Tag: india

Spotify’s Sound Up Program Continues to Bring Diverse Voices to Podcasting

February 28, 2022

Since its start in 2018, Spotify’s Sound Up has helped underrepresented creators get their feet—and mics—in the door for podcasting. The program’s aim is to diversify the voices in the audio space by providing participants with educational opportunities, resources, and access to industry experts. Sound Up graduates have released popular shows that have ranked on Spotify’s podcast charts, including Dope Labs, Search Engine Sex, You Heard Me Write, and FOGO: Fear of Going Outside.

Now, four years after its inception, Sound Up has launched in 12 markets (Japan, Italy, the U.S., U.S. LatinX, India, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, the U.K., Germany, Brazil, and Argentina) and helped hundreds of graduates find careers in podcasting. 

How does Sound Up work? In each market, 10 participants are selected to be a part of the program. The creators then go through a four-week virtual or in-person immersive experience where they hone their storytelling, get more experience in audio production, and have a chance to workshop their ideas. After the session ends, the participants continue to receive year-round support from Spotify as they create professional pilots of their ideas, which have a chance to become a Spotify Original.

In 2020, as people around the world altered their lifestyles based on social distancing protocols and COVID-19 risks, Sound Up also had to adapt. “It was an incredibly difficult two years where, globally, we had to adjust the program to virtual trainings,” shared Natalie Tulloch, Sound Up Global Lead. “But we also got the chance to see wonderful stories begin to take shape, and now as we launch new podcasts, it feels incredibly gratifying.”

For the Record traveled across the globe to check in on a few of the current and recently graduated program participants to learn more about their experiences and the podcasts they are creating.

Gigi (U.K.)

Gigi just finished the program and is working on her podcast, Journeys With Grace, which is an immersive self-contained story of discovery. From storytelling to copyright details, Gigi’s Sound Up experience taught her plenty about the industry. Her favorite part of the process was developing the trailer and pilot episode. “Layering up my trailer with soundscapes and adding atmospheric audio here and there was fun to me—a stressful kinda fun,” explained the podcaster. “I’m a creative, so seeing my vision come to fruition was a super-dope moment. You can’t really replace that feeling.” Now her focus is on developing the script and finding a way to invite listeners into her show in an intimate way. “I’m looking forward to the process, the vision being out there, and the podcast finding and resonating with the people it’s supposed to.”

For U.K. and Ireland creators who are interested in the Sound Up program, applications are open now through March 14, 2022. Submit your application here.

 

Fatima Hellgren Camara (Sweden)

Fatima Hellgren Camara’s podcast Välkommen till Ön (Welcome to the Island) is a comedic look at annoying people and their frustrating habits. Each week she discusses these people and whether they should be sent off to a deserted island far, far away. The show just finished its second season, during which Fatima learned how to edit and produce her own episodes. Her favorite part of Sound Up? “To have been given the opportunity to learn an entirely new skill set,” shared the host. “However, my absolute favorite part was getting acquainted with technical equipment.”

 

Roba Kadhem (Sweden)

Currently in its third season, Lyssna Tjejer (Listen Girls) is a podcast cohosted by Roba Kadhem and Aya Said. On the show, the two discuss topics from Pink Room, Scandinavia’s largest Facebook group for women. Through Sound Up, Roba has experienced a greater sense of community from others in the industry. “It was so cozy to see these incredible people every week and get to know them so well even through a virtual meeting,” explained Roba. 

 

Arunima Tenzin Tara (India)


In Dinner by Ear, host Arunima Tenzin Tara gives listeners tips on preparing dinner in only 30 minutes. Arunima is currently testing out new recipes, developing quick versions of dinners she loves, and reading up on as much food history as possible. Still in the middle of her Sound Up program, all this preparation will allow her to start recording episodes as soon as it’s time. Her favorite part of the experience thus far has been determining why she was making this show and who her audience was. “I think this exercise was something that I enjoyed because it forced me to critically analyze my podcast concept and narrow the audience down to a very particular kind of person,” explained Arunima. “This focus has helped me gain clarity about the kind of recipes to include in the show.” As she moves into the next phase of the program, Arunima will have the chance to record sounds in the kitchen, create original music, and spend time perfecting her voice.

 

Shreya Dasgupta (India)

Shreya Dasgupta’s podcast, Imagined Tomorrow, features a variety of experts who use their backgrounds in science and technology to speculate on India’s future. Shreya is using the tools she learned in phase one of her Sound Up experience to prepare for a new season; she’s currently in the outlining, researching, and reporting process for upcoming episodes. So far, she’s had two favorite parts of the program. “The first has been getting to know such incredibly creative fellow podcasters,” said Shreya. “The second has been learning from the Sound Up mentors and others on the Spotify team who not only placed their faith in my idea, but have been super committed and enthusiastic about seeing my vision through.” Shreya will soon be entering phase two of her Sound Up experience.

 

Maickson Serrão (Brazil)


Maickson’s Pavulagem – Contos da Floresta (Pavulagem – Tales From the Forest) is a nonfiction podcast about Amazonian folklore stories. The creator is currently working with his team to map out the storyline for all 12 of the show’s episodes. “We’ll talk about creatures like Mãe da Mata (Mother of the Forest), a really famous legend here, but also unknown tales like the bird that eats people,” shared Maickson. “I have already interviewed some traditional storytellers. These people live off the many rivers in the region and are also elders from Indigenous people from the Brazilian Amazon.” During his Sound Up experience, Maickson appreciated how hands-on the program was while still allowing plenty of opportunity for creative freedom. “I hope that all participants from Sound Up become very successful and that the program continues to impact the lives of many other young talents in our country. Many stories need to be told of Brazil’s pluralities and blooming diversity,” said Maickson.

 

Samara Costa (Brazil)

ZUMBIR is a podcast that highlights Afrofuturist fictional tales. The creator, Samara Costa, is currently working on ideas for episodes, and that involves a lot of traveling. She recently visited Angola as part of her research. “The Angolan stories and myths made a big impact on me, especially the sound, mysticism, and lifestyle of young Angolans,” explained Samara. “I think that the combination of both Brazilian and Angolan references will be elements that will serve as a basis for the creation of some ZUMBIR episodes.” Her favorite part of the Sound Up experience was seeing her pilot episode come to life, from an idea on paper to a polished episode. “I was able to feel the voice of the characters, how they talk, walk, how they laugh, all through audio.… It was fantastic! All of this was created with the technical and emotional support of everyone involved in Sound Up, from mentors and organizers to friends that I made during the program.”

 

Caio (Brazil)

Raízes is a documentary podcast that tells the stories of Brazilian families. In the first season, Caio investigates his own origins in an effort to answer one question: Where did I come from? The Sound Up participant is currently working on producing the first season and has already written two scripts. “I’m betting that a lot of people will connect with the charisma of the characters and their stories,” shared Caio. For the next phase of his journey, the podcaster is hoping to continue telling tales from the people of Northeast Brazil. 

 

Lucas Moura (Brazil)

Lucas Moura’s Calunguinha, o cantador de histórias (Calunguinha, the Singer of Tales) is a fictional podcast that Lucas hopes will expand the imagination of Black children by sharing the history of Black people in both Brazil and around the world. Lucas is currently working on finalizing scripts and finding the right voices to make them shine. The creator’s favorite part of the Sound Up program was the artists he was able to meet with for the podcast. “We invited one artist (Lázaro Ramos) to participate in our podcast and he accepted,” explained Lucas. “There it became clear to me that Sound Up is a project that can help broaden my horizons.”

 

Peppa Smith (Australia)


Yaama Mama is a podcast created by Peppa Smith that focuses on parenting Indigenous kids. Through both serious themes and sarcastic commentary, the show examines and dismantles the way parents are taught to raise children in her community. Peppa is currently in research mode, working on collecting information to be used in her episodes. One of her favorite parts of Sound Up was the people she’s had a chance to meet. “There’s been meetings where I have met with some hugely clever and talented people in the industry,” said the podcaster. “I’ve also been lucky that the other members of the cohort for 2021 are a brilliant, funny, and incredibly good-looking mob.”

