismo mágico en la partitura es la voz femenina. Imaginé que las voces de las mujeres serían representativas de este mundo. Me conecté profundamente con la tradición del estilo de cantadora presente en las regiones afrocolombianas de Colombia, y luego grabamos un coro en vivo de Colombia con Isa Mosquera, una de los coristas de la banda de Carlos Vives, y un coro de veintidós voces aquí en Los Ángeles.

Otro aspecto del sonido del realismo mágico que construí proviene del sonido de muchas flautas hechas de madera natural, bambú, tocadas por el exquisito Pedro Eustache. La voz de Pedro se puede escuchar a lo largo de la partitura. Si escuchas, escucharás la gaita, una flauta tradicional de Colombia y uno de mis instrumentos favoritos en la partitura.

¿Qué significa para ti y para otras mujeres o compositoras latinas tu participación en esta película?

Cuando me llamaron por primera vez para trabajar en la película, estaba encantada de poder trabajar con Lin-Manuel y los cineastas. No pensé demasiado en “primeras veces”. Mi objetivo principal era crear la mejor banda sonora posible para esta hermosa película. Quería tener éxito como artista y darle a la música un sonido latino auténtico. Encanto es un hito para Walt Disney Animation Studios porque es su largometraje número 60, así que sentí que era una responsabilidad importante de mi parte dar una voz larina fuerte a los personajes principales, Mirabel y su abuela, a través de la música. 

Estoy muy agradecida de tener esta oportunidad de abrir la puerta a otras mujeres y personas de color. Es importante para mí que veamos más equidad tanto delante como detrás de la cámara, y es notable que solo soy uno de los muchos creativos latinos en la película. Contábamos con Lin-Manuel Miranda, un elenco íntegramente latino, la productora Yvett Merino, la co-directora y la guionista Charise Castro-Smith, el productor de canciones Mike Elizondo, Sebastián Yatra, y Carlos Vives. Esta película es un ejemplo del poder de las voces auténticas en el cine y la música que colaboran para inspirar a nuestro mundo. Es una señal de que la industria está cambiando, aunque lentamente. ¡Celebro el hecho de que millones de familias de todos los países, mujeres y personas de color se vean en la pantalla y disfruten de la banda sonora!

La banda sonora de Encanto ya está teniendo un gran éxito comercial, alcanzando el número dos en la lista de álbumes globales de Spotify y el número uno en la lista de álbumes de Estados Unidos de Spotify en 2021. ¿Cuáles son sus esperanzas para la música más allá de la película?

Espero que Encanto toque los corazones de millones e inspire a muchos a salir y obtener su primer instrumento y aprender a tocar. Estoy muy agradecida con todos los fanáticos de la película en todo el mundo que se toman un tiempo de sus ocupadas vidas para participar en la experiencia cinematográfica que llevamos años creando para ellos. Significa mucho. Cuando veo algunas de las reacciones a la película en las redes sociales, me reconforta saber que todo el equipo creativo y yo hemos tenido el privilegio de ser parte de sus vidas de una manera pequeña. Realmente creo que la música tiene el poder de unir a las personas en todo el mundo. ¡Muchas gracias a todos los fanáticos de Encanto en todo el mundo! ¡Que se diviertan!

¿Listo para hablar de Bruno? Escucha la banda sonora de Encanto y sumérgete por completo en la historia de la Familia Madrigal. 

*Al 27 de enero de 2022

**A partir del 1 de febrero de 2022

**A partir del 20 de enero de 2022

Go Behind the Scenes of Disney and Pixar’s ‘Soul’ with Spotify’s ‘Soul Stories’ Podcast

December 16, 2020

What makes your soul sing? For Joe Gardner, the main character in Disney and Pixar’s new animated movie Soul, nothing is more important than music. But when the music teacher and aspiring jazz musician’s soul is sent to The Great Before, he embarks on an adventure to find his way to Earth and realize his dream. 

