Tag: john legend

That’s a Wrap on Cannes Lions 2024! Inside the Awards, Spotify Beach Action, and More

June 21, 2024

This week, Spotify returned to the South of France for the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which recognizes excellence in the world of marketing and advertising. This annual gathering of the biggest brands, coolest creators, and most famous faces is an exciting opportunity to showcase how our platform inspires creativity, connection, and innovation.

This year, we’re thrilled to share that Spotify Advertising took home nine awards for Spreadbeats, our latest B2B marketing campaign that features a first-of-its-kind music video made and distributed entirely in a media plan spreadsheet. The campaign earned one Grand Prix Lion, two Gold Lions, three Silver Lions, and three Bronze Lions across several categories, including Digital Craft, Creative B2B, Creative Data, and more. It was the most shortlisted of all Cannes Lions submissions. Additionally, Spotify won a Bronze Lion in the Creative Effectiveness category for our 2023 Wrapped On-Platform experience, our biggest Wrapped yet.

These wins cap off a jam-packed week for Spotify at Cannes. With it being our 10th year at the festival, we wanted to make sure the Spotify experience was more alive than ever. As Cannes Lions lit up the Croisette, Spotify Beach was at the center of the action, home to inspiring conversations during the day and unmissable musical performances at night. Relive all the festivities and see photos from each day below.

Monday, June 17

We kicked things off with some fascinating conversations with singer-songwriter Shaboozey and PepsiCo International Beverages Chief Marketing Officer Mark Kirkham, who touched on brand partnership and creative content, with a special focus on the relationship between music, sports, and culture.

From there, comedian, content creator, and Therapuss host Jake Shane sat down with Brad Ross, VP of Global Sports and Entertainment Marketing & Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company, to discuss building a community on Spotify and defining your brand. We capped the conversation off with the exciting announcement that Spotify is bringing daylist—our ever-changing playlist feature—to even more fans in more languages around the world in the coming months. “I love using Spotify to document my life—I add songs kind of like a diary. With daylist, it’s really fun getting playlists that capture what I’m feeling on a random Tuesday afternoon or a Sunday morning,” said Jake. “It’s like a musical diary entry made for me.”

Last but not least, we gathered some of the week’s hottest stars at a scenic villa in the hills for our annual Spotify Soirée. The evening featured an acoustic performance from John Legend, as well as DJ sets from Tinea Taylor and Pearl Thusi. Guests included Jessica Alba, Joe Burrow, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York, Alix Earle, and Sophia Bush, among others.

Spotify Is Back to the Beach for Its Tenth Year at the Annual Cannes Lions Festival

June 6, 2024

Each year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, Spotify showcases how our platform inspires artists, creators, and advertisers to do what they do best: Create. In fact, this year is Spotify’s tenth year at Cannes Lions. For this special occasion, we’re pressing play on a Spotify Beach that’s more alive than ever. All week, we’ll bring to life the immersive experience of our platform, welcoming attendees to explore the home of creativity: Spotify. 

From Monday, June 17, through Thursday, June 20, Spotify Beach will be a sunup-to-sundown hub of activity with daytime sessions from some of the world’s most influential voices, including EGOT-winner John Legend, 10-time Grammy-nominated singer Janelle Monáe, and singer-songwriters Tyla and Shaboozey. We’ll also be hosting two evenings of can’t-miss concerts featuring Benson Boone, Tyla, Shaboozey, and Arcade Fire, and a DJ set from Justice. John Legend will perform during o​​ur special opening-night soirée taking place at a secret location as well. 

“Spotify is home to premier content that drives culture. It’s part of our DNA to stay innovative, and we use this superpower to create impactful connections between artists, listeners, and brands,” said Brian Berner, Spotify’s Head of Global Advertising Sales & Partnerships. “This year, we’re spotlighting the culture-defining creators that live on Spotify and how we’ve evolved as a platform to become the destination for advertisers looking to creatively engage with fans in an authentic and impactful way.”

“More than ever, this year’s Spotify Beach lineup features the next generation of superstars like Tyla, Shaboozey, and Benson, who have captured the eyes and ears of music fans in 2024 and have some of the hottest songs of the summer,” said Joe Hadley, Global Head of Artist Partnerships & Audience at Spotify. “We’ve always taken pride in our Spotify Beach stage. It’s a place where superstars and rising talents are celebrated, a real-life representation of Spotify’s commitment to growing careers at every level.”

