Tag: EQUAL

Spotify Kicks Off International Women’s Day With Love Letters, Playlists From Gender Equity Advocacy Organizations, and New Music Created Exclusively by Women

March 8, 2022

Today, Spotify is celebrating International Women’s Day by sharing the music and stories of women creators, artists, activists, and nonprofits around the world. The music, lyrics, and voices coming from women in the industry and beyond are complex and vibrant—something we’re amplifying for our listeners this month through the creation of platform initiatives, release of new music created entirely by women, and off-platform support of nonprofits. 

New playlists and a refreshed EQUAL hub

Spotify is starting off International Women’s Day With Love, a podcast playlist series created in partnership with social impact agency Invisible Hand with production support by Pod People. With Love celebrates and honors 24 women who share “love letters” to their past selves or to a key supporter who changed their lives during a pivotal moment in time. There will be three playlists: one for Artists, one for Storytellers, and one for Changemakers. Artists like Fefe Dobson and Pyra, songwriters like Jennifer Decilveo and Kuinvi, creators like Munroe Bergdorf and Rintik Sedu, and activists like Dominique Morgan and Lauren Wasser all share their stories in the collection playlists. These personal anecdotes of wisdom, gratitude, and compassion spotlight the vast landscape of what it means to be a woman and the outsized impact that women have in the world.

Spotify is also highlighting five global nonprofits focused on gender equity by amplifying each nonprofit’s own curated playlist themed around the voices of the communities they serve. Organizations include:

In addition to spotlighting these organizations on the platform, Spotify will be giving donations to each of them to support their critical work.

The With Love and nonprofit playlists will all live on the EQUAL Global Hub, which continues to be a one-stop destination for listeners who want to discover music from emerging women artists. 

This month, the hub is getting a new look and feel and will be available in new markets, including those in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan. It will also include an EQUAL Arabia playlist from MENA and EQUAL Pakistan. Both are the latest markets to join EQUAL.

EQUAL x Spotify Singles

In addition to these playlists, listeners can find brand-new music on the EQUAL Global Hub. EQUAL and Spotify Singles, two of Spotify’s innovative music programs, are uniting to bring listeners recordings from an incredible slate of emerging women artists.

EQUAL fosters equity for women in the music and audio space and has helped highlight the careers of women around the world. Spotify Singles, which launched in 2017, gives artists an opportunity to record new versions of their own songs, songs of artists they love, or an original song. Since its launch almost six years ago, tracks from the program have collectively hit over 5 billion streams.

For International Women’s Day, the two programs collaborated to produce three songs created exclusively by women—from the production to the recording to the engineering. 

Ethel Cain, whose music reflects on her upbringing as a backwoods churchgoer in the deep South and who is Spotify’s first-ever transgender EQUAL ambassador, took this moment to cover Britney Spears’s 2003 hit “Everytime.” Produced by Ethel and recorded in Los Angeles, the harmonica-backed cover of the iconic ballad with its haunting, acoustic guitar  puts her wide-ranging, layered vocals at the forefront. 

“I’ve always loved this song and immediately knew I could take Britney’s melodies and make something super dreamy with it,” shared Ethel. “I usually record alone at home, so working in the Spotify studio with all the synths and old vintage gear was a really special and fun experience. I think Britney wrote a very lovely song, and it was an honor to put my spin on it.”

Mexican composer, singer, songwriter, and producer Bruses took to the studio in Monterrey, Mexico, with producer Daniela Mendez to record her own unique spin on Spice Girls’ “Wannabe.” Known for her Latin-inspired indie-pop sound, Bruses brings girl power front and center in this single. 

“For me, the most important thing with this song as a fan was to respect the original essence. It’s one of those hits that last a lifetime; it’s a classic,” explained Bruses. “In this version we add a bit of rock and punk, especially in the chorus. I always imagined that part a little heavier, so we added some electric guitars, and it was from the little we recorded; the rest is sampled. It is very much directed towards electronic music or pop.”

South Korea’s SUNMI gives fans an all-new original track, titled “Oh Sorry Ya.” Created in collaboration with the Los Angeles-based songwriting duo, LYRE, the song kicks off with a swell of new-wave synths in a shadowy minor key before building to bubblegum pop perfection with a huge, infectious chorus that still has hints of darkness beneath. 

“It was a huge honor being part of Spotify’s EQUAL project, and I really hope that fans and listeners worldwide enjoy, get inspired, by this track,” said SUNMI. “Team LYRE and I have put a lot of thought into producing this multidimensional track together. It’s truly ‘created by women’ and hopefully loved by everyone.”

If you want to hear more from SUNMI, check out Spotify’s Mic Check episode, where the K-Pop artist shares more about her new single and opens up to us about the family tragedy that brought her to the music industry. 