Joe isn’t alone: Music is a vital part of many people’s lives—including the cast of Soul. So in Soul Stories, a new Spotify Exclusive podcast, Soul co-director and co-writer Kemp Powers asks the cast, creators, and consultants of the movie to share some stories of inspiration and passion. Tune in for interviews about the moments and mentors who shaped each guest’s passion for music, as well as behind-the-scenes stories about making the film and creating the music and soundtrack. The limited series celebrates all of life’s greatest influences and acknowledges the spark that lives within us all. 

The first three episodes are available now. In episode 1, Soul director Pete Docter and producer Dana Murray discuss their relationship with jazz and the mentors who impacted their careers. In episode 2, catch Soul cast members Angela Bassett, Tina Fey, and Phylicia Rashad open up about the obstacles they overcame on the road to success. In episode 3, Soul star Jamie Foxx reminisces on the mentors and artists who shaped his career. Look out for episodes 4-6, featuring Jon Batiste, Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole, and composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, debuting December 28. 

In the spirit of Soul Stories, we sat down with podcast host Kemp Powers to ask him about some of his own reflections on music, mentorship, and the upcoming Soul movie. 

What spoke to you about the concept behind your new movie, Soul? 

Both the idea of capturing the psychology of the artist’s journey and getting the chance to tackle the meaning of life . . . in a family film!

What are some pieces of music that have shaped who you are and your journey? 

The pillars of my musical background are hip-hop, dancehall reggae, and jazz. These were the three kinds of music that were always in the background growing up. But the older I got, the more I was exposed to other forms of music that became just as dear to me, including classical, new wave, grunge, and others. 

Why should fans of the Soul movie also listen to the Soul Stories podcast you’re hosting? How will the experience be different? 

You’ll get a chance to learn about why music is such a big part of the lives of so many creatives. And why music is such an influential piece of global culture.

Your guests run the gamut across the arts. Have you noticed a difference in the way that music influences them? If so, how? 

Absolutely! Music impacts different people in different ways. I believe a song has been written for every human emotion. No matter how high or low one feels, there is some song that seems to tell your specific story. That’s why discovering a new song that speaks to your soul, no pun intended, is always a transcendent moment. We can often remember where we were or what we were doing the first time we heard those special tunes. 

Tune in to Soul Stories, available exclusively on Spotify starting today. 

Spotify Kids Is Now Available in the U.S., Canada, and France

March 31, 2020

Last year, we helped bring families together with Spotify Kids—our stand-alone app in beta  designed specifically for kids ages three and older. The app, which has been exclusive to Spotify Premium Family subscribers in select countries, was developed with safety and privacy in mind. It’s an ad-free experience where young listeners can explore sing-alongs, soundtracks, and stories on their own or with their families. Now, at a time when so many kids are home from school, we’re bringing the experience to even more people as the app rolls out in the U.S., Canada, and France—and we hope parents there will find it useful as well.

This comes off our initial launch of Spotify Kids in beta in Ireland, followed by Sweden, Denmark, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. With more than 125 playlists, Spotify Kids makes it easy for families to listen to their favorite songs and stories while also discovering new ones. Everything on Spotify Kids has been hand selected by our editors, so you can be sure that the content is both kid friendly and—most importantly—fun!

 

We’re constantly working on ways to make the Kids experience even better, and we had the opportunity to take into consideration the ideas and feedback from parents who have already used the app with their kids. So here’s what’s new and launching soon on the app:

More to love

  • In the U.S. and Canada, there are now more than 8,000 songs available in the Kids app—that’s 30% more than when we first launched. And because variety is the spice of life, every day we’re adding more songs in all markets. We’ve also added more audiobooks and stories to the library, including Disney Music Group Stories, fairytales, classics, and short stories. 

Bedtime is even better

  • Parents told us that they love using Kids around bedtime, so we’ve added more lullabies, calming music and sounds, and bedtime stories to help lull your little ones to sleep. Sweet dreams!

A more customized experience

  • Parenting is personal. That’s why we’re working on giving parents more control over what kids can (and can’t) listen to and new features that will allow parents to further customize the experience. In addition, half of the content you’ll find in Kids is based on what’s popular in the country you live in.