These creators and their stories are just a small sampling of the podcasts that are being developed through Sound Up. To learn more about the program and how it’s working to amplify underrepresented voices, visit Sound Up’s website.

Chart-Topping Chilean Podcast ‘Caso 63’ Gears Up for Season 2—And Announces an English-Language Adaptation

September 29, 2021

Since its release in November 2020, Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been topping charts and taking on new markets. The 10-episode Chilean science fiction story has become the most-listened-to scripted Original podcast in Latin America and was even adapted for Brazilian and Indian listeners as well. To continue this tale’s captivating hold, Spotify will be releasing an English-language adaptation of this story in the United States, premiering in late 2021. But perhaps the most exciting news for fans and could-be fans is that the team behind Caso 63 will be releasing a second season later this year, with creator Julio Rojas at the helm.

Season one of Caso 63 centers on the interactions between fictional psychiatrist Elisa Aldunate  and her client, “Patient 63.” Each episode marks a new “session,” and as the story progresses, time, space, and reality begin to blur. Over the course of 10 episodes, this thought-provoking mystery plays with listeners’ minds and causes them to question what is and isn’t real.

Caso 63’s popularity with listeners has helped the show reach a new milestone within podcasting: This is the first time a non-English-language Spotify Original podcast has been adapted to multiple languages. The Chilean show, which stars actors Antonia Zegers and Néstor Cantillana, received so much buzz that, less than a year after its release, Spotify adapted the thrilling mystery into a Portuguese-language version, Paciente 63, featuring Brazilian actors Seu Jorge and Mel Lisboa. And earlier this month, Spotify India created a Hindi-language adaptation of the podcast called Virus 2062, starring Bollywood actors and husband-and-wife duo Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. Now, casting is underway for the English-language adaptation.

But even before breaking a Spotify record, its large following was also reflected in the charts with Caso 63 ranking number one on Argentina’s and Mexico’s Top Podcasts charts for nearly a month following its premiere. It also reached number one on the Trending Podcasts charts in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S.

Non-Spanish speaking listeners are loving the show just as much. In India, the adaptation, Virus 2062, reached number one on Spotify’s local Trending chart and landed on the top five on Spotify’s local Top Podcasts charts. The Brazilian adaptation, Paciente 63, ranked number one on Brazil’s local Trending Podcasts chart the day after it premiered and stayed there for over two weeks. It also reached the top spot on Brazil’s Fiction charts and stayed there for over a month.

Creator Rojas has long credited the show’s appeal to its format. He says the audio-only medium calls back to the way stories have been handed down for centuries, inviting listeners to fill in the blanks with their imaginations.

“The LATAM team on the ground, led by [Spotify’s] Javier Piñol, created a universal story that transported listeners into their own imaginations alongside the lead characters. The adaptations in both Brazil and India, and soon the U.S., utilized local teams and talent to reimagine the story for new audiences,” said Courtney Holt, Global Head of Podcasts and New Initiatives at Spotify. “The success we’ve seen in all the market adaptations thus far has reinforced Spotify’s mission to provide creators with the opportunity to develop stories and expose audiences worldwide to the best storytelling narratives, regardless of origin.”

Ready to tap into your imagination and start your session with Dr. Aldunate? Catch season one below. And stay tuned for the English-language adaptation of the global podcast phenomenon, coming soon.

Spotify’s Music + Talk Show Format is Expanding Across the Globe

August 18, 2021

Music + Talk gif

Last October, Spotify launched a pioneering listening experience called Music + Talk that brings together music and spoken-word content. The unique format weaves full songs and talk commentary together​ into one show.

Through Anchor, Spotify has also made Music + Talk an accessible format that anyone can use to create these unique shows. Anchor’s suite of tools is already available to users in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Starting today, we’re expanding the experience to millions more creators and listeners around the world and sharing the tool with 15 new markets across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

Where in the world is Music + Talk?

With this expansion, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia will have access to the blended audio experience.

Creators in these markets will now have access to the “Music” tool in Anchor, where they can incorporate full songs from Spotify’s library of 70 million tracks into their spoken-word audio creations. And in return, listeners can interact directly with the music within an episode by liking, saving, and sharing with each track as they would in any playlist. 

The shows will be available to Premium and Free listeners. Spotify Premium users will hear full tracks as part of these shows, while Free users will hear 30-second previews of each song. Shows can be listened to globally wherever Spotify is available.

Our catalog of Music + Talk Spotify Originals will also get a boost across a number of markets as new shows from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, India, Japan, and the Philippines join our library today. Plus, there’s more to come from all the markets included in our latest launch. These shows will explore the many facets of music, from the stories and inspiration behind a song to the listening trends of the modern age, and they will offer an opportunity for artists to engage listeners in a unique way.

More ways to get inspired

Along with the market expansion, Spotify will begin offering a variety of new educational and inspirational resources for creators interested in using Music + Talk.

Today also marks the launch of an exciting new Spotify Original called Music + Talk: Unlocked, which will explore creative uses of the Music + Talk format—from guided runs to music trivia and more. Listeners and creators can find more best-in-class shows in the Music + Talk hub in the Spotify app.

Since we rolled out Music + Talk last year, we’ve learned from the needs and behaviors of listeners, as we always do with new products. Savvy streamers will notice that we’ve implemented small tweaks to improve the listening experience and reflect those needs: clearer visual distinction between the music and talk segments of an episode and music previews on episode pages.

We can’t wait to see new creativity and stories from around the globe as more markets make the audio storytelling features their own. Check out Anchor’s blog post and creator landing page for more information on how to get started with Music + Talk.

DJ Snake and Dhee Light Up the World With the First Spotify Single From India

July 1, 2021

Spotify Singles recently hit a milestone of 5 billion streams. In just four and a half years, the program has boasted more than 630 recordings from more than 300 artists across all genres and in countries around the world. Artists such as Tove Lo, John Legend, LeAnn Rimes, Zara Larsson, Sting, Ed Sheeran, Lauv, and Norah Jones have taken advantage of the opportunity to record a version of their own song or to cover a favorite hit—and in the process, they’ve created something new and special while also opening up the discoverability of the song to more listeners in newer markets. 

Now there’s a new set of artists getting in on the mix and opening doors to the Spotify Singles program in its newest market: India. On World Music Day, June 21, Spotify launched “Enjoy Enjaami – Spotify Singles,” a collaboration between India-based Tamil artist Dhee and popular French record producer and icon DJ Snake. 

Dhee’s original track “Enjoy Enjaami” is a Tamil-language song featuring Arivu, who also wrote the lyrics, and was produced by Santhosh Narayanan. The track went viral with more than 15 million streams on Spotify, marking a milestone for a regional artist’s debut single. The track was not only streamed heavily in the Tamil-speaking city of Chennai, but also across other cities in India, and global cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, and London. By bringing Dhee together with DJ Snake, who has a huge following in India, the new Spotify Singles track is a way for both artists to reach an even wider audience in India, France, and beyond.

“I love that people across the world are vibing to this version of ‘Enjoy Enjaami,’” DJ Snake told For the Record. “The first time I heard the song, I knew I wanted to work on it. Once the opportunity did arise, it took me all of two hours to re-create it for a global audience. Even though many listeners may not understand the lyrics, it only further confirms that music is borderless. The fact that streams are coming from across the world makes me so happy.”

In its first 10 days on platform, the single amassed more than 1.4 million streams in India and France, but also in markets like Germany, Mexico, Japan, and Brazil, among others. It has featured in over 60 Spotify editorial playlists, including 30 New Music Friday playlists and more than 10,000 user playlists across the world. The artists and the track also featured on Spotify’s Times Square billboard in New York during the release week.