EQUAL Collective brings off-platform support

Last year, Spotify launched the EQUAL Collective, bringing together a group of nonprofit organizations from around the world that are focused on furthering gender equity in music. These 14 organizations were given an opportunity to collaborate together on new ideas to help reach more women creators and further their work.

This year, for International Women’s Day, Spotify is excited to announce that we are awarding two teams, composed of four organizations, a grant of $50,000 in order to bring the following concepts to life:

  • Femme Africa and P_ssy Party are helping solve for representation of women creators in Africa by developing a curriculum and online directory to connect creators within the industry.
  • MEWEM (France) and MIM (Spain) partnered together to develop the MEWEM Golden Ticket, a concept that will award eight women entrepreneurs from across Europe free access to international professional festivals to pitch their own projects and new ideas, develop their businesses, and meet future partners within a high-level network.

Year-round, Spotify aims to celebrate the incredible impact that women have on the world. This month, we are excited to bring front and center for listeners new music and new playlists from women.

Celebrate International Women’s Day by listening to songs entirely written, produced, and performed by female songwriters on Spotify’s Created by Women playlist below.

Spotify’s Progress Toward Racial Equity: Reflections, Commitments, and Updates for the Year Ahead From Elizabeth Nieto and Spotify’s Equity and Impact Team

February 28, 2022

Each year, as Spotify celebrates Black History Month, we are offered an opportunity to take stock of how we are doing as a company when it comes to our work in the pursuit of racial equity. This February marks my first as Spotify’s Global Head of Equity & Impact, and it comes at a time when the company has faced new challenges as we learn and grow and the landscape evolves around us.

Making real and sustained progress has never been easy. Spotify understands the need for hard work, true reflection, and real accountability and we view our anti-racism efforts as an ongoing journey as we strive to live our values, both internally and externally. We are committed to fighting systemic racism and doubling down as this work advances. And while we still have plenty to do, we are making progress. That’s why, at each step of the way, we are looking to partners, employees, and creators to help guide our actions for the long term. 

We also understand the need to regularly communicate the progress we’ve made and identify actions that will build upon it in the years ahead. As we close out Black History Month in the U.S., we recognize the need to do more to combat racism around the world. 

So today, members of the Equity and Impact team—that’s me, Elizabeth Nieto, alongside Travis Robinson, Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, and Christopher Kenny, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Lead, Racial Equity Strategy—are sharing updates of both work we’ve done and work that’s underway across our global markets in the pursuit of racial equity. 

This is but a snapshot of our focus areas in our ongoing commitment to fostering an anti-racist culture at Spotify. And while we know we are not perfect, we remain unwavering in our approach and commitment to making meaningful change and progress as a company. 

With gratitude,

Elizabeth, Travis, and Christopher 

Deepening dynamic relationships with racial equity partners

We continue to collaborate with our external racial equity partners to inform how we can best leverage our brand and platform to mitigate systemic racism. Those conversations will inform our strategies for the year ahead and beyond. As one example, we support the healing and growth of our Spotify community through our partnership with Brooklyn Minds, a mental health organization. Brooklyn Minds facilitates sessions for employees who’ve been impacted by racial trauma. We also provide individualized support through our employee assistance program.

Focusing on giving to organizations with measured impact for the Black community

As we shared last April, Spotify’s Racial Equity Donations & Giving Program has committed $10 million—including the matching of $3 million from Spotify employee donations around the world—to over 300 organizations. The remaining $7 million has been donated to more than 15 organizations dedicated to inspiring, connecting, and elevating the next generation of Black voices and creators. This will be an annual commitment through our Racial Equity Donations & Giving Program. We also recently announced the creation of 28 scholarships to Black HBCU students, in partnership with UNCF (the United Negro College Fund).

Formalizing Spotify’s Creator Investment Fund

Over the last several years, Spotifiers have built initiatives to identify, support, nurture, amplify, and celebrate the many voices of creators who deserve to be heard. Much more must be done to further this existing body of work, which is where our recently announced $100 Million Creator Investment Fund comes in. It’s important that we continue to create new avenues of support to champion artists, songwriters, and podcast creators from diverse backgrounds. Spotify can help them build their own businesses by establishing passionate fan bases and substantially growing their reach.

There’s great excitement for this work, with many ideas and questions about next steps we must take. While it’s critical to move swiftly, we also understand it will take time to get this work right. Spotifiers from teams including Music, Podcasting, and Equity & Impact are co-developing plans and working closely alongside our creator and industry partners for input. We’ll share early plans with our ERGs (employee resource groups) for their input and further refinement.

We have identified an initial list of the existing programs and opportunities where we think these funds can be put to work quickly, including adding incremental support to the ongoing work of Frequency, Sound Up, EQUAL, and Pride, among others. Additionally, we will dedicate talent and resources to help lead this global effort. We will work with internal teams and outside organizations to establish new programs focused on areas such as studio space, creator tools, marketing and PR support, coaching, and mentorship.

Expanding and scaling our current Black creator and consumer engagement brands

Last May, when Spotify launched Frequency—our global initiative and holistic destination for celebrating Black art, entertainment, creativity, culture, and community both on- and off-platform—we did so with a mission to create a space that represents the wide spectrum of Black artistry. Since then, listeners have tuned into Frequency music playlists like Ripple Effect and House Party and learned from the Heard You podcast playlist. We’re committed to celebrating and uplifting Black culture, creativity, and community year-round, with special emphasis on the month of February in honor of Black History Month in the U.S. This year, we’ve created a space to celebrate the multidimensionality of Black listeners, artists, and creators to truly encompass the breadth of Black creativity. 

We recognize the need to do a better job of cascading these stories to a broader audience and will continue to scale our approach to our work of promoting Black stories and experiences. For example, we’ll amplify the great Black creators who are sharing stories that resonate with the community, like the Spotify original Who We Be TALKS_ from the U.K.

2020 Equity & Impact Report and 2021 restructuring

Our 2020 Sustainability, Equity & Impact Report charted the meaningful progress we’ve made through our cross-functional Spotify Racial Equity Coalition, alignment to our BLK 5-Star strategy, and expansion of the work of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in a variety of ways. But it was only a first step in measuring our work and impact.

So in 2021 we restructured our organization to bring together three existing teams: Social Impact; Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging; and Sustainability. We did this because we believe in the power of our people, their stories, and the impact we have as a platform to imagine and deliver a sustainable future that is welcoming for all in a world that’s centered on justice, equity, and environmental sustainability. We’re seeing greater synergy and collaboration as a unified approach across our three groups. The cohesion of the team is reflected in our Sustainability, Equity & Impact report. 

Continuing anti-racism education and inclusive storytelling training internally

We launched inclusive storytelling training and education within Spotify’s Marketing, Music, and Podcasting Creator teams in 2021 and continue to conduct key diversity, equity, and inclusion  sessions monthly. Within our Studios organization, efforts are underway to establish greater creator representation and also partner with anti-racism practitioners to train and educate all employees. We plan to relaunch our formal anti-racism training for employees this year.

Expanding our focus on inclusive hiring and workforce development

While we have seen progress in our Black employee representation in the U.S. over the last four years (3.7% in 2017 to 9% by end of 2021), we are working on driving the same level of advancement toward diverse representation in our leadership ranks. In late 2021, we launched an inclusive hiring training course for all interviewers and hiring teams. Topics covered within this training are associated with anti-racism, microaggressions, bias, and other relevant diversity, equity, and inclusion conversations. In deep partnership with our Talent Acquisition team, the Inclusive Hiring team has also curated related sourcing and diversity recruiting partnerships that focus on greater visibility and identifying better ways of attracting talent to Spotify from underrepresented communities.

In 2022, we’ve been working hard to expand our inclusive hiring goals for racial diversity in the U.S. but have also begun the process of identifying areas of improvement in ethnic diversity in key markets globally. For instance, we are working to identify greater ways to increase Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation in our U.K. workforce. We will launch a workforce development conference for our Black Spotifiers across EMEA. In addition, in a few weeks we will launch our first-ever Global Belonging Week for all Spotifiers. This will feature global diversity, equity, and inclusion content, training and education for all band members to learn and also provide for localized “pass the mic” sessions where employees in specific offices will discuss topics such as anti-racism, intersectionality, and meaningful change.

SIMONA, EQUAL Ambassador of the Month, Shares the Moments That Bring Her Confidence

February 14, 2022

When it comes to artistic prowess, Argentine-born SIMONA is a quintuple threat. She’s a singer, songwriter, and trained dancer, and she even dabbles in wardrobe design and beat-making, the latter of which plays a starring role in her music. 

The artist hails from the Andes Mountains of Argentina, but in 2017, she relocated to the seaside shores of Barcelona to pursue music full-time. While SIMONA’s beats and melodies are lively and upbeat, her Spanish lyrics reflect more complicated emotions that keep fans coming back for more. She credits her grandmother, a poet, for the inspiration behind her wistful, introspective verses. 

This month, SIMONA is reaching even more listeners around the globe as Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month—part of Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program that aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying the work of women creators globally. After sharing her music as Spain’s EQUAL Ambassador, this new role makes SIMONA the face of Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist, and her song “SHUT UP,” with Lee Eye and Blackthoven, is featured front and center. 

For the Record asked SIMONA to share more about her music inspirations and advice for other artists.

The artists who have inspired me the most are __.

I’m so thankful to have grown up listening to the music of great female artists like Rita Lee, Björk, Mala Rodríguez, Sade, Madonna, Eydie Gormé. Also M.I.A., Solange, Kali Uchis and Yaeji, to name a few of the contemporary performers that inspire me. And especially my musician girlfriends back home in Argentina, Anyi and LUPE.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is __.

Trust your authentic self and your artistic visions. Be loyal to your original ideas, and be decisive when making decisions about the production of your own music. Know that each of us is special and has something unique to show. Honor your ideas and the art you put so much love into. 

One notable moment in my career so far is __.

When I co-produced my single “TE VEO,” I realized the power of my art by being able to be fully present in the production of my music. I enjoyed the process so much; it gave me a boost of confidence to carry on materializing my ideas. 

My creative process consists of __.

Listening to what’s deep inside of me. My creative process is very slow because I like living through it! It doesn’t really happen everyday, but when it does happen, it’s truly magical. 

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is __.

Establishing a quota of female and nonbinary or transgender participation in every major music festival. We want to see more women working in every area: recording studios, record labels, production companies, etc. 

Some up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are __.

LUPE, Anyi, Park Hye Jin, Amaarae, Shygirl . . . watch out for these girls! 

My girl-power anthem right now is __.

“Vaca Profana” by Brazilian legend Gal Costa.

Ready to discover SIMONA and other women artists around the world? Blast Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist here. 

Manizha Shares Her Vision for Gender Equity in the Music Industry as EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

January 24, 2022

Singer-songwriter Manizha is a strong proponent of using her voice for change. Her up-tempo, Tajik- and folk-inspired beats and eclectic art-pop aesthetic have been the defining characteristics of her music for almost a decade. But Manizha really got people talking during the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 when she seized the opportunity to champion the causes she is most passionate about—including preventing LGBTQUIA+ discrimination and domestic abuse. Her song “RUSSIAN WOMAN,” a girl-power anthem about the transformation of women’s roles in Russia, landed her ninth place in the competition.

Earlier this month, she became the face of Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist and joined the EQUAL Global Music Program, which aims to combat gender inequality in the music industry. As part of the program, Manizha also recorded her newest single, “Now or Never”—a cover of  the traditional folk song “See-Line Woman,” popularized by Nina Simone—through the Spotify Singles program. The song is Russia’s first Spotify Singles release and will be available on January 28.

Manizha was born in Tajikistan and lived there until the height of the Tajikistani Civil War in 1994, when she fled to Moscow and began studying music and participating in children’s singing competitions. In 2016, she began recording music as a solo artist, and in 2020, she was announced as a Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Manizha speaks out regularly against unattainable beauty standards for women, and at a recent concert, she removed her makeup and handed out wipes to audience members who wanted to follow her lead. 

Fans may spot Manizha on a billboard in Times Square, New York, this month, but in the meantime, we got to ask her about her career highlights, musical inspirations, and vision for the future of women in music. 

     

The artists who have most inspired me are _____.

Björk, Nina Simone, and Tanita Tikaram.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____ .

Before doing what you’re told, think first, and then say, “Hell no, I’m keeping it the way I want it!”

One notable moment in my career so far is _____.

My first big solo show in Moscow!

My creative process consists of _____.

Finding new ways to be more honest in music.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.

Not following the stereotypes of beauty, maintaining your own individuality, and not conforming to the majority or whomever.

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are _____.

Ama Lou, Celeste, and Tierra Whack.

My girl-power anthem is _____.

“Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn.

Want to turn up the volume? Listen to new music from Manizha and other women music artists from around the world on our EQUAL Global playlist. 

Italy’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month, Annalisa, Speaks Out on Her Country’s Music Gender Gap

January 6, 2022

As Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month, Italian singer-songwriter Annalisa is ready to support, inspire, and empower fellow female artists in Italy and around the world. In fact, the popular performer recently joined a panel at Milano Music Week 2021 where she discussed the importance of closing the gender gap in Italy’s music scene.

The panel—which included music industry leaders such as Federica Tremolada, Managing Director Southern & Eastern Europe at Spotify—addressed a recent report presented by Spotify Italy that assessed the country’s gender disparities. Spotify’s research found that women represent only 14% of the total artists on Italy’s official music charts, and for every four male artists there is just one female artist. “There is still a lot to do in the music industry,” said Annalisa. “The work of a woman artist is difficult and laborious. But the more we talk about these issues, the more progress we make for the future.”

Enzo Mazza, Federica Tremolada, Annalisa, Dario Giovannini, and Francesca Delogu at Milano Music Week

Annalisa’s work and leadership have helped earn her a spot in Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program, an ongoing effort to combat the gender disparity in the music industry globally. The EQUAL campaign extends resources to and generates more opportunities for women artists by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience.

One promising insight from the study is that in the last four years the gender gap has begun to narrow among artists under 30 thanks to streaming. This change is helping fuel Annalisa. “The new generations are showing that gender differences in the music industry are decreasing, but there is still a long way to go,” shared the pop star. “My goal is aimed, above all, at that generation.”

Annalisa at Milano Music Week

“I would like to remind all the EQUAL artists that they are part of a story, and what they are doing today will be essential and relevant for everyone who follows in their footsteps,” she added.

For the Record invited the decorated performer to fill in the blanks on the artists who inspire her and her hopes for the future of the music industry.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Definitely Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and Halsey, but also many great women in the international music scene like Björk and Joni Mitchell.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

I think that the most important thing in the musical industry is the way you nurture your talent. You have to study, listen to other artists, and absorb every kind of inspiration you need to focus your own particular style.

One notable moment in my career so far is ____.

The moment when I wrote one of my most important songs “Il mondo prima di te”—I suddenly felt like it could be a big step forward in my career.

My creative process consists of ____.

I try to share things that I can only explain through music. Sometimes words are not enough, and music is the element that makes a story complete.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

To see the end of judgments on a person’s physical appearance.

One up-and-coming woman artist I’m excited to watch is ____.

I’m excited about the rise of Olivia Rodrigo. I like her so much, and I’m curious to see what she can do in the future.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

“Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé.

Stream Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below to keep amplifying Annalisa and female musicians worldwide:

Logic1000, EQUAL Artist of the Month, Tells Her Story Through Dance Music

December 21, 2021

Logic1000, aka Berlin-based producer Samantha Poulter, may have taken a winding path to the music industry, but she’s blazed a trail for fellow female artists nonetheless. The Australia native’s tracks have quickly climbed the charts, attracted a global listenership, and resonated with top DJs. Her impact on the industry and advocacy for other women artists have also earned her the title of Spotify’s EQUAL Artist of the Month.

Logic1000 began making waves in 2019, when her self-described “feminine and fun” tunes attracted the interest of influential DJ Four Tet, who quickly began to champion the artist’s tracks. The rest is history. Today, the creator’s rhythmic beats draw a monthly listenership of more than 500,000, and she’s celebrating the recent release of her EP In The Sweetness Of You. Her body of work is inspired by her experiences. The artist shared, “My ears have always been drawn to a particular sound throughout my life, and I think the music I make as Logic1000 is an amalgam of all of that. I want many people to hear my music because it is a true reflection of my taste, and I guess in that sense it is a way of ‘telling my story.’”

The latest chapter in her story includes joining Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program. The program, which recently passed its six-month milestone, takes aim at the gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. The ongoing EQUAL campaign extends resources and generates more opportunities for these artists by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience. Logic1000 will also take her place on the cover of our EQUAL Global playlist, giving her more visibility worldwide.

To get to know this creator, For the Record invited Logic1000 to fill in the blanks on her hopes for equity in music, the emerging artists she’s watching, and her long-standing personal anthem.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

[Fellow EQUAL artist] Jorja Smith, Summer Walker, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, and Mazzy Star. 

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

Try your best to be resilient because the industry can be tough at times for women. Don’t give up if you experience misogyny. Use that as fuel to make bigger and better art. Be loud! Be strong, and be humble with your success. 

One notable moment in my career so far ____.

When I released my first EP, Logic1000, a few years ago. At the time, music was a hobby, and I never in a million years thought it could be a career for me. It was such an amazing moment when Four Tet played a track off that EP to a huge crowd at Coachella. It really did open a lot of doors for me. This just proves the importance of bigger artists supporting those who are smaller and up-and-coming.

My creative process consists of ____.

Listening to the music that inspires me during my downtime. I find that doing this every day makes me motivated to be a great musician. It throws a lot of emotion into my body, and I use that as inspiration to make the music I want to make.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

To see women and nonbinary people at the top tier of the music industry. I want them to be making the important decisions. I also want to see artists using their power to make sure lineups are diverse. Maybe this could mean artists have gender and racial diversity quotas that need to be fulfilled by festivals in order for them to accept the offer to play.

One up-and-coming woman artist I’m excited to watch is ____.

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are Erika de Casier, Molly Lewis, and yunè pinku.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

“Jumpin’, Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child. It has been my anthem since I was 14, so it is a long-standing love.