Spotify Beach will also be the spot for a series of interactive, immersive experiences, including a Jam Bike offering daily Jam playlists for guests to contribute to, a Song Psychic experience, a personalized Mix Bar featuring beach-vibes music made just for you, an interactive coffee bar where guests can listen in live to our podcast recording sessions, and much more. Spotify’s ever-changing daylist playlists will be the guiding theme of our Spotify Beach space. We’ll ask our guests the question on everybody’s minds this year: “What’s on your daylist?” Additionally, our meeting rooms and podcast studio will be styled in a daylist motif so guests can step into the  daylist experience. 

Here’s what’s happening daily:

Monday, June 17

in your fandom feels monday morning

Spotify’s a global brand, so we have a unique understanding of the themes that fuel music, sports, and brand culture and the magic that happens when you connect these areas. Join us for a conversation on brand partnership and creative content with Shaboozey and PepsiCo’s International Beverages Chief Marketing Officer, Mark Kirkham.

iconic gen z groove monday afternoon

Gen Z is culture. Spotify is culture. So is Gen Z…Spotify? We say yes, but don’t just take our word for it. Join us for a discussion on the bond between artists and fans, building community on Spotify, and defining your brand with Tyla and comedian, content creator, and podcast host Jake Shane. 

Tuesday, June 18

a legendary talk tuesday morning

John Legend is renowned as a chart-topping R&B icon, an EGOT winner, and senior coach on The Voice. He’s also added entrepreneur to his resume, with the launch of his skincare line, Loved01; pet-food brand, Kismet; a signature line of wines, LVE Collection; and more. Spotify Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins will talk to John about how his inspiration, authenticity, and creative spirit led to the creation of his powerful professional and personal brands. 

podcast trends takeover tuesday afternoon

Our Podcast Trends Tour comes to life via a live, custom Spotify game show. Hosted by creator Robyn Delmonte aka Girlbosstown, U Up? cohosts Jordana Abraham and Jared Freid square  off against Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry from The Colin and Samir Show. Contestants will be tested on how well they know their podcast partners, as well as their opinions of the latest podcast trends.

Nighttime performances featuring Benson Boone, Tyla, and Shaboozey. DJ sets from Tinea Taylor & Arthi.

Wednesday, June 19

future creator core wednesday morning

Gen Z has been called the most creative generation yet, and this session will put the innovative spirit of some imaginative young leaders on full display. French creator and videographer Sally will share what creativity means to her, followed by a celebration of the most innovative ideas from the 2024 Future Lions competition with global digital design and communications agency AKQA. 

melodic ai dive wednesday 

Spotify’s Global Head of Music Partnerships and Audience, Joe Hadley, and  Xavier “X” Jernigan, Spotify’s original AI DJ, discuss the ever-evolving landscape of creativity and authenticity in the era of artificial intelligence with Janelle Monae. This session will cover everything from the exploration of AI’s impact on artistic expression to the intersection of technology and human curation. X will also host an interactive game of AI bingo, quizzing guests on their true audio intelligence.

Nighttime performances featuring Arcade Fire and a DJ set from Justice. DJ sets by Pearl Thusi & Arthi. 

Meet Alaina Castillo — Bilingual Singer-Songwriter and Featured U.S. RADAR Artist

March 30, 2020

Recently, Spotify launched RADAR, a global development program for emerging artists around the world. RADAR allows us to deepen our commitment to young talent at all stages and strengthen their connections to their audiences. One such young talent we’re excited to support is U.S.-based singer-songwriter Alaina Castillo.

Prior to her junior year of high school, Alaina’s musical career revolved around singing in the church choir. Then, she began posting original songs, covers, and ASMR content on her video channel. In a matter of months, the Houston native had accumulated nearly 800,000 subscribers and made a fan of RØMANS — a producer known for churning out hits from pop stars like Demi Levato, John Legend, and Clean Bandit. From there, her career took off. 

RØMANS went on to produce Alaina’s debut EP in 2019, Antisocial Butterfly, which showcased her ability to weave beautifully between her two languages, English and Spanish. The album’s hit single, “i don’t think i love you anymore,” raked in more than 3 million streams on Spotify and paved the way for her sophomore single, “Valentine’s Day.” Most recently, she released two new singles, “ocean waves” and “just a boy,” and two Spotify Singles recordings.

We caught up with the RADAR U.S. representative for an inside look at her EP Antisocial Butterfly, what it was like to collaborate with RØMANS, and life on Spotify’s RADAR.

Spotify Reveals ