Tag: France

Miley Cyrus Brings the Party to Paris for Spotify’s Billions Club Live—And a Concert Film Is Coming Soon

June 19, 2025

On Wednesday, Spotify and Miley Cyrus tangoed in Paris during an unforgettable evening: the latest installment of Billions Club Live. The global superstar took the stage for an exclusive performance for her top Spotify Premium listeners in the area, delivering a set packed with some of her most iconic tracks—many of which have surpassed a billion streams on our platform.

Paris was a fitting choice for this one-off event: France consistently ranks among Miley’s top 10 countries for streaming—alongside Brazil, the U.K., and Indonesia. The performance marked Miley’s first concert in the French capital in 11 years, following her Bangerz tour in 2014. Just over 100 fans filled the iconic Maxim’s venue in the heart of the city.

The star opened with “Flowers,” the fastest song ever to reach a billion streams on Spotify. From there, she showcased more iconic tracks from the Billions Club, including “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Angels Like You,” and “The Climb,” which she fused with “We Can’t Stop” for a special medley. She also performed tracks from her new album, Something Beautiful.

While her most dedicated Parisians fans were treated to live renditions of her megahits, fans everywhere will get to experience the show for themselves when Billions Club Live with Miley Cyrus: A Concert Film premieres on Spotify later this summer. The film will include the full Paris performance and behind-the-scenes moments, offering fans everywhere a deeper look at Miley’s artistry and music.

Francophone Content on Spotify Continues to Thrive Around the World

June 16, 2025

On Spotify, francophone content continues to cross borders at an unprecedented rate. In 2024 alone, more than 123 million listeners worldwide streamed audio content in French, whether music, podcasts, or audiobooks. What’s more, 100 million of those listeners were outside of the historically francophone regions of France, Quebec, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

“It’s incredible to see the power of our platform connecting over 100 million fans globally with francophone content. This is more than just a musical trend—it’s a testament to our ability to deliver creativity and fuel discoverability across the globe,” said Gustav Gyllenhammar, Vice President, Markets and Subscriptions at Spotify. “We’re seeing listenership for francophone content explode in markets across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a phenomenal proof point for Spotify’s ability to help artists and creators find their audience, no matter where they are. Spotify offers audio creators from all walks of life, from Québec to West Africa, a global stage, and we’ll continue to support them in growing their audience on our platform.”

Charting the global impact of francophone music

Francophone music in particular remains immensely popular around the world. Every month, more than 64 million hours of music performed in French is streamed from all corners of the globe. French music owes this global success to the wealth of styles it encompasses.

Today, we can hear songs like Indila’s “Dernière danse” resonate in São Paulo, while Gazo and Soolking’s “Casanova” pops up on playlists in Cairo and Patrick Watson’s “Je te laisserai des mots” touches hearts in Seoul. 

Powerful voices like those of Stromae, GIMS, and the “Queen of France,” Aya Nakamura, stand alongside more recent talents like Yamê, whose single “Bécane” was a viral smash hit. This musical diversity, carried by artists from all walks of life, makes the range of expression found in francophone music as vast as it is universal. 

Most-listened-to francophone artists on the platform worldwide:

    1. Stromae
    2. GIMS
    3. Jul
    4. Indila
    5. Patrick Watson
    6. Soolking
    7. Aya Nakamura
    8. Tayc
    9. Gazo
    10. PNL

Expanding beyond borders

Outside of France, artists from Africa are also contributing to the popularity of french music, bringing styles that navigate between local heritages and global influences. From the streets of Abidjan to the studios of Bamako, established artists like Tiken Jah Fakoly, Amadou & Mariam, and Sidiki Diabaté bring the rich musical traditions of their homelands to the world.

Quebec also plays a decisive role in the worldwide demand for french content. With nearly half of Quebec users regularly listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks in French, the province stands out as a major consumer and global exporter of francophone content. Quebecois artists continue to captivate fans both in Canada and abroad, with the likes of Patrick Watson, Les Cowboys Fringants, Charlotte Cardin, and Enima dominating the charts in Quebec, and songs like “Je te laisserai des mots” popping up in more than 6.6 million playlists worldwide last year.

Elevating francophone voices

As the sounds of francophone music seduce the world, podcasts are also reaching attentive ears. Francophone podcasts have seen streams skyrocket by 1,888% since 2019, with shows like The GOAT and LEGEND reaching listeners outside of francophone zones. Alongside those, educational formats like InnerFrench, Little Talk in Slow French, and Easy French are a hit with those who want to learn or perfect their French. Meanwhile, L’Heure du Monde, Canapé Six Places, HugoDécrypte, and Rock & Pop Stories nourish the curiosity of listeners around the world with news, social observations, and pop culture content. 

On average, the francophone podcast is listened to for more than four hours per month by those who do not speak French daily—a constantly increasing figure reflecting a real curiosity for stories and voices from the francophone world.

Top 5 most-listened-to francophone podcasts worldwide:

    1. The GOAT
    2. LEGEND
    3. Little Talk in Slow French
    4. L’Heure du Monde
    5. InnerFrench

Francophone audiobooks are on the rise

French-language audiobooks have only just begun their history on Spotify, but the response from listeners already speaks for itself. Following the launch of Audiobooks in France last October, they have quickly found their audience, with classics like 1984 and immersive narratives like Jacaranda reaching curious listeners. While the bulk of listening today is concentrated in a few key markets, the trend is spreading: Every month, nearly 12,000 hours of French audiobooks are streamed in countries where French is not the main language.

Additionally, five of the 10 most-listened-to francophone audiobooks in North America come from Quebec authors, including TK’s Aliss and Patrick Senécal’s Aliss and Hell.com, as well as Andre Cedilot and Andre Noel’s Mafia Inc. This success is a testament to Quebec’s literary influence and the growing interest in its stories on Spotify.

Breaking down the success of francophone music

Spotify data paints a definitive picture of francophone music’s global popularity, and For the Record spoke with Spotify’s Global Head of Editorial, Sulinna Ong, for an in-depth look at the French cultural and musical trends that have made waves in 2025.

How do you explain the continued success of francophone music on Spotify? What do you think is driving this global phenomenon?

There’s never been a better moment for francophone music. Its global rise is being driven by a mix of deep emotional storytelling, a rich diversity of styles, and artists who aren’t afraid to blend tradition with innovation. From rap to electro-pop to variété française, French-language music resonates with listeners far beyond its borders.

That’s not a coincidence. It reflects the growing appetite for authenticity and genre-bending creativity—two things that francophone artists excel at. 

What role does Spotify play in promoting francophone music, podcasts, and audiobooks abroad?

Spotify serves as a bridge between creators and global audiences. We work closely with local editorial teams to identify emerging francophone voices and help them break beyond their home countries. Our Spotify music editors share tracks they believe have cross-border appeal, and we’ve seen that effort pay off in a big way.

Take Yamê, for example. We spotted him early, supported him through our RADAR program, and now more than half of his streams come from outside France. That’s the kind of journey we aim to enable: local talent, global reach. 

What continent or region of French music fans surprised you the most?

Asia-Pacific has been one of the most exciting surprises. We’ve seen tracks like “Dernière danse” by Indila or “Je te laisserai des mots” by Patrick Watson find huge resonance in cities like Seoul and Tokyo. And artists like Aya Nakamura and Stromae consistently rank among the most-streamed francophone acts in the region.

It’s a powerful reminder that great music transcends language—people connect through rhythm, emotion, and storytelling, and French music delivers all three.

Which French-speaking artists are on your radar this year?

This year, we’re watching a vibrant new generation emerge. Artists like Jeune Lion, Didi B, and BAD NOVA from Francophone Africa are doing incredible things with sound as they blend global genres with local roots. 

I’m also very excited about the continued rise of female artists like Zaho de Sagazan, who recently performed a number of sold-out shows in the United States, and has become quite a phenomenon in some parts of Europe, like Germany. It’s exciting to see this former RADAR France artist that we’ve supported and believed in for so many years achieve such success on our platform. 

Yseult is another incredible, talented artist from our EQUAL program who recently entered the Billboard 100, a first in more than 30 years for a French female artist.

What is your hope for the future of French music on Spotify?

Our hope is simple: that French music continues to travel, surprise, and inspire. We want to see artists from all corners of the francophone world—from Paris to Dakar to Montréal—connect with fans globally and build sustainable careers doing what they love.

Spotify will keep doing everything we can to make that happen through discovery tools, local editorial expertise, and programs that elevate emerging voices. The French language is having a global audio moment, and we’re just getting started.

Discover the best in francophone music with our playlist Grand Hit. 

Spotify’s Brian Berner on Creativity, Connection, and What’s Next for Advertisers at Cannes Lions

June 16, 2025

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is officially underway for 2025, and Spotify is back on the Croisette to showcase how our platform is more alive than ever. Spotify—and Spotify Beach during the festival—is where creators share, fans explore, and brands are discovered, powered by a global community that continues to grow and evolve.

Throughout the week, Spotify Beach is amplifying the creativity that lives on our platform, offering attendees a chance to experience Spotify IRL—as a cultural force and the best home for creators and fans.

With new tools and innovations, it’s easier than ever for advertisers to join Spotify’s ever-evolving playground and engage with audiences. All week long, attendees will see how Spotify makes creativity tangible—showcasing innovative ideas, meaningful connections, and endless possibilities for cultural impact.

To kick off the festivities, we sat down with Brian Berner, Spotify’s Global Head of Advertising Sales & Partnerships, to hear about what’s next for advertisers, the evolution of creativity on Spotify, and what he’s most excited about at Cannes Lions this year.

Cannes Lions is all about creativity. How does Spotify continue to foster creativity for advertisers?

From music videos to audiobooks to video podcasts, Spotify sits at the heart of music and culture—and we’re always innovating to unlock new ways to deliver creativity on a global scale. With a worldwide community of creators, artists, musicians, and podcasters, Spotify is a platform that consistently inspires creative expression. In fact, 87% of creatives in the ad industry say Spotify allows them to be more creative than other platforms.

For advertisers, we have our Creative Lab—an in-house creative agency of storytellers, cultural investigators, marketers, art directors, strategists, copywriters, and Spotify lovers spread across the globe. This team is constantly creating, testing, and gathering data on what works on our platform to help advertisers maximize their creative potential.

Ahead of Cannes, we’ve also just unveiled two new initiatives to help brands further tap into Spotify’s creative playground: the Creative Lab Hub and our inaugural Creative Council. The Creative Lab Hub is a new global destination where brands and advertisers can access Spotify Advertising’s most effective tools, formats, and insights—making it easier than ever to create breakthrough campaigns.

Meanwhile, our Creative Council brings together industry-leading creatives to help shape the future of advertising and brand storytelling on Spotify. This group includes top creative leads from agencies including R/GA, BBDO, McCann, Anomaly, VML, and GUT, as well as brand leaders from Ulta, AG1, and Coca-Cola.

We’re excited to see how advertisers continue to uplevel their creativity on Spotify!

Spotify is hosting several panels this year. What’s the value in bringing these conversations to the stage?

Our Spotify Beach daytime programming brings together some of the world’s leading voices for compelling conversations that spark discovery, connection, and inspiration. From Louis Theroux and Paris Hilton discussing the art of storytelling to brands like Instacart and Luxottica sharing their strategies and results with the Spotify Ad Exchange, our sessions highlight how Spotify is closer than ever to the heartbeat of culture and driving impact for brands. These conversations showcase how we’re creating impactful connections between artists, creators, fans, and brands in innovative and unique ways—both on and off the platform.

How has the evolution of Spotify’s platform to include video content changed the game for advertisers?

Spotify is now so much more than music and podcasts, including when it comes to advertising. Video consumption on our platform is booming, with users’ spending 44% more time looking at our app compared to last year. This increased in-focus engagement unlocks more visual, multiformat opportunities for advertisers, like our latest Canvas and In-Feed ad formats. 

We’ve found that audio and video ads together are a powerful combination for campaigns on Spotify. In fact, combining both increases purchase intent by 27% and incremental sales by 66%, compared to audio alone. As engagement on our platform continues to evolve, we’re evolving right alongside it—offering brands new ways to deliver compelling, multiformat audio and visual campaigns to Spotify’s global audience. We’re excited about the potential of video and what it means for creators, users, and advertisers alike.

At Spotify Advance in April, Spotify Advertising announced updates like Gen AI Ads. What’s the response been so far? 

The response to our efforts in making it easier for advertisers to buy, create, and measure results on Spotify has been incredibly strong, particularly with Gen AI Ads.

Since launching Gen AI Ads, nearly 1,500 advertisers in the U.S. and Canada have already used the tool to create and launch more than 7,000 high-quality audio ads on Spotify. Advertisers tell us they love how fast and easy it is: On average it takes just 17 minutes to go from idea to finished ad, and half of advertisers complete the process in under 9 minutes. That speed, combined with built-in scriptwriting and voiceover capabilities, is making audio advertising more accessible and flexible than ever for advertisers of all sizes.

Given the successful rollout in the U.S. and Canada, we recently expanded Gen AI Ads to the U.K.—bringing these tools to even more advertisers, now with voiceovers featuring British accents. It’s our latest step in helping advertisers of all sizes tap into Spotify Advertising with ease and full creative control, all within Spotify Ads Manager.

What advertising trends do you expect to see in the coming year?

In today’s fast-moving culture, we’re seeing that people are reducing their dependence on social media in favor of more authenticity and positive connection—and Spotify is one of the places they’re choosing. That’s not just good news for fans and artists; it’s great for brands, too. The attention our listeners give to Spotify translates directly to ads: In fact, our ads capture twice as much attention compared to social media platforms. 

I think there’s so much opportunity to scale the fan experiences we’ve created and imagine new, more interactive ways for fans to connect—not just with artists, creators, and brands on our platform, but also IRL. That’s why we have Creative Lab and our in-house consultancy Spotify AUX—to help brands build even more impactful connections with fans both on- and off-platform.

We’re also seeing automated buying become the industry default. Automated digital audio spend in the U.S. is on the rise and now represents 26% of the market. That’s why our investments in automated channels like the Spotify Ad Exchange and Spotify Ads Manager are more timely and important than ever.

What are you most looking forward to at Spotify Beach this year?

As someone who’s been in the ad industry for more than 20 years, I love Cannes Lions—it’s when everyone comes together to share wins and learnings, build relationships, and get inspired by the creativity and innovation happening across the industry.

Personally, I’m a big fan of the film Sinners, so I’m stoked about our Wednesday daytime session happening on Spotify Beach: The Art of Personalization Through Music with Ludwig Göransson and Miles Caton. If you haven’t seen the film yet, I highly recommend it!

The Spotify Partner Program Expands To Nine New Markets, Giving More Creators New Ways To Monetize Their Content

March 27, 2025

Since announcing the Spotify Partner Program last fall, we’ve heard from creators who are optimistic about the flexibility, control, and opportunity that our new monetization program provides. And following the successful January launch in the US, U.K., Canada and Australia, we’re expanding the Spotify Partner Program to nine new markets. 

Starting April 29, eligible creators in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are able to enroll. 

The Spotify Partner Program offers audience-driven payouts to creators from Spotify Premium video engagement and the ability to monetize via ads in Spotify Free and on all other podcast listening platforms. This can help creators navigate seasonality shifts and shifts in brand/advertiser interest and give them a more consistent, reliable way to earn. 

As a brand-new revenue stream for enrolled shows, Spotify Partner Program delivered impressive results immediately. Hundreds of podcast creators surpassed $10,000 in monthly revenue, with the top earners crossing well into six figures in the first month alone. 

Additionally, Spotify Partner Program creators in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia will have more opportunities to earn Premium video revenue for listeners in new markets starting on April 29. 

Video podcasts are on the rise, and the number of creators actively publishing videos monthly on Spotify has grown by more than 50% year over year. Listeners are responding in kind, with over 250 million users having watched a podcast on Spotify, and nearly two-thirds of podcast listeners saying they prefer podcasts with video.

With more creators able to enroll in Spotify Partner Program, listeners will have access to a bigger and better catalog of video podcasts, as well as seamless background and foreground toggling. Premium users will also have the ability to watch videos with fewer ads. While a creator’s baked-in sponsorships will remain in the episode, traditional dynamic ads will not interrupt the video for Premium users, creating a seamless experience on any device.

“Spotify is committed to providing creators with more options to grow their audience and engage with fans on the format that best suits their style and show—either audio, video or both,” said Roman Wasenmüller, Head of Podcast Business at Spotify. “As we continue to evolve and expand the Spotify Partner Program, we are focusing on increased revenue and consumption for creators.”

Spotify has led audio streaming worldwide for nearly two decades. As video accelerates, we’re investing to make Spotify the video and audio destination for creators and listeners. With the Spotify Partner Program, we’re helping creators build and retain loyal audiences by delivering the best possible version of their content.

Find out more about the Spotify Partner Program by visiting the Spotify for Creators website.

Spotify Launches Audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—and Premium Listeners Get Instant Access

October 14, 2024

Since its launch just over a year ago, Spotify’s Audiobooks in Premium offering has helped introduce the format to an entirely new audience across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. We’re seeing more listeners try audiobooks for the first time and embrace new and different books, with hundreds of thousands of unique titles streamed.

Today, we’re thrilled to announce that listeners in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg will now have access to audiobooks, which includes exciting work from local authors such as Gaël Faye, Maylis de Kerangal, Joël Dicker, Suzanne Vermeer, and Saskia Noort, to name a few.

Eligible Spotify Premium subscribers in those countries will be able to access more than 200,000 audiobook titles as part of their subscriptions. Any title not included in our Audiobooks in Premium offering can be purchased à la carte. Listeners in these regions without a Premium subscription can also purchase any title on Spotify.

 

 

In partnership with publishers from across these markets, Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, has the potential to grow the size of the audiobook industry overall. We are enabling more listeners than ever to discover and engage with a rich catalog of titles, including in their own language, and paving the way for future innovation of the audiobook format.

“Spotify’s reach presents a significant opportunity to expand the audiobooks market across France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg,” said Antoine Monin, Managing Director, Spotify Western Europe. “Since our launch in Western Europe 16 years ago, Spotify has evolved into a leading platform for music, podcasts, and now audiobooks. We are proud to spotlight this region’s rich literary tradition, with 15,000 French and 15,000 Dutch and Flemish titles joining our catalog, advancing our mission to empower audio creators globally and connect them with audiences both locally and internationally.”

One year of Audiobooks in Premium

While it’s still early days, the reaction to Audiobooks in Premium from authors, publishers, and listeners in available markets has been remarkable. On Spotify, we’ve seen user engagement increase among listeners who started an audiobook for the first time. In the U.S., these users spend an average of five additional hours on Spotify over their first two months after starting a book.

This launch opens up new opportunities for local authors and rights holders and helps create an additional revenue stream for the industry. With 28% of Spotify’s users located in Europe, we’ll continue investing in and growing the available audience and revenue pies for publishers and authors.

Spotify announced this latest expansion today in Paris with a panel featuring voices from across the industry: Laure Saget, CEO of Hachette’s Audiolib and Audiobook Commission President at the French Publishers Association, Liza Faja, Head of Lizzie, the audiobook imprint of Editis, Éric Marbeau, Head of Digital Distribution at Madrigall, parent company of Éditions Gallimard and Editions Flammarion, and Timothée Borne, CEO of the immersive audio content production company Blynd Media.

Listeners Around the World Are Embracing French-Language Content on Spotify

September 30, 2024

Across music, podcasts, and audiobooks, Spotify listeners are turning toward French-language content. In fact, more than 100 million users worldwide listened to at least one piece of audio content in French between August 2023 and July 2024. This phenomenon is driven by the richness and diversity of said content, as well as Spotify’s efforts to boost the export of French-speaking music and podcasts through programs like RADAR.

When it comes to music, the French touch had already conquered the world in the ’90s, thanks to the success of several French artists on the international scene. But today, in addition to francophone songs performed by artists from France, hitmakers from Quebec, Belgium, and Algeria also have the world dancing.

To date, 39 million Spotify users have added at least one track sung in French to a personal playlist. And since 2019, French-language music streams have surged by 94%, indicating that the sounds and rhythms created by artists from French-speaking countries are appealing to an ever-growing audience.

In the span of 12 months, more than 83 million hours of French-language music resonated in more than 180 countries on Spotify. This represents an average of 50 minutes of music listening per month by non-French-speaking audiences—and when French-language podcasts and audiobooks are added to the mix, that average monthly consumption reaches four hours.

Let’s take a closer look at how francophone music is transcending language barriers on Spotify.

Spotify’s most-streamed French-language songs globally

Spotify’s most-streamed French-speaking artists by region

North America

South Africa, Middle East, and Asia

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America

For the Record sat down with Jeremy Erlich, Vice President, Head of Music Content at Spotify, to learn more about the rise of French-language content on our platform.

Tell us more about the francophone music scene and its runaway success.

French-language music has always been the stuff of dreams the world over, but physical constraints have not always made it easy for certain artists to export their music and meet their audiences in the four corners of the globe. Spotify has played a key role over the last few years in the rise and export of French-speaking artists from many countries. Our editorial teams on different continents regularly exchange information on emerging and more established talent that might appeal to our users, enabling these artists to be integrated into local playlists outside French-speaking markets. This gives them visibility and allows them to be heard and discovered by other audiences.

Also, it’s a credit to French-speaking artists and the power of this music that these artists feature their peers from all over the world—like Dua Lipa and Angèle with “Fever,” or Aya Nakamura and Stormzy with “Plus Jamais,” or more recently, Aya Nakamura and Ayra Starr with “Hypé.” And then sometimes we have an artist like Yseult, who found herself at the top of our world charts for several weeks with “Alibi,” a track in collaboration with other international artists. She’s the first French female artist to enter the Billboard 200 in more than 30 years, the last being Jane Birkin! She’s one of my latest favorites, and I invite you to discover her just-released album, MENTAL.

Is there one continent or region that appreciates francophone music the most on Spotify?

That’s what’s so striking—all regions of the world are embracing the richness and diversity of the French-language music scene. What we notice is that from one place to another, we don’t necessarily find the same sounds or the same artists resonating with audiences. In Latin America, electro-pop or indie music in French are particularly popular with our users, embodied by artists like Stromae, Patrick Watson, or Adèle Castillon. If we look at Asia Pacific, users gravitate toward artists like Aya Nakamura or GIMS, who are more into R&B, pop, or French variety. But there really are people embracing the French language everywhere, and that’s something we’ve been noticing for several years now. There’s been a sharp rise in the number of French-language music listeners on Spotify, which goes hand in hand with our development in many markets, and the language barrier is no longer an issue.

What’s on your personal playlist? Which French-speaking artists have impressed you in recent years?

It’s a long list! Like our users, I have quite varied and eclectic tastes. I’ll never tire of the Fonky Family, a group from Marseilles who played a key role in the explosion of the Marseilles hip-hop scene. I’m proud that we support and partner with Les Flammes—the first music awards ceremony dedicated to rap and popular culture in France—and I was delighted to see Le Rat Luciano, one of the members of the Fonky Family, win the Flamme Eternelle last year, which was well deserved.

Belgian artists, meanwhile, are omnipresent in my playlists. Angèle never ceases to surprise and reinvent herself, including with the latest version of “Nightcall” with Phoenix and Kavinsky, following that incredible performance at the closing ceremony of the summer games. Stromae is another avant-garde artist with undeniable talent who has conquered the world. His festival performance in Palm Desert two years ago thrilled the entire audience, just like Daft Punk in their day, or Gesaffelstein. 

Serge Gainsbourg’s music transcends generations, and he remains iconic as one of the most prolific French artists of the last 50 years. Yamê is particularly close to my heart—it’s a crazy story. Eighteen months ago, our French editorial team spotted him, but at the time he wasn’t even signed. We then integrated him into our RADAR program, which aims to support emerging talent, and he was playlisted in France as well as other countries, because we believed in his talent so strongly. Today, “Bécane” is a worldwide success, Yamê won the Discovery of the Year award at the Victoires de la Musique awards, and more than half his streams on Spotify come from outside of France.

The success of French-speaking content on Spotify stretches beyond music. In fact, we’re seeing the same effect with podcasts and audiobooks, which just launched in Quebec! Where do you see this trend going?

Clearly, the French-speaking world has taken root among our users on all fronts. Some of the most popular French-language podcasts are L’After Foot (which I listen to religiously from Los Angeles to keep up with the Ligue 1 and my team, Paris Saint-Germain) and L’Heure du Monde, a long-form descriptive news show from one of France’s leading publications. Peppa Pig in French and as a podcast is also very popular at home. And we can see that French-language learning podcasts are also high on the list—there’s a correlation between the discovery of French music and the desire to learn the language of Molière, which I hope translates into the discovery of audiobooks!

Les auditeurs du monde entier plébiscitent les contenus en français sur Spotify

September 30, 2024

Qu’il s’agisse de musique, de podcasts ou de livres audio, les auditeurs de Spotify se tournent vers les contenus en français. En effet, plus de 100 millions d’utilisateurs dans le monde ont écouté au moins un contenu audio en français entre août 2023 et juillet 2024. Ce phénomène s’explique par la richesse et la diversité de ces contenus, ainsi que par les efforts de Spotify pour favoriser l’exportation de musique et de podcasts francophones grâce à des programmes comme RADAR.

En matière de musique, la French touch avait déjà conquis le monde dans les années 90, grâce au succès de plusieurs artistes français sur la scène internationale. Mais aujourd’hui, outre les chansons francophones interprétées par des artistes de l’Hexagone, les hitmakers du Québec, de Belgique et d’Algérie font également danser le monde.

À ce jour, 39 millions d’utilisateurs de Spotify ont ajouté au moins un titre chanté en français à une liste de lecture personnelle. Et depuis 2019, les flux de musique francophone ont bondi de 94%, ce qui indique que les sons et les rythmes créés par les artistes des pays francophones séduisent un public de plus en plus large.

En l’espace de 12 mois, plus de 83 millions d’heures de musique francophone ont résonné dans plus de 180 pays sur Spotify. Cela représente une moyenne de 50 minutes d’écoute de musique par mois pour le public non francophone – et si l’on ajoute les podcasts et les livres audio en français, cette consommation mensuelle moyenne atteint quatre heures.

Regardons de plus près comment la musique francophone transcende les barrières linguistiques sur Spotify.

Titres francophones les plus écoutés sur la plateforme à travers le mond

Artistes francophones les plus écoutés par région du monde : Spotify’s most-streamed French-speaking artists by region

Amérique du Nord

Afrique du Sud, Moyen-Orient, Maghreb

Asie Pacifique

Europe

Amérique du Sud

For the record s’est récemment entretenu avec Jeremy Erlich, Vice-Président Head of Music Content, afin d’en savoir un peu plus sur l’essor des musiques francophones sur Spotify et le rôle de nos équipes: 

Parlez-nous de la scène musicale francophone et de son succès fulgurant.

La musique francophone a toujours fait rêver le monde entier, mais les contraintes physiques n’ont pas toujours permis à certains artistes de pouvoir s’exporter facilement et rencontrer leur public aux quatres coins de la planète. Spotify a joué un rôle clé ces dernières années dans la montée en puissance et l’export d’artistes francophones de nombreux pays; nos équipes éditoriales sur les différents continents échangent régulièrement sur les talents émergents et plus confirmés qui pourraient plaire à nos utilisateurs, ce qui permet d’intégrer ces artistes dans des playlists locales hors des marchés francophones. Cela donne de la visibilité, permet d’être écouté et découvert par d’autres audiences. C’est d’ailleurs tout à l’honneur des artistes francophones et de la puissance de cette musique que de mettre en scène leurs pairs du monde entier, comme Dua Lipa et Angèle avec « Fever », ou Aya Nakamura et Stormzy avec « Plus Jamais », ou plus récemment Aya Nakamura et Ayra Starr avec « Hypé ». Et puis parfois, on a une artiste comme Yseult, qui se retrouve en haut de nos classements monde pendant plusieurs semaines avec un titre en collaboration avec d’autres artistes internationales – comme ce fut le cas avec Alibi. C’est la première artiste française féminine à intégrer le Billboard 200 depuis plus de 30 ans, la dernière c’était Jane Birkin! C’est l’un de mes derniers coups de cœur et je vous invite à découvrir son album, Mental, qui vient tout juste de sortir. 

Est-ce que l’on peut dire qu’il y a un continent, ou une région du monde qui apprécie plus la musique francophone qu’une autre? 

C’est ça qui est le plus frappant – toutes les régions du monde s’emparent de la richesse et de la diversité de la scène musicale francophone. Ce que l’on remarque, c’est que d’un lieu à un autre, on ne retrouve pas forcément les mêmes sonorités ou les mêmes artistes qui vont vibrer avec une audience. En Amérique Latine, l’électro-pop ou l’indie en français sont particulièrement appréciés de nos utilisateurs, incarnée par Stromae, Patrick Watson ou Adèle Castillon. Si l’on regarde l’Asie Pacifique, on retrouve Aya Nakamura ou Gims par exemple, qui sont plus sur des registres de RnB, pop ou variété française. Il y a vraiment un public qui adhère et épouse la langue française partout, et c’est quelque chose que l’on constate maintenant depuis plusieurs années. Il y a une forte progression d’écoutes de musique chantée en français sur Spotify, qui va de pair avec notre développement dans de nombreux marchés, et la barrière de la langue n’en est plus une. 

Et on retrouve quoi dans votre playlist personnelle ? Quels sont les artistes francophones qui vous ont marqué ces dernières années? 

La liste est longue! Comme nos utilisateurs, j’ai des goûts assez variés et éclectiques – je ne me lasserai jamais de la Fonky Family, un groupe marseillais qui a joué un rôle clé dans l’explosion de la scène hip-hop marseillaise. Petite aparté mais nous soutenons et sommes partenaires de la cérémonie des cultures populaires Les Flammes, et j’étais très heureux de voir Le Rat Luciano, l’un des membres de la Fonky Family, remporté la Flamme Éternelle l’année dernière, qui est une récompense amplement méritée. Les artistes belges sont omniprésents dans mes playlists. Angèle ne cesse de surprendre et de se réinventer, avec bien évidemment le dernier-né Nightcall avec Phoenix et Kavinsky, suite à cette performance incroyable à la cérémonie de clôture des Jeux Olympiques. Stromae est également un artiste avant-gardiste au talent indéniable qui a su conquérir la planète entière; sa performance à Coachella il y a deux ans a fait vibrer tout le public, tout comme Daft Punk en son temps ou Gesaffelstein. 

Serge Gainsbourg est un incontournable; sa musique transcende les générations et il reste l’une des icônes de la scène française des cinquante dernières années. Yamê me tient particulièrement à coeur parce que c’est une histoire folle; il y a 18 mois nos éditeurs français l’ont repéré, à l’époque il n’était même pas signé. On l’a par la suite intégré dans notre programme RADAR qui vise à soutenir les talents émergents; il a été playlisté en France, puis justement, playlisté également dans différents pays parce qu’on y croyait dur comme fer. Aujourd’hui, Bécane est un succès planétaire, Yamê a remporté le prix découverte de l’année aux Victoires de la Musique, et plus de la moitié de ses streams proviennent de l’étranger. 

On voit que le succès de la francophonie sur Spotify ne s’arrête pas à la musique; on constate le même effet sur les podcasts, ou pour les livres audio tout juste lancés au Québec! Est-ce que selon vous c’est un phénomène pérenne? 

Clairement, la francophonie s’est installée dans les usages de nos utilisateurs sur tous les fronts. Parmi les podcasts les plus écoutés en français, on retrouve par exemple l’After Foot (que j’écoute religieusement depuis Los Angeles pour suivre l’évolution de la la Ligue 1 et mon club de coeur, le Paris Saint-Germain), ou bien l’Heure du Monde, un décryptage sur un temps plus long d’une actualité marquante. Peppa Pig en français et en version podcast est aussi un incontournable à la maison. Et puis l’on voit que le podcast d’apprentissage de la langue française figure haut dans ce classement également – il y a une corrélation entre la découverte de la musique francophone, et l’envie d’apprendre la langue de Molière, qui je l’espère se traduit par la suite avec la découverte des livres audio!

Spotify Partners With Les Flammes Music Awards To Celebrate French Rap

April 24, 2024

Spotify is once again teaming up with Les Flammes, the only music awards dedicated to rap, R&B, Afrobeats, and popular culture in France.

Spotify helped create Les Flammes in 2023 to celebrate and highlight the French-speaking artists who are actively shaping new cultural trends. Rap is a hugely prominent genre in France—on Spotify, the top five most-listened-to artists in the country have hailed from rap, hip-hop, and R&B for the past several years.

Ahead of the ceremony on April 25, let’s take a moment to highlight the impact of last year’s inaugural event, and also spotlight the 2024 nominees.

 

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Looking back at Les Flammes 2023

Not only was Les Flammes 2023 a success, but it also impacted music consumption on Spotify in France. Rap and hip-hop have continued to gain steam since last year’s ceremony, with French artist listenership increasing by 15% among users aged 25-44 and 12% among users aged 24-29 and users over 55.

In addition, several winners saw an increase in streams in France in the past year:

    • Maureen saw her streams jump by 314%. The former RADAR artist’s track “Laptop” was awarded best Caribbean or Caribbean-Inspired Song.
    • Streams for Aya Nakamura, who won the Female Artist of the Year award, increased by 97%.
    • Hamza, winner of the best R&B Song award with Tiakola for “Atasanté,” recorded a 93% increase in streams.
    • Tiakola saw a 71% increase in streams. The artist won the New Pop Album of the Year award, as well as best Afro or Afro-Inspired Song.

Looking forward to Les Flammes 2024

A number of artists up for awards at this year’s ceremony have already made their mark. Among the male nominees, that includes Yamê, an artist supported by Spotify’s RADAR program; Favé; and Werenoi.

    • Yamê’s streams have skyrocketed by 12,883%. Nominated for Male Revelation of the Year and New Pop Album of the Year, he’s the fastest-growing male French-language rap/hip-hop artist of the year in France.
    • Favé, also nominated for Male Revelation of the Year, has seen a 561% increase in streams.
    • Werenoi’s streams are up 606%. The artist is up for Spotify Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year.

Among the female nominees:

    • Shay has seen a 65% increase in streams. Nominated for Video of the Year, she’s the third-fastest-growing female French-language rap/hip-hop artist of the year in France.
    • Nej, an EQUAL artist, has recorded a 36% increase in streams. She’s up for Female Artist of the Year.

And while this year’s ceremony will be held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Spotify will also host a special viewing party in Marseille. The event will reinforce the sense of unity that characterizes Les Flammes while also celebrating the city’s vibrant hip-hop scene. Photocalls, food, and DJ sets will keep the party going for more than 500 attendees as screens project the awards ceremony.

The international influence of French artists

Beyond France’s borders, French pop, hip-hop, and rap artists continue to gain notoriety, especially as Spotify helps reduce language barriers and enable local artists to gain visibility in non-French-speaking markets:

    • Gazo, Ninho, and Tiakola are all among the top 10 most-streamed French R&B/hip-hop artists outside of France.
    • Favé and Yamê are both among the top 50 most-streamed French-language R&B/hip-hop artists outside of France.
    • Indila and Aya Nakamura are the first- and second-most-streamed French pop artists outside of France, respectively.

Stream our official playlist for Les Flammes 2024 to hear this year’s nominated artists.

Les points clés du rapport annuel sur l’économie de la musique de Spotify

March 19, 2024

Spotify pense que les artistes méritent de la clarté en matière d’économie du streaming musical. C’est pourquoi la plateforme publie chaque année des données montrant son impact sur l’industrie. Ces informations se trouvent sur Loud & Clear, une ressource destinée aux artistes et aux professionnels de l’industrie, qui analyse l’économie mondiale du streaming, les acteurs et le processus.

Aujourd’hui, Spotify a dévoilé les données mises à jour sur Loud & Clear, y compris des chiffres de 2023 qui montrent de nouveaux progrès significatifs vers une industrie musicale plus diversifiée et plus équitable. 

Dans une vue d’ensemble, le streaming a continué à créer plus d’espace pour que davantage d’artistes réussissent, démontrant un réel changement dans l’ensemble du secteur.

Les dernières données montrent que l’industrie n’a jamais été aussi peu dominée par les stars, avec plus de petits artistes ayant voix au chapitre et la possibilité de gagner de l’argent grâce à leur art. L’année dernière, Spotify a mis la barre très haute, enregistrant le versement annuel le plus élevé à l’industrie musicale de la part d’un seul distributeur. Et pour la toute première fois, le catalogue des artistes indépendants et des artistes signés chez des labels indépendants a représenté environ la moitié de ce que l’ensemble de l’industrie a généré sur Spotify en 2023.

Voici les points forts de notre rapport annuel sur l’économie de la musique.

Paiements record de Spotify

Ces versements ont permis aux ayants droit, agissant au nom des artistes et des compositeurs, d’enregistrer des revenus et une croissance record.  

Plus d’argent à tous les niveaux

Les redevances Spotify contribuent au développement des artistes à tous les niveaux de leur carrière. En effet, les chiffres communiqués ne comptabilisent que les revenus générés par la plateforme. En réalité, les artistes peuvent potentiellement générer 4 fois plus de revenus grâce aux sources d’enregistrement musical en général, auxquels s’ajoutent les revenus des concerts et du merchandising.

Une année record pour les indépendants

En fait, il s’agit du montant le plus élevé jamais généré par les indépendants auprès d’un seul distributeur en un an, ce qui représente une multiplication par 4 depuis 2017.

Les millionnaires inattendus

À l’ère du streaming, les classements ne sont plus assez représentatifs  de tous les artistes qui connaissent le succès. La diversification grandissantes des goûts musicaux des utilisateurs, couplée à une augmentation des redevances a pour résultat un accroissement des revenus pour un panel d’artistes toujours plus varié. 

La croissance de carrière des artistes

Les carrières des artistes ne font pas que commencer sur Spotify, elles grandissent sur Spotify. Nous restons engagés à aider les artistes émergents et professionnels à vivre durablement de leur travail, année après année.

Pour en savoir plus sur nos principaux résultats, ainsi que sur le contexte de l’industrie en général, des rapports supplémentaires et des FAQ, rendez-vous sur Loud & Clear.

Spotify To Adjust Its Prices Over New Tax in France

March 7, 2024

Spotify Premium subscribers in France will soon experience a price increase due to additional costs on music streaming services imposed by the government, as part of the “CNM Tax.” While Spotify worked very hard to encourage the government to avoid adding this tax, unfortunately they decided to move forward. 

Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Center for National Music. It’s a public body that commissions studies on the French music industry and provides financial aid to record labels and the live industry. At the end of 2023, as part of its 2024 budget, the French government decided that digital music streaming services will now have to pay a new tax in order to finance it. Our worry, on top of what would be equivalent to a double payment on our part,  has been that this tax will not go directly to artists, nor will it have a tangible output visible to fans; instead, it will simply come at the expense of listeners and create an additional middleman: the CNM. In fact, this tax will generate approximately 15 million euros, when the CNM’s administrative budget (office fees, personnel, capital expenditure, media monitoring or professional training etc.) sits at 20.2 million euros. Our concern is that possibly less than half of its overall 146.9 million euros budget will find its way toward effectively aiding music.

Spotify has proudly championed French artists for the past 15 years. We certainly didn’t wait for the CNM to be created in 2020 to help artists find success in France and outside of France; to help promote French repertoire and grow the royalty pool for French rights holders. Spotify’s payments have totaled close to 225 million euros in 2022 alone (or about 1/4th of all the French recorded music industry revenues for that year). That is up more than 200% percent since 2017.

Yet, with the creation of this new tax, Spotify would be required to give approximately two-thirds of every euro it generates  to music to rights holders and the French government. Of course, this is a massive amount and does not allow for a sustainable business. As we have long said, we simply can’t absorb any additional taxes. Even after making the difficult decision to reduce our artist marketing budget and support of French music festivals—which is an essential vehicle for Spotify to continue to drive hundreds of millions of euros to the music industry—it still continues to impede our ability to operate in France. Accordingly, over the coming weeks and months, we’ll need to make changes to our price plan in France. 

To put it bluntly, all French users will see their subscription plan fee go up. French users will now pay the highest subscriptions across the European Union.

Spotify is increasing prices in France in order to offset these new costs. We’ll come back to our French subscribers over the coming weeks with the full details on the upcoming price increase.

For more information on the global streaming economy, the players, and the process, please visit Loud & Clear.

Spotify ajustera ses prix en France prochainement

March 7, 2024

Prochainement, nos abonnés à Spotify Premium en France subiront une augmentation de prix en raison de coûts supplémentaires sur les services de streaming musicaux, imposés par le gouvernement français dans le cadre de la “taxe CNM”.

Nous avons tout fait pour éviter d’en arriver là, malheureusement le gouvernement français en a décidé autrement. 

Peut-être n’avez-vous jamais entendu parler du CNM – ou Centre National de la Musique. Il s’agit d’un organisme public qui commande des études sur l’industrie musicale française, et fournit des subventions financières aux maisons de disques et à l’industrie du spectacle vivant. Fin 2023, dans le cadre de son budget 2024, le gouvernement français a décidé que les services de streaming de musique devront désormais s’acquitter d’une nouvelle taxe pour financer ce centre. Notre inquiétude, en plus de ce qui équivaudrait à un double paiement de notre part, a été que cette taxe n’aille pas directement aux artistes, ni n’ait un rendement tangible visible pour les fans ; au lieu de cela, elle se fera simplement aux dépens des auditeurs, et créera un intermédiaire supplémentaire—le CNM.

Cette taxe rapportera environ 15 millions d’euros, alors que le budget administratif du CNM (frais de bureau, personnel, frais techniques, veille médiatique ou formation professionnelle, etc.) s’élève à 20,2 millions d’euros. Nous craignons que moins de la moitié de son budget global de 146,9 millions d’euros ne soit consacrée à l’aide à la musique.

Spotify a fièrement défendu les artistes français au cours des 15 dernières années ; nous n’avons certainement pas attendu la création du CNM en 2020 pour aider les artistes à trouver le succès en France et à l’étranger ; pour aider à promouvoir le répertoire français et à augmenter les revenus engendrés pour les ayants droit français. Les revenus générés par Spotify pour le secteur de la musique enregistrée en France pour la seule année 2022 s’élèvent à près de 225 millions d’euros (soit environ 1/4 du chiffre d’affaires de l’industrie française de la musique enregistrée pour cette année). Cela représente une augmentation de plus de 200 % depuis 2017.

Or, avec la création de cette nouvelle taxe, Spotify devrait reverser environ deux tiers de chaque euro aux ayants droit et au gouvernement français. Bien entendu, il s’agit là d’un montant conséquent qui ne permet pas d’assurer la pérennité de l’entreprise. Nous avons toujours été très clairs en la matière—nous ne pouvons tout simplement pas absorber des taxes supplémentaires. Même après avoir pris la décision difficile de réduire notre budget marketing pour les artistes et notre soutien aux festivals de musique français—qui est un moyen essentiel pour Spotify de continuer à générer des centaines de millions d’euros pour l’industrie musicale—cela continue d’entraver notre capacité à opérer en France. En conséquence, au cours des semaines et des mois à venir, nous devrons apporter des changements à notre plan tarifaire en France.

En clair, tous nos utilisateurs premium français verront leur abonnement augmenter, et paieront désormais le forfait le plus élevé au sein de l’Union européenne. Spotify augmente ses prix en France afin de compenser ces nouveaux coûts. Nous reviendrons vers nos abonnés français dans les semaines à venir pour leur donner tous les détails de cette augmentation.

Pour plus d’informations sur l’économie mondiale du streaming musical,  ses acteurs et son processus, consultez Loud & Clear.

Spotify Europe General Manager Michael Krause Reflects on 15+ Years in Europe

October 10, 2023

Michael Krause staring directly at camera, wearing blue button down against a background with the Spotify logo

When Spotify launched in Europe in 2008, the music industry—and the world at large—changed forevermore. At the time, few could have predicted that a start-up originating in Stockholm only a few years prior would grow beyond Europe to become the largest audio-streaming subscription service in the world with over 550 million users worldwide. 

Since then, Spotify has innovated and expanded to incorporate podcasts, audiobooks, and the latest technology into our product. And as a result, we’ve also transformed the artist-listener relationship and impacted listening worldwide. Michael Krause has had a front-row seat to Spotify’s expansion—and the trends it’s both inspired and amplified—for quite some time, first in his role as the Managing Director for Central and Eastern Europe, and now as General Manager for Europe. 

For the Record recently caught up with Michael to learn about some of the most notable changes in his markets over the last 15+ years. 

Can you give us a short musical overview of the UK, Spain, France, and Sweden?

It was amazing to look back at the streaming trends over 15 years and pick up on the similarities and differences between the four countries. It’s also great to reflect on how listening habits have evolved more broadly over time and how we’ve contributed to the growth of local music.

In the U.K., 1990s nostalgia is still going strong. Britpop is high on the listening figures, with Oasis and the Arctic Monkeys as firm favorites. Unsurprisingly though, Ed Sheeran takes the crown for most-streamed British artist, second only to Drake in all-time streams. It is also great to see early British Spotify adopters including Adele, Sam Smith, and Stormzy going on to achieve massive streaming success in the U.K. market and around the world.

Meanwhile, Spain has seen a significant shift in musical taste, replacing pop music with urban Latino, a genre which has topped the charts for the past six years. The likes of Manuel Turizo and Rauw Alejandro in the top five artists reflects the South and Central American influence on Spanish music trends.

France has also experienced a shift in listening habits over the years, from international rock and pop in the earlier years to a dominance of French hip-hop and rap today. This is reflected by the market’s top five artists of all time, led by local sensation Jul. When we look at 2008, when Spotify was launched, to more recent years, we see an embracement of local musical genres, which has overtaken international music.

Sweden—the birthplace of Spotify—on the other hand, has been steadfast in its love of pop music, which has been the most-streamed genre every year since 2011. Fittingly in 2023, given the triumph at Eurovision, Swedish pop leads the way.

Are Spotify fans in these markets more interested in global top musicians, local artists, or a mix of both? 

This is something that has changed over time. When Spotify launched in 2008, streaming across all markets was largely focused on international artists and those in the mainstream globally. But as time has passed, streaming for local artists has increased significantly.

Taking France as an example, the figures show that in 2008, French artists made up a very small proportion of listener streams. Jump forward ten years and the majority of France’s top 100 artists were local, something that has continued up to today.

This trend sums up why we are so proud of Spotify and what we’ve achieved over the past 15 years in Europe. The platform empowers creators to grow their audience base and allows listeners to discover a wider variety of artists, and it is fantastic to see that they are gravitating towards local talent. What’s even more interesting is seeing that these local artists can now travel beyond their own geographical or linguistic barriers—as an example, every one of two streams for a French-produced artist comes [from] outside of France. It’s quite an extraordinary achievement, one that was literally unthinkable 15 years ago. Swedish artists are also riding the wave as they are streamed more than twice as much outside of their own country. 

What other notable behaviors are you seeing across the region?

There has been a notable rise in the popularity of hip-hop across all markets, and this year the genre is consistently among the top five across the U.K., Sweden, and France. Back in 2008, on the other hand, rock was the top genre across all four countries.

Another trend that stands out is the breadth and variety of genres featured in the top 10. While pop, rock, and other classics remain prominent, the likes of reggaeton, trap Latino, and permanent wave have found their way into the mix.

What about podcasting across Europe? 

Podcasts continue to grow in popularity, with listening figures rising across Europe. While they have been well established in the U.K. and Germany for some time, some of the sharpest rises have come from countries newer to podcasting. In Spain, for example, podcast listens grew by 298% in 2022, and France saw a staggering 379% increase. More big influencers are successfully launching podcasts, including Hobbyloss in Germany and Canapé Six Places in France. 

Can you share some of the continuing opportunities in the region?

Spotify began as a music-streaming company, and over the past 15 years we’ve evolved into a global platform for audio content. We’re always looking to create new opportunities for artists to connect with audiences across the world and shape the future of creativity.

Audiobooks is a focus area which offers significant innovation and growth potential and has large and engaged audiences in Europe. We launched audiobooks last year and recently expanded our offering to make 150,000 audiobooks available in the U.K. and Australia as part of users’ existing Spotify Premium subscriptions. The U.K. is one of the largest markets for audiobooks globally, and we know there’s similar appetite in countries like Germany. As we help connect creators with new audiences, we’ll be applying the learnings as we plan for launches in further European markets.

Meanwhile, AI has huge potential to help artists and listeners form deeper connections while expanding their reach. We’re piloting new OpenAI technology that translates podcasts into new languages in the original creator’s voice, making them accessible to listeners worldwide.

Do you have a favorite musical moment from the past 15 years? Any you’re anticipating? 

One artist who has accompanied me through that time is The Streets with Mike Skinner. Especially in the pandemic—they were my most-listened-to artist according to my Wrapped. The biggest transformation over the last 15 years, which I’ve found fascinating, is that the Arctic Monkeys have gained a whole new audience through social media and now have several songs with over 1 billion plays. 

One thing that I’m looking forward to the most is the comeback of Blink-182 with their new album. The pre-save version of it is already available on Spotify.

What’s the importance of Europe for Spotify as you celebrate this milestone? 

We’re really proud that we’ve been a pioneer in so many aspects and that we’ve built this in Europe and have remained in Europe. The journey has been amazing, and we’re growing fast in Europe. Music and audio is such a universal use case. Every person from a newborn to members of the older population finds joy in music. And our platform has room for everyone. 

With the phenomenal level of engagement that we have on our platform in Europe, we see lots of opportunities for sustainable and profitable growth. We’re going to continue to expand and build upon the Advertising business, our Free and Premium music product, and in Podcasts. Europe is our single biggest source of revenue, and with the opportunities ahead we think it can remain so.