Even more educational content

  • There has always been a focus on educational musical content for kids on the app, including a playlist hub called Learning that features songs that teach kids about counting, the ABC’s, science, and more. Recently, we also added a new global playlist with songs to help kids learn general hygiene best practices, like how to wash their hands and cough and sneeze properly into their elbows. This playlist features the newly released song from Pinkfong, “Wash Your Hands with Baby Shark.” Plus, relevant educational content on the app will continue to grow.

We even have some new offerings specifically for our U.S. users. Here are some of the unique features U.S. families can expect:

Diverse content

  • The U.S. is a melting pot of cultures, and the music our listeners stream reflects that. So in addition to all the core favorites you’d expect, the U.S. Kids app also includes Spanish-language, country, Christian, Motown, and soul dance party playlists.

Pop culture crazy

  • Just like the main Spotify app, Kids taps into the big cultural moments listeners love. For example, we know that movies and music go hand in hand, which is why you’ll find the Trolls World Tour playlist and an official Frozen playlist featured in the app.

Because two heads are better…

  • We’re working alongside children’s brands like Disney Music Group, KIDZ BOP, and Nickelodeon to create totally unique Spotify Kids content and experiences. Stay tuned: we think you’ll like what you hear.

 

The Spotify Kids app is available exclusively for Spotify Premium Family subscribers at no additional charge and can be downloaded on iOS or Android devices. New Premium subscribers are also eligible for one month free of Premium Family—just visit spotify.com/family.

Here’s What Parents Around the World Have Been Playing for Their Kids at Home

March 27, 2020

With schools and workplaces closed around the world, parents are facing a new challenge: getting work done while keeping their kids safe and entertained—and maybe even helping them learn something. Many are turning to Spotify for all things audio, whether that be soothing songs or suspenseful stories to stream for their little ones.

We took a look at music and podcasts streaming around the world for the week of March 17–23, when many adults and children stayed home. We found that parents have been playing everything from lullabies to help their children sleep to podcasts that spark curiosity.

Read on for audio inspiration—as well as some of our own recommendations for out-of-the-[boom]-box entertainment ideas.

Music for every moment

For the most part, parents have been turning to music to help keep their children calm and put them to sleep—and maybe even get themselves down for a nap as well! Rest-related playlists like Baby Sleep, Music Box Lullabies, and Baby Sleep Aid: Rain Sounds are some of the top-streamed Kids & Family playlists globally. In Germany, Disney zum Mitsingen is high in the rankings, and in France, Comptines & Chansons scores as well. Additionally, Disney Favorites, universal to families around the world, is a top choice.

It’s clear that soothing sounds for sleep win among parents, but families are filling waking hours with plenty of music too. Soundtracks like High School Musical and Frozen 2, as well as Disney Sing-Alongs, have seen an increase in streams compared to a week prior. Older kids are likely enjoying Kidz Bop’s takes on recent pop songs, with “Old Town Road,” “Señorita,” and “Dance Monkey” being streamed the most. 

Of course, your children may also enjoy non-kid-specific playlists—we know, it’s a surprise to us too. Take this opportunity to have them experience the magic (and sometimes silliness) that are The Beatles and Queen with our This Is The Beatles and This Is Queen playlists.

If excess screen time is something you’re trying to avoid, introduce kids to the best music from beloved shows, including Peppa Pig and Sesame Street. Or, play some of the best Movie Theme Songs for Kids and ask them to act out the action and adventure themselves. Finally, if they need to blow off some steam, try Hip-Hopscotch and Reggae Recess on for size.

Podcasts for playtime

Podcasts aren’t just for parents—there are plenty of specially made shows for kids, with storytelling and child-like curiosity in mind. Looking for an age-appropriate podcast for your child? Below are a few recommendations for shows for kids, arranged by age.

Story Pirates (Ages 3+)

The Story Pirates—an especially popular pick for listeners in the past week—aren’t your typical swashbuckling sailors. They don’t steal gold, pillage villages, or claim land; they’re searching for a different kind of treasure: kids’ wildest, most imaginative stories. Each week, the crew aboard the Story Pirates’ ship—including world-class actors, comedians, improvisers, and musicians—takes original stories from real kids around the country and turns them into a wildly funny comedy podcast for kids.

Chompers (Ages 3-7)

Make tooth time easy with this morning and night tooth-brushing show for kids. Kids will hear jokes, riddles, stories, fun facts, silly songs, and more that’ll keep them giggling while they brush for the full two minutes that dentists recommend. To help your family build good brushing habits—something that is especially important as dentist trips in the near future may be limited—Chompers counts the times you brush and celebrates your streaks.

Every Little Thing (Ranges by episode, 7+)

Who invented pants? How did “pink for girls” and “blue for boys” happen? What do dogs say when they bark? Every Little Thing is here to answer your kids’ (and your own) burning questions. Recent episodes include “Is It Weird to Be Nice to Alexa?,” “Symphony Secrets: Dirt from the Pit,” and “Anesthesia and a Mysterious Chili Cheese Fry Craving.”

The Two Princes (Preteens and teens)

Another top podcast from the past week: The Two Princes. When Prince Rupert sets out to break the mysterious curse that’s destroying his kingdom, he’s ready to face whatever dastardly villain or vile monster stands in his way. What he isn’t prepared for are the bewildering new emotions he feels when he meets the handsome Amir, a rival prince on a quest to save his own realm. Forced to team up, the two princes soon discover that the only thing more difficult than saving their kingdoms is following their hearts. Plus, there are even more adventures in Season 2.

For more content for kids, head to the Kids & Family hub.

What Elsa from ‘Frozen 2,’ Eleven from ‘Stranger Things,’ and Lyra from ‘His Dark Materials’ Streamed on Spotify This Year

December 12, 2019

Just last week, Spotify released our annual Wrapped campaign, giving hundreds of millions of users around the globe the ability to relive their year in listening. Fans, artists, and podcasters alike flooded social media with their stats, reactions, and reflections about what they (and their listeners) streamed in 2019. It dominated headlines and social feeds, creating a lot of buzz—and a lot of feelings.

So we thought: What if our favorite fictional characters had feelings [about their favorite music and podcasts] too?

Besides revealing everyone’s top song and artist of the decade as well as the year, we’re also sharing what we think some of everyone’s favorite fictional characters would have on their Wrapped cards. Too real? Take a look below.

Disney’s Frozen 2

We couldn’t let this one go…. Disney’s global hit film, Frozen 2, which was released November 22, brought back some beloved characters like royal sisters Anna and Elsa, lovable snowman Olaf, and rugged outdoorsman Kristoff. This crew’s adventures take them far beyond Arendelle, so you can bet they’d be playing pick-me-up songs and podcasts to help them stay strong as they venture into the unknown.

Sing Along to Your Favorite Tunes on Spotify’s New Disney Hub

July 17, 2019

Ever wondered if you’d one day be able to find the music of your favorite talking animals, courageous princesses, and adventurous superheroes all in one place? With Spotify’s new Disney Hub you can find all that—and more—right from the search bar.

Dreams really do come true.

Starting July 17, users in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can search “Disney” on Spotify to find a designated hub for the music behind some of their favorite Disney movies and TV shows. Stream playlists full of everything from The Little Mermaid to modern favorites like Frozen, to Star Wars instrumentals, and even Marvel movie soundtracks. Plus, Disney compilations made for every part of your day—road trip, shower, or sleep time—will help ensure your life is nothing short of magical.

So don your Mickey Mouse ears and get ready to listen to some of the Disney playlists on the new hub. Here’s a look at a few of our favorites:

Disney Hits

Stream Disney Hits to hear the top songs from the biggest Disney and Pixar films. 

Disney Favorites

Like Disney Hits, Disney Favorites will have everyone’s favorite current tunes, plus the ones you loved when you were a child. (You’ve still got a friend in me.)

Disney Classics

Kick back with Disney Classics, a nostalgic playlist that includes songs from the Disney Parks, live action and animated classic soundtracks, and songs from Disney Channel originals movies.

Disney Sing-Alongs

From the shower to the car, Disney songs that you can’t help but sing-along to. 

Disney Princess                        

From Belle to Cinderella to Ariel to Moana, Disney Princess has the love ballads as well as the coming-of-age breakaways.

Marvel Music

All the best songs and scores from all your favorite Marvel films and shows.

The Best of Star Wars 

Enter, Darth Vader.

Stay tuned for more of your favorites — the Disney Hub will be updated with additional content as it roars across the screen this summer and throughout the year.

Update December 12, 2019: The Disney Hub has also launched in Japan.

Update January 22, 2020: The Disney Hub has also launched in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Update March 22, 2021: The Disney Hub has also launched in India.

Five Ways Music Can Help You Keep the Kids Entertained this Winter

January 15, 2019

If you’re a parent in the grips of cold winter weather, you may be feeling the strain of keeping kids happy, especially when they’re forced to be inside. But there’s no need to pull your hair out just yet—here are five ideas for using music to keep kids entertained when they’re feeling cooped up:

Make a Playlist (or ten)!

From as young as age one, kids tend to be exposed to popular music in some form or another, whether through lively Kidz Bop covers, TV shows, viral videos, or what their parents are listening to. And it doesn’t take long for your little ones to figure out—and express—what they like and don’t like. Building a playlist with your kids is not only a great way to keep up with what they’re into, but it also lets them know that their preferences count. Make an afternoon of creating multiple playlists to suit different occasions—commuting to school, baking, tidying up, dancing, homework—and let your kids drive the song choices.

You may need to dip into various playlists to throw out recommendations and help guide them, and be sure to include your own song picks, especially if the playlist will be streamed for everyone in the household. This is a great way to subtly teach your kids about songs or artists that are iconic or matter to you. Don’t underestimate even the youngest of kids; The Beatles’ “Blackbird” can be interesting to a four-year-old.

Make a Musical

Bring out the budding Andrew Lloyd Webbers and Lin-Manuel Mirandas in your household by having the kids come up with their own musical. Select a group of songs the kids can link together by acting out a scene or two in between tracks.

If your kids have seen Moana twenty-eight times and love it, maybe they’d love to recreate the movie by following the film’s soundtrack (incidentally, the most-streamed songs in Spotify’s popular Disney Hits playlist are Moana songs “You’re Welcome” and “How Far I’ll Go.”) (Tip: Dining chairs pushed together make a great boat.) But it doesn’t have to be a familiar plot; you can also choose four to five random, unrelated songs and challenge them to stitch the tracks together.

Raid the Kitchen; Make Some Noise

We admit this is a noisy one, but it’s fun. Dig out kitchen objects that could work as percussive instruments: pots and pans and wooden spoons, a sealed container filled with rice … you get the idea. Have the kids play around with the different sounds they can make— beating an overturned wooden salad bowl like a bongo is a good one—and when they have the idea, encourage them to play their kitchen instruments along to music. Lean on instrumental pieces for this one: There’s some great African drum music for inspiration, and a track like “Sing, Sing, Sing” from legendary bandleader Benny Goodman is on point. Not only does this (sometimes deafening!) activity help kids identify rhythm and beat, it gives them a sense of what it’s like to actually make music rather than just listen to it.

Paint by Music

Music gets the creative juices flowing, as does painting. So why not pair the two art forms together? Set up a dedicated area and have the kids expressively paint to music. Whether finger painting, splattering Jackson Pollock-style or using a good, old-fashioned paintbrush, let the tunes act as a guide to inform and inspire your kids’ artwork. And if your place winds up looking like a musical festival rolled into town, turn to the “Cleanup Song” to encourage the kids to help tidy up. (Good luck!)   

Throw a Dance Party

Little kids love to dance, so get them to work off some energy or get “the sillies” out with a dance party at home. Start by setting up: move the coffee table out of the way for more space, and set up a snack area. Maybe the kids could even make posters revealing the name or theme of the party, as well as invitations for friends and neighbors. Dress up! Work together on what music everyone will boogie to by making a dance-themed playlist, then crank it. For inspo: The most popular Kidz Bop songs on Spotify are “Shake It Off,” “Uptown Funk,” and “Havana”—all good songs to move to. Playing freeze dance is always a great way to keep kids on their toes. You could also deejay and take song requests from everyone to keep them engaged.

Ready to get started? Check out Spotify’s Sing Along playlist for some kid-friendly tunes that’ll have your little ones belting out in no time.