Echoing DJ Snake’s sentiments, Dhee said, “I am so grateful and mindblown just thinking about how many people across the world are listening to this song. This song means a lot to us and it’s also my debut single. After all the beautiful feedback we’ve gotten from India, I am overwhelmed with the response from listeners all over the world—it’s so heartwarming. Spotify’s global reach has opened up opportunities for artists like me to put music out and truly bring people together.”

This single is not the first border- and genre-crossing collaboration of its kind. Recently, Korea RADAR artist AleXa partnered with MENA RADAR artist Bader for the program’s newest single. Initiatives like these two allow rich music cultures to cross-pollinate and reach new listeners in 170+ markets around the world. 

From India’s emerging independent artists to larger established ones, Spotify has supported the local music ecosystem not just within the market, but around the world. This is just the first of hopefully many Spotify Singles from India—something that will help us accelerate the discovery of more genres of local music. 

Want to feast your eyes on the visuals of Enjoy Enjaami combined with DJ Snake’s international music vibe? Check it out here.

‘Wakhra Swag’ – Tracing the Global Rise of Punjabi Pop

April 6, 2021

From the pind (village) to pan-India, and from there the world, Punjabi music has seen a meteoric rise, capturing the imagination—and dance moves—of millions. From swagger-filled lyrics and globally-inspired sound production, to banging beats and mega-budget music videos, Punjabi Pop has grown into a larger-than-life celebration of cultural moments that is driving a whole new generation of fans and artists.

Global growth

The essence of Punjabi Pop can be traced back to its humble beginnings as an independent genre in the late 1950s. It has since grown from classical folk Punjabi songs, where poets and singers composed ballads, to a multi-million dollar industry. In fact, by 2018, it was almost five times the size of India’s Telugu music industry, the second-largest in the country’s regional music market.

It was in the 1990s that Punjabi Pop garnered mainstream prominence as iconic artists like Daler Mehndi, Gurdas Maan, Bally Sagoo, and Malkit Singh ruled music charts, producing singles and albums that have gained cult status today. 

Then, in the 2000s, the genre’s talent truly took center stage. These years saw the rise of Punjabi Pop artists Jay Sean, Dr Zeus, Miss Pooja, Panjabi MC, Juggy D, Jazzy B, and more.  The global contribution of Punjabi Pop is exemplified in the mash-up of “Mundian To Bach Ke” by Panjabi MC featuring Jay-Z. The original track, produced in the late ’90s, shot to global fame when it caught Jay-Z’s eye and was later re-released as a remixed single in 2003.

The 2010s saw the true globalization of Punjabi Pop, taking the Indian music industry into overdrive. By the end of the decade, a reported 20 songs were written, composed, recorded, and released, every day. From household names to global stars, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, Guru Randhawa, Hard Kaur, B Praak, Jassie Gill, Garry Sandhu, and Jasmine Sandlas, among many others, defined this decade.

Punjabi music has continued to grow in popularity among global listeners, and there are now several emerging Punjabi artists across the UK, the U.S., and Canada. Fusion music, remixed classics, and crossovers have gained immense popularity and great response internationally. 

Punjabi Pop is currently the highest performing genre for Punjabi music on Spotify, and in 2020, Punjabi Pop was the sixth-most consumed genre on the platform in India. Even the top 10 most-streamed Punjabi tracks featured Punjabi Pop—in addition to Punjabi Hip Hop and Bhangra.

Discover more

Since its launch two years ago, the Punjabi 101 editorial playlist on Spotify helps listeners discover the best Punjabi songs to stream. It’s grown significantly in this short time, with more than 300,000 followers to-date.

Want to learn more? To celebrate the genre’s vibrant journey and the artists who made it happen, Spotify recently launched a microsite where you can discover even more playlists and delve deeper into the genre’s artists. You can visit it here.

Spotify Listeners in 11 Markets Can Now Ask Alexa to Play Podcasts—Here’s How

December 16, 2020

Last year, we announced that U.S. listeners could ask their Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts. Starting today, listeners in 11 new markets—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India, Austria, and Ireland—can ask Alexa to do the same. 

Podcasts delight, entertain, inform, and inspire people across the world, and there’s always more to stream, for both Free and Premium listeners. Now with Alexa, you can get listening to any of the millions more on Spotify—just by using your voice.

Ready to get started? Setup is easy, and only takes a few moments:

  1. Go to the Amazon Alexa App.
  2. Open the menu, head to Settings, then Music & Podcasts.
  3. If Spotify is not connected, tap “Link New Service” and select Spotify.
  4. Link your Spotify account to your Alexa account.
  5. If you’re in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, or the UK, tap “Default Services,” and then select Spotify as the default podcast service.
  6. Say “Alexa, play [your podcast of choice] podcast on Spotify” and get listening!


Not sure what to start with? New podcasts from every market and in many languages are increasingly available on Spotify. Just check out a few that have come out in each of the markets where Alexa is available this year:

To learn more about playing podcasts on all your Alexa devices at home, head to the Amazon Alexa Explore Spotify page.

*Update February 4, 2021: Listeners in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update March 31, 2021: Listeners in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Sweden, Poland, and the Netherlands can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update April 28, 2021: Listeners in Belgium and Switzerland can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update May 26, 2021: Listeners in Singapore, Denmark, and Norway can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update June 16, 2021: Listeners in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update December 8, 2021: Listeners in Saudi Arabia and U.A.E can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite songs on Spotify. Users in U.A.E can also enjoy their favorite podcasts.

*Update May 25, 2022: Listeners in Ecuador, Hong Kong, South Africa, Taiwan, and Thailand can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite music and podcasts.

New Insights Reveal Podcast Patterns in India

December 8, 2020

In this 24/7 world, people often feel stretched for time. How do you balance your schedule with the things you want to do and what’s necessary? To gain a better understanding of how people are spending their days, Spotify conducted a survey with YouGov* in India. 

The November 2020 survey findings revealed that 46% of the respondents felt that they have only a bit of time, or none at all, to do the things they liked. And nearly two-thirds of the respondents wished they had more time for activities like general entertainment, relaxation, or learning new things.

Podcast listening is growing in India, and this medium is a great way for listeners to discover the enriching and entertaining content they want. Whether in the car, cooking, exercising, or doing household chores, with podcasts there’s an opportunity also to use that time to listen to a riveting story, catch up on the news, get in a laugh, or learn something new. Here are a few other things we learned in the survey:

With these survey results in mind, we set out to see which shows Indian listeners were most drawn to on Spotify in 2020. Our annual Wrapped campaign, which looks at what listeners have been enjoying over the past year, shows that the country’s podcast listening trends align closely with the YouGov survey results: Indians prefer inspiring content that teaches them something new. Take a look at some other listening trends we saw on Spotify in India:  

While Spotify has been present in India since 2019, some of our listeners explored their first podcast this year. For this group, the most popular genres were Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Lifestyle & Health. Not sure where to start? Try our top Spotify Original Podcast in India, Maha Bharat with Dhruv Rathee. 

*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Singapore Pte Ltd. Total sample size was 1,035 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken in November 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Indian adults (aged 18+) nationally.

Celebrating One Year of Spotify Lite

September 8, 2020

A year ago, we unveiled Spotify Lite, a small, fast, and simplified version of our app. It was built from the ground up based on user feedback from around the world, and has allowed millions of listeners in areas with limited bandwidth and phone storage to enjoy audio wherever they are. And as our users globally have found, though the app is lite, it’s just as loud.

In the 12 months since launch, listeners around the world have enjoyed and discovered thousands of new artists and podcasts—while easily controlling their data and storage. But where have fans been streaming from Spotify Lite the most, and what have they been streaming?

Since July 2019, we found that our listeners in Brazil have listened to the most music using Lite, out of all 37 markets with the app.* They’re followed by Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Argentina.

Even though some Lite users are on opposite sides of the world, they share some interesting listening patterns. For one, Mondays and Sundays are the top days for streaming, and lunch is the most common time to listen to music and podcasts.

Take a look at what they’re listening to:

Top Tracks

  1. “Señorita” – Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes
  2. “Dance Monkey” – Tones And I
  3. “Tusa” – KAROL G, Nicki Minaj
  4. “China” – Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, KAROL G, Ozuna
  5. “LA CANCIÓN” – Bad Bunny, J Balvin

Top Podcasts

  1. PODKESMAS (PODCAST KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT)
  2. Rintik Sedu
  3. Do You See What I See?
  4. NerdCast
  5. Kajian Hanan Attaki

Indonesia clearly had a great year for podcasts, with the market’s PODKESMAS, Rintik Sedu, and Do You See What I See all in the top five of the most streamed.

Plus, with a new year comes new growth—or rather, a reduction. Although the app was already small—only 10 MB when it came out of beta in 2019—we’ve been able to reduce the Lite app download size by an additional 15%.** This saves even more space on listeners’ phones while offering more than 60 million tracks and 1.5 million podcasts, regardless of network connectivity, data plan, and whether or not they have the latest phone.

The Spotify Lite app can be downloaded separately from the main Spotify app, and is available for both Free and Spotify Premium users. Use it alongside or independently from the main Spotify app on all Android phones running version 4.3 or higher.

*Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, India.

**App download size can vary depending on phone types.

India’s Sanjeeta Bhattacharya Dabbles Freely Across Styles

July 2, 2020

Sanjeeta Bhattacharya may have studied overseas at Boston’s famed Berklee College of Music, but the Delhi-based singer-songwriter is really a lifelong student of music. Growing up in an artistic family, she embarked on taking piano lessons and learning classical dance when she was just five. Fast-forward to today, and at age 24 she plays Balkan music and flamenco as readily as she plays jazz, pop, and folk.

“A lot of my learning was based on ear training,” Bhattacharya tells For the Record, referring to the fundamental method of identifying pitches and other musical elements by hearing alone. “As a result, I still relate to and lean toward eastern harmony, and the melodies I write incorporate these inflections. It has made me open to ideas, and I often find myself drawing parallels in what I hear and see around the world with my own roots.”

That global perspective is what makes Bhattacharya a great fit for India in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at all stages of their careers strengthen their connection to audiences via Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives. 

“I feel very humbled and grateful,” Bhattacharya says of her inclusion in the RADAR program. “I love the concept and am thankful they’ve chosen to amplify my music through this initiative. It warms me to know that the music I write truthfully, and the stories I want to share, are able to reach a global audience.”

At Berklee, Bhattacharya had the chance to watch artists like Esperanza Spalding and Herbie Hancock play live. “You have access to music from the world over on the internet, but to experience it in person is very different,” she says. “The one thing I took away from college is humility—to recognize that one of the greatest gifts we have is the power to communicate, and to use that power responsibly.” 

Emotional communication through lyrics is one of Bhattacharya’s obvious strengths, whether she’s duetting with Susmit Bose on the American folk standard “Wayfaring Stranger” for the soundtrack of the 2016 movie M Cream or tenderly plucking heartstrings against plaintive violin and cello on 2017’s “I Will Wait.” Her singing rises and flutters beautifully while remaining controlled and emotionally grounded, even when making a jazzier turn on 2018’s “Natsukashii” or stripping down to smoldering folk balladry for “Watercolour” featuring New Delhi singer-guitarist Dhruv Visvanath.

Though she primarily sings in English, which she grew up speaking, along with Hindi and Bengali, Bhattacharya has sung in Spanish and other languages, too. Inspired by “the divine friendship” between philosophical poets Rumi and Shams-i-Tabrīzī around the turn of the 13th century, her 2018 single “Shams” includes lyrics in both Hindi and Urdu, while “Natsukashii” takes its name from a Japanese word for nostalgia.

“I have always had a fascination for languages,” she says. “They connect me in some way to the history of the places where those languages were born. I like to explore these languages and see how best I can relate them with experiences in my own life.”

Following her studies at Berklee, where one highlight was performing at a live tribute to iconic Indian composer A.R. Rahman at the Boston Symphony Hall, Bhattacharya returned to India, balancing close-quarters gigs with large-scale festivals.

She has toured much of the country, though she has yet to play in Madhya Pradesh, a large state in central India. While that’s very much on her list, she has been limited this year by the impacts of COVID-19. But rather than let that sideline her, Bhattacharya has been hosting live-streamed concerts and donating all proceeds to nonprofit organizations. 

“I love playing unplugged, rather than singing into microphones; it’s very liberating to me,” she says of the live-streaming experience. “That being said, I do miss the energy of an audience that surrounds you. Seeing faces react, hearing their voices, feeling the warmth in the room makes a huge difference to me. I hope we are able to cope and recoup soon, and share our stories at least with an intimate gathering.”

Check Sanjeeta’s top tracks on Spotify.

A Close Look at India’s Love for International Pop

May 4, 2020

Did you know there was once a Danish band that was more popular in India than in Denmark? The group Michael Learns to Rock shot to fame with singles like “The Actor” and “That’s Why You Go Away” in the ’90s. At the height of their success, they made tour stops in the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Chennai. The band was so well received that they amassed an enormous cult following across the country for years to come. 

“They got into cabs and went to the airport in Copenhagen—living the normal life. And when they landed in India, there was a huge entourage that greeted them with garlands, and limousines carried them to their hotels,” Padmanabhan Nurani, Spotify’s Head of Artists and Label Marketing India, tells For the Record. 

It’s just a mere glimpse of how the country’s music fans have long embraced local and global artists. 

Home to countless Bollywood stars, along with raga virtuosos, indie talent, and more, India has been a vibrant hub for international music and a top tour destination for world-class acts like Led Zeppelin and Bruce Springsteen. Sneha Singh, Head of Music Culture and Editorial India, credits the rich diversity of the country’s music landscape for this broad acceptance of global sounds.

“Because we have so many languages, it’s just ingrained in us to take in and to respect each other’s cultures,” Singh tells For the Record. “Acceptance is fairly easy and this means we listen to all kinds of music.”

The robust and rich content on Spotify India ranges from locally curated favorites like Top Hits Hindi and Punjabi 101 to global playlists like Today’s Top Hits and New Music Friday. Now, with the recent addition of the Warner Music Group catalog in India, listeners are also streaming the latest tracks from global stars such as Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, and Cardi B, and rock fans have access to entire discographies of Coldplay, Linkin Park, and The Doors, among others.

In the first two weeks of the catalog’s availability in India, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa were the top two most-searched Warner Music artists, respectively. The most-searched-for tracks were “Dance Monkey“ by Australian songwriter Tones And I, followed by Roddy Ricch’s infectious hip-hop anthem “The Box.” 

Nurani says it’s no surprise that Ed Sheeran comes up tops for the nation of 1.3 billion people. Sheeran has performed in India twice. In 2017 he greeted his audience with a respectful “namaste” (“hello” in Hindi) before performing dressed in a blue silk kurta, the traditional shirt worn across South Asia. The “Shape of You” star’s choice of wardrobe made national headlines, and the song played on the radio for the next two years. 

Like Sheeran, Dua Lipa is also a regular in India and shows her appreciation for local culture whenever she performs there. Before playing in Mumbai last year, Dua Lipa took some time to meet with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and even picked up a few of his dance moves. Khan’s post to Instagram fed a local media frenzy online and delighted fans everywhere—such is the interest in “Bollywood meets Hollywood.”

To editorial expert Singh, these cross-cultural collaborations are all a natural expression of how pop culture works in this diverse, music-savvy country. “We have borrowed from the West, and the other way around,” she says. “Music has always been about inspiration and evolving it for the listener’s ears.”

Looking for a deep dive into Indian pop? Start with Spotify’s Hot Hits India playlist and keep going with New Music Friday India and This Is Arjit Singh.