Turn up the volume on Logic1000 and other women creators and stream Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

Looking Back at Spotify’s Greatest Hits in 2021

December 13, 2021

In an all-around unforgettable year, 2021 was an especially notable one for Spotify. We’re excited about what we’ve delivered for creators and listeners alike across new features, innovations, and collaborations. As the year comes to a close, we are taking a moment to look back on some of the advances we’ve made over the past 365 days. 

More listeners in more places

We have more listeners than ever. As we announced in our Q3 2021 earnings, as of September 2021, Spotify had increased the number of monthly active users and subscribers on the platform by 19% compared to 2020*. This year, we also doubled our global footprint by expanding into 92 new markets, bringing our total to 184 markets globally. New countries on our roster include South Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and many more across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. This continued expansion means that the music and voices of more people, places, and cultures can be shared with listeners around the world.

Podcasting for all

At Spotify, we believe that podcasting provides a massive opportunity for creators to entertain, inspire, and inform people across the globe. According to Edison Research and our own internal data, we recently surpassed both Apple and YouTube in the U.S.—the largest podcast market globally—to become the number one podcast platform listeners say they use the most.

The appetite for podcasts has grown among listeners, and we are answering that demand with a catalog that includes 3.2 million titles*. That’s 68% more podcasts (as of September 2021) than were on the platform in 2020. Through November of this year, we launched over 400 new O&E podcasts globally, and throughout the year we signed numerous podcast deals and entered into podcast partnerships with some of the world’s biggest creators and beloved entertainment brands like Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert, The Joe Rogan Experience (the number one podcast in the world), and Bad Robot. But our passion for podcasts isn’t limited to the U.S. This year, we expanded podcasts into more than 80 markets, including Russia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Expanding the possibilities for advertising

When we reported earnings in October, we announced that ad revenue had increased 75% year over year. And in November, we surpassed 1 billion euro in annual ad revenue for the first time. New opportunities were created for advertisers with the launch of the Spotify Audience Network, our first-of-its-kind audio advertising marketplace that enables advertisers to connect with listeners enjoying a broad range of music and podcast content. Advertisers now have a way to reach and target audiences listening to Spotify Original & Exclusive podcasts, as well as third-party podcasts from enterprise publishers via Megaphone and Anchor creators. We’ve also introduced podcast ad buying to Spotify Ad Studio, our self-serve ad channel that makes it easy for advertisers of all sizes to reach podcast listeners.

Supporting both established and breakthrough artists

With over 380 million listeners on the platform, there’s a large audience for artists to share their new releases with. The increase in subscribers has led to many major artists, like Drake and Adele, across various genres breaking Spotify records throughout the year. 

Spotify has also continued efforts to support up-and-coming artists. We expanded our exclusive offerings with Spotify Singles (including Pride, BNA, Latinx Heritage Month, Are & Be, mint, and Holiday programs) and Spotify x Electric Lady live EPs. We’re supporting artists at all levels through programs like Fresh Finds (for independent artists), RADAR (for global emerging artists), EQUAL (which fosters equity for women in music globally) and Billions Club.

But those aren’t the only ways we are pushing the industry when it comes to artists. We also launched Loud & Clear to increase transparency by sharing new data on the global streaming economy. And we expanded our Charts feature to include artist, genre, and local charts. This allows artists and listeners to dive even deeper into the data.

Inspiring and enabling creation

In order to be the best audio network, we know we need to provide the best-in-class experience and content for our listeners. This means new features and new opportunities for creators to connect with their fans. We launched Spotify Greenroom, adding live audio as part of Spotify’s ecosystem and providing yet another opportunity for creators of all types to connect with their fans more deeply and meaningfully. In November we announced the acquisition of Findaway, the global leader in digital audiobook distribution, to accelerate our presence in the audiobook space. We also introduced Spotify Open Access, which allows listeners to hear third-party content on Spotify. Finally, we partnered with beloved brands like Peloton, Netflix, and Delta to bring exclusive experiences and curated playlists to our listeners.

EQUAL Artist of the Month STAYC Encourages Women Artists To Express Themselves

October 29, 2021

Spotify’s EQUAL Global Artist of Month, STAYC, chose their name very carefully. The six-person K-pop group’s moniker is actually an acronym for Star To A Young Culture, a phrase that reflects their goal of dominating pop culture. And so far, they’re well on their way!

With almost 2.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the group is quickly gaining global attention with catchy fan-favorite songs like “STEREOTYPE” and “ASAP.” STAYC’s work has also earned the group accolades, including a nomination for Rookie of the Year at Korea’s 2021 Seoul Music Awards.

Together, STAYC band members Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J create an upbeat sound they describe as “teenfresh,” a term the group has coined to represent their unique blend of youthful, fresh tunes. They explain, “We want to deliver new messages while also delivering a sense of comfort and empathy to listeners, regardless of gender and age.”

