Tag: Event Recap

Spotify Turns Up the Volume on Spain’s Nuevo Urbano Scene

October 7, 2026

A crowd of fans cheering for artists at nuevo urbano

Nuevo urbano is a sound—and culture—all its own. With genre-blurring beats and strong sense of community, the scene has gained momentum in recent years, along with a loyal fanbase in its home country of Spain and beyond. Last night, Spotify brought the energy of nuevo urbano 2026 to life at Sala Shôko in Madrid, gathering fans alongside the artists and producers shaping the country’s rising music scene.

“Our editors connect the dots between the trends that are shaping Spanish music today,” said Melanie Parejo, Head of Music Iberia at Spotify. “They look at what fans are gravitating toward, emerging sounds, and their cultural context. That’s how nuevo urbano ended up on our radar. It’s capturing more listener attention every day, while producers, artists, and the wider music community are influencing one another to create a scene that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”

Guests at the event got an in-depth look at the genre with Spotify Iberia Editorial Lead, Darío Manrique, and Spain Editor, Mónica Madridejos, followed by a lively panel featuring Melanie Parejo, Nadia Leal, journalist at Neo2 magazine, artists Metrika, Kristina, and l0rna, and producer Rico Rosa. Together, they explored the scene’s evolution and the influences remixing the genre today.

Then it was time to turn up the volume. Kristina, C. Marí, Juicy BAE, Xiyo, and Fernandezz hit the stage with performances that got the crowd on its feet.

Spotify House Seoul 2026 Brought Four Days of Music and Discovery to Seongsu

September 21, 2026

A group of performers standing on stage at Spotify House Seoul

Last week, Spotify turned up the volume in Seoul once again. From September 10 through 13, Spotify House Seoul returned to Anderson C in Seongsu for its biggest edition yet.

Set in one of Seoul’s most vibrant creative venues, this year’s Spotify House was a four-day celebration packed with live performances and expanded daytime programming to bring the best of Spotify and Korean music to life, both onstage and beyond.

Inside the lineup

Spotify House Seoul kicked off with a night celebrating the growing connection between electronic music and K-Pop. Artist, producer, and DJ Diplo led the lineup alongside RIIZE, the first K-Pop boy group selected as a Spotify RADAR Korea artist, plus RESCENE and Yves.

“Spotify has been part of my journey for a long time, and I’ve always loved how it helps music travel, reaching new listeners and connecting people,” said Diplo. “Getting to bring that relationship into the real world at Spotify House Seoul and share that energy with fans here made this one really special.”

Spotify Puts Fans in Control of the Setlist at Fête de la Musique Celebration in Paris

June 29, 2026

Artist performing in from of the Bastille

In France, there’s one day a year where instead of going to the show, the show comes to you, wherever you are. It’s the Fête de la Musique (World Music Day), a 40-year-old tradition where music takes over every city, town, and village across the country. This year, Spotify put a new spin on the celebration by handing the reins directly to the fans.

On June 21, we popped up on the iconic Place de la Bastille in Paris for Fan de la Musique, a free concert built on a simple but powerful idea: What if the fans were in control?

Throughout the event, the night’s soundtrack was created in real time for the fans, by the fans. Literally: a scannable QR code displayed on stage allowed the audience to vote on the next track and collectively shape the energy of the evening.

The lineup was a celebration of French music’s vibrant present and future, with DJ sets and live performances by Ronisia, Tiakola, Adèle Castillon, and miki. RnBoi delivered some of his biggest hits, while CRYSTALLMESS and Jeune Morty played back-to-back in an eclectic set.

As the night went on, surprise performances from Eva, Miimii KDS, and Théodora kept the crowd buzzing, all culminating in an electrifying finale by Kalash.

Songwriter and Author RuthAnne Reflects on Her Artistic Journey at a Career Milestone

June 23, 2026

Two people standing at the head of a dinner table

In 2006, JoJo’s “Too Little Too Late” climbed the charts, winning over fans and critics alike. It was a career‑defining moment for the artist, but also for the song’s writer, RuthAnne, who was all of 17 years old. The track has amassed more than 379 million streams on Spotify in the 20 years since and remains a timeless pop anthem.

That was just the beginning for RuthAnne, whose songwriting credits span over 140 tracks that have amassed nearly 6.9 billion streams. She was the creative force behind hits for an incredible lineup of artists including Niall Horan, Britney Spears, Martin Garrix, Bebe Rexha, One Direction, aespa, Avicii, John Legend, Tiësto, Pixie Lott, Westlife, Kelly Clarkson, Diana Ross, and Måneskin.

And she doesn’t just write music: Last year, she also published a book about songwriting, “It’s Not Just A Song.”

Her top-five streamed tracks alone account for 4.44 billion streams, led by two Billions Club members: “In the Name of Love” by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha, and “Slow Hands” by Niall Horan.

Last week in London, Spotify hosted an event that served as a celebration of creativity in the U.K. and Ireland, bringing together leaders from the policy world and the arts, and included a fireside chat between RuthAnne and Spotify’s Global Chief Public Affairs Officer, Dustee Jenkins.

Ryan Castro Celebrates His Roots and Global Rise With Fans in Bogotá

June 15, 2026

This past weekend, Spotify brought Ryan Castro back to Bogotá for a special celebration with some of his biggest fans. The night paid tribute to the Medellín-born artist’s roots, the connection he’s built with his audience, and the stories that have earned him the title of EL CANTANTE DEL GHETTO (“The Singer From the Ghetto”).

The show took fans on a journey through the songs that have shaped his rise to become one of the biggest names in Latin music today. He opened the night with early tracks “Wasa Wasa,” “MONASTERY,” and “Jordan”—music that took him from local stages to listeners around the world.

The set moved through hits that helped cement his place as one of Colombian reggaetón’s most influential voices, including “GHETTO STAR,” “Amor De Una Noche,” and “QUEMA.” Later, “EL RITMO QUE NOS UNE,” his collaboration with the Colombian football team, became a moment of unity during the season and a reminder of music’s power to bring communities together.

But the night wasn’t only about nostalgia. As a surprise for the crowd, Ryan debuted “BRINCAITO” an unreleased song to give fans an exclusive first listen to the next chapter of his story.

Spotify House 2026: All the Can’t-Miss Moments From CMA Fest

June 12, 2026

Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line performs onstage at Spotify House during CMA Fest 2026 - Day 2 at Ole Red on June 05, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Spotify House returned to CMA Fest for its seventh year, taking over Nashville’s Ole Red from June 4-6. Curated by the team behind Hot Country, the event brought together some of the genre’s biggest stars alongside breakout and emerging artists. From headline-making collaborations to first listens and special fan moments, here are a few of our favorite highlights.

Duets and surprise sets

One of the weekend’s biggest surprises came when Florida Georgia Line members Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley reunited onstage to perform hits like “Cruise” and “This Is How We Roll.”

Elsewhere, Ashley McBryde was joined by Melissa Etheridge for a duet of “I’m The Only One,” while Vincent Mason welcomed STELLA LEFTY to the stage, where the couple performed “Something To Lose.”

The star-studded lineup continued throughout the event with surprise performances from Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton. Shaboozey closed things out with a surprise appearance from Kevin Powers.

Spotify and Vogue Celebrate Music and Culture in Mexico City

April 24, 2026

In the heart of Mexico City, music, culture, and fashion converged last night as Spotify and Vogue Latin America welcomed guests to an intimate gathering at Soho House. Mexico City listens to more music on Spotify than any other city in the world, making it the perfect place to celebrate as we turned 20.

Hosted by Dustee Jenkins, our Global Chief Public Affairs Officer, and Mia Nygren, our General Manager in Latin America, alongside Karla Martínez de Salas, Head of Content at Vogue Latin America, the event brought together a dynamic mix of the region’s creative voices.

Guests including Willy Chavarría, Paulina Dávila, Dario Yazbek, Montserrat Messeguer, Majo Aguilar, Azul Guaita, Cynthia Buttenklepper, Fernanda Millán, Sofi Newton, Karina Galicia, Raquel Chaves, Fernanda Lecona, and Jessica Díaz gathered over cocktails and local flavors, with conversation flowing throughout the evening. A set by DJ Escuby kept the energy going on the dance floor.

From Page to Stage: Spotify Celebrates Storytelling at the LA Times Festival of Books

April 22, 2026

This past weekend, Spotify was at the heart of the largest literary event in the U.S.: the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. As the presenting sponsor of the Audiobook and Podcast Stage on the USC campus, we spent April 18 and 19 celebrating the authors, stories, and fans that make up book culture. From mainstage panels to an invite-only party with Rick Ross, the event highlighted our belief that great stories deserve to be heard, shared, and experienced across multiple formats. It was also a chance to bring the Spotify experience into the real world and connect storytellers with fans.

Center stage with leading authors

The Spotify Audiobook and Podcast Stage hosted discussions with two of today’s most exciting authors.

First, we explored how a single story can build a universe of fans across different mediums

with Remarkably Bright Creatures author Shelby Van Pelt and film director Olivia Newman. Moderated by Spotify Senior Audiobooks Editor Zack Knoll, the panel examined how a story evolves as it moves from page to audiobook to a highly anticipated Netflix film.

Then, on Sunday, we welcomed S.A. Cosby, the New York Times bestselling author known for “Southern noir” crime fiction, for a discussion on storytelling in the digital age. Moderated by David Dastmalchian, host of the video podcast Grave Conversations, the panel explored the creative process and what it means to connect with readers in an era of audiobooks, podcasts, and social media. Cosby’s work shows that great storytelling transcends any single format, finding new audiences and new life through audio.

BTS and Spotify Bring ‘ARIRANG’ to Top Fans in New York City

March 25, 2026

BTS is so back. This week, the global pop superstars took the stage at New York City’s Pier 17 for their first U.S. performance in four years.

Part of Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE, a global series of immersive live events, the night was a celebration of the band’s latest album, ARIRANG. The setlist featured new tracks including “2.0,” “SWIM,” and “NORMAL.” And even though the album has been out for less than a week, the crowd—made up of more than 1,000 of BTS’ top local fans on Spotify—was already singing along.

After the show, the group sat down with Suki Waterhouse for a Q&A, sharing exclusive insights into the making of the album and their return to music.

Check out photos from the night below.

Spotify Doubles Down on Investments in Australian Fan Discovery of Homegrown Aussie Talent

March 3, 2026

Spotify had an energizing week in Sydney, Australia, filled with powerful conversations and moments uniting leaders across government, music, and the broader creative community. Spotify’s leadership reinforced the incredible growth Australian artists are seeing on Spotify, doubled down on Spotify’s commitment to the Australian music industry, and discussed new ways to unlock opportunities for local creatives.

Helping Aussie artists build sustainable careers at home and abroad

Australian artists are seeing life-changing support from fans on Spotify. Nearly half of Australians use Spotify, and they’re among our most engaged listeners globally. In 2025 alone, local fans streamed Australian artists 223 million more times on Spotify than the year before.

Overall, Spotify is the single biggest payer to the Australian music industry, paying out AUD $330 million to Australian music rightsholders in 2025. That represents a 7% year-over-year increase in royalties for Australian artists from Spotify. Approximately half of that went to independent artists and labels.

More Australian artists than ever are building sustainable careers through streaming on Spotify. Today, more than 370 Australian artists earn over $100,000 annually from Spotify alone, double the number from 2017. Australian music is also traveling further than ever, with Australian artists getting discovered 2.7 billion times globally by first-time listeners. This export factor helps Australian artists turn listeners worldwide into lifelong fans.

Consistently investing in Australia’s homegrown talent

This growth reflects Spotify’s sustained investment in initiatives like Turn Up Aus, RADAR, and EQUAL, alongside the continuous work of our Australian editorial team. They’re the people discovering and spotlighting local talent across playlists like Hot Hits Australia, Turn Up Aus, New Music Friday, Heaps Country, A1, and more.

Alongside our partnership with the ARIA Awards in commemorating Australia’s top talent, we announced this week a new AUD $200,000 commitment and multi-year partnership between Turn Up Aus and The Push to elevate the next generation of Aussie artists. We’ll help The Push—Australia’s leading youth music organization—create pathways for local artists and industry leaders, investing not only in today’s talent but also in the future of the country’s creative economy.

To celebrate the partnership, we gathered with The Push alumni, industry guests, and artists Robert Baxter, Suzi, and MAY-A (our newest addition to RADAR Australia) for a night of music, conversation, and delicious pizza.

Spotify and Coca-Cola Saddle Up for a Rhinestone Cowboy Experience at the Houston Rodeo

March 3, 2026

Spotify is back on the ground for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and we’re once again teaming up with Coca-Cola to create an exciting experience for fans within the Coca-Cola Soda Shoppe. The space is a destination for attendees to celebrate all things cowboy and the vibrant culture of modern country.

This year’s theme is “Rhinestone Cowboy,” with a look inspired by the colors of Coca-Cola’s cherry-flavored lineup and the new, limited-edition Cherry Float. The activation also coincides with the 40th anniversary of Cherry Coke. Inside, the space features immersive experiences, free samples, unique photo moments, and even exclusive meet and greets with some of today’s most exciting artists, starting with J Balvin.

Fans Enter Bad Bunny’s Universe at Spotify’s Immersive Experience in São Paulo

February 24, 2026

Last weekend, São Paulo buzzed with energy as Bad Bunny took the stage for two nights of performances. The concerts marked the first time the Puerto Rican star, and Spotify’s 2025 Global Top Artist, performed in Brazil. To honor the occasion, Spotify unveiled an immersive “De Puerto Rico Pa’l Mundo” (“From Puerto Rico to the World”) experience that brought Bad Bunny’s 2025 album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, to life.

Fans, creators, and press explored a physical interpretation of the album’s themes. Each meticulously designed space reflected key elements of its sonic journey, inviting attendees inside Bad Bunny’s universe. The concept, previously brought to life in Mexico and Colombia, proved that the power of Bad Bunny transcends borders.