The rising stars are the first group from Korea and the first K-pop artist to be on the cover of Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist. They’re also advocates for women artists, calling for continued diversity and opportunity within the industry. For the Record spoke with the EQUAL artist to fill in the blanks and learn more about their creative process and the women creators they admire.

Celebrating Six Months of Amplifying Women Creators Worldwide Through EQUAL

September 27, 2021

Six months ago, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Spotify vowed to turn up the volume on women creators through our EQUAL campaign. Currently, only one in five artists on the charts is a woman, according to the Spotify-funded USC Annenberg study on representation of women in the music industry. This knowledge has helped fuel our commitment to extending our resources and generating more impactful opportunities for women artists. Today marks a milestone of six months in our campaign—something to celebrate and acknowledge as we continue to drive equity for women in audio. 

“Being a female artist requires a lot more effort and dedication to get recognition since, unfortunately, social pressures and sexism are still so present in all spheres of society,” Brazilian artist DUDA BEAT, a featured EQUAL creator, told For the Record. “Hence the great importance of this Spotify initiative, which will enable us as women to have equal representation in the music scene. I’m sure EQUAL will be seen as a milestone in the history of the global music industry for bringing more recognition to talented women from all over the world and making their voices heard.” 

To amplify the voices of our creators, we debuted the EQUAL hub, a one-stop destination highlighting the work of women-identifying artists and podcasters. The centralized location isn’t just for artists, however. It also allows Spotify users to tap into the power of listening to shift the status quo.

And to further support emerging artists across 35 markets, we unveiled our EQUAL Music Program. Through the program, Spotify introduced to listeners around the world 35 EQUAL local playlists, which span 50+ countries, as well as a “best-of” flagship EQUAL Global playlist. The playlists are housed on platform in the EQUAL hub and spotlight local women artists on the rise in 35 markets. Plus, each month, the hub features a rotating Artist of the Month takeover, alongside a refreshed tracklist. We kicked off the program by highlighting 35 inaugural EQUAL creators, including LUNA, Somi, Meryl, and DUDA BEAT, and we have since featured 175 EQUAL Artists of the Month.

Now, we’re taking a look at the results of the EQUAL campaign so far—and renewing our commitment to amplify and celebrate the voices of women creators around the world.

 

It’s clear our EQUAL artists and local playlists have already struck a chord with listeners worldwide. In the first month of joining the program, fans added EQUAL artists to more than 600 different playlists 1,500 times. And after six months, EQUAL playlists have surpassed 29 million streams across 177 markets. 

Plus, since the campaign launched, For the Record has had the chance to speak with Artists of the Month Jorja Smith, Lido Pimienta, and more on their hopes for the future of the music industry. The program has ultimately helped foster a deeper connection between fans and noteworthy women artists and generate new opportunities for visibility.

“Sometimes people ask me about the best, most breakthrough moment of my career,” reflected LUNA. “I’m just at the beginning of my journey, but one event was really important and spectacular. In April 2021 I became a part of Spotify’s EQUAL campaign as the first Polish artist and ambassador supporting women’s rights in the music industry. And as a result, I’ve been featured on a billboard in Times Square! It was just unbelievable! It made me feel like anything is possible.”

We’re proud to support the voices of women creators worldwide, and we’re excited to raise the volume even higher. The work toward an equitable future has only just begun.  

Keep exercising your power to listen, and stream our EQUAL Global playlist now:

Lido Pimienta Brings Her Afro Colombian Roots to Electronic Pop as EQUAL Artist of the Month

July 26, 2021

You may remember Lido Pimienta from our Spotify Singles: Pride playlist back in June. Now, the Grammy-nominated musician, a self-proclaimed “traditional-transgressive punk folklorist,” is back again as Spotify’s EQUAL Global Artist of the Month. 

As a child, Lido immigrated to Canada with her family, where she now lives. She sings in both Spanish and English as she incorporates Afro Colombian sounds and rhythms into her experimental electronic pop. Her music—a mix of velvety smooth cumbia and bullerengue influences and uptempo synthpop—reflects her multifaceted background. 

In 2017, Lido’s unique sound earned her Canada’s top juried music award, the Polaris Music Prize, for her experimental album La Papessa. Fast-forward to 2021 and Lido is part of Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program, which aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry. Her song “Nada,” from the album Miss Colombia, is featured on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist, and as Global Artist of the Month, Lido takes her throne on the cover of the playlist. The program works to amplify the work of women creators around the world through an extension of resources and opportunities. 

For the Record asked Lido to fill in the blanks and give us insight into her inspirations, creative process, and visions for the future of music. 

The artists who have most inspired me are _____. 

Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nelly Furtado, Etelvina Maldonado, Alanis Morissette, Björk, Li Saumet, Aterciopelados, and Petrona Martinez. 

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____ . 

Document everything you create at all times and learn the basics of whatever it is that you love to do. If singing is your thing, learn about the best mics and the gear that will make you sound great, and learn the basics of recording yourself so that you can create your own demos. Always have the blueprint of your creations because, as women in this business, people will dismiss our voices and assume someone else must have made what you created. The best advice of all: Stay away from social climbers! 

One notable moment in my career so far is _____.

Winning the Polaris Music Prize with an album that was entirely in Spanish, without a label and without any kind of representation or PR. It validated my potential and it helped me believe in myself.

My creative process consists of _____.

Cleaning the house, playing with my kids, and walking to the studio while blasting music in my headphones. When I turn on my setup, I do so with gratitude. I also pull up my schedule so that I start working with a very clear agenda of what needs to be finished. I get the administrative and non-creative work out of the way, and then I get to work! Sometimes, if I am tired and don’t feel fully motivated, I will watch a video of a live concert of an artist I like. Or I will watch stuff from artists just so I can see how they perform and what their tech setup is onstage—that usually gets me really inspired. 

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.

If all music festivals, venues, and any other platform with curation or programming power were obligated to book women at a minimum 50/50 rate, it would level the playing field just a tiny bit. Radio and media should have the same rule.

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are _____.

Barbie Perreo, Mabiland and the Red De Tamboreras de Colombia, Las Áñez, La Bruja de Texcoco, Sydanie, Lali De La Hoz, Pelada, LeeLee Yotp, Marie-Gold, Backxwash, Summer Hunting, and Laurence-Anne. 

My girl-power anthem is _____.

“Charlotte” by Kittie. 

Listen to Lido and her fellow women artists on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

Poland’s EQUAL Artist of the Month Hania Rani Composes Music That Lights Up the Soul

July 20, 2021

She’s a neoclassical pianist, musician, singer, composer, and award-winning artist, but Hania Rani’s resume only tells one side of her story. To get the full picture, you have to listen to her music, which features scores of wistful piano touched by sparse vocals and subtle synths. 

Hania grew up in Gdańsk, Poland, and later split her time between Warsaw and Berlin, where she studied piano and gained exposure to jazz and electronic music. Her career includes credits on full-length feature films, performances at iconic European venues, and accolades from across the Polish music industry, including multiple Fryderyk nominations, the country’s equivalent to a Grammy or BRIT award. 

Hania’s reign continues as Poland’s EQUAL artist of the month. Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying the work of women creators globally through an extension of resources and opportunities and by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience. As an EQUAL artist of the month, Hania will also be featured on the program’s bespoke playlist.

For the Record asked Hania to fill in the blanks and share her inspirations, creative process, and hopes for the future of music. 

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

At the end of the day, I have to say that many of the artists who have had a really deep impact on my music are women. I really need to mention names like Agnes Obel, Juana Molina, Martha Argerich, Maria João Pires, and Mica Levi. Watching their creative process is always a huge lesson for me. Apart from these, I also need to mention Nils Frahm, who will always have a very special place in my heart.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

Learn, research, create, and go for things that make the blood in your veins flow a bit faster. Be curious, look deeper, and don’t be satisfied with shallow solutions. Don’t worry about whether something is reserved for women or men. If it interests you deeply, go for it. 

One notable moment in my career so far ____.

Releasing my first solo album, Esja. Everything that has happened afterwards was just a result  of this decision.

My creative process consists of ____.

Improvisation, craft, and intuition. I consider these to be very important elements of music I would like to create, music that is a source of freedom and spontaneity but is also rooted in skills and technique. I search for things that can’t be explained, things that sound intuitive but actually are deeply processed and planned from the craft side. My songs seem effortless but are created as a result of knowledge, experience, and confidence. When composing, I spend a lot of time improvising, recording, and deciding on the motifs worth developing. 

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

Simply seeing girls and women working in the music business and achieving their goals. I am always happy seeing women being awarded, mentioned, seen, and admired—not as an exception or because they are women—but because they delivered to the world a high-quality work of art or their voice played an important role in a discussion. 

One up-and-coming woman artist I’m excited to watch is ____.

Sama’ Abdulhadi! She is an extremely brave and exciting artist from Palestine who is not only producing amazing music, but is also an exceptionally fearless human being. I hope her voice will change more than just the music scene.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

I was always more interested in fragility, empathy, and intensity of sight than the idea of bringing even more power to a world overwhelmed with noise, chaos, and violence. But if my values could have a voice, it would probably be the soft but hypnotizing sound of Melanie De Biasio singing “I’m Gonna Leave You.”

Experience Hania’s unique sound and other women artists on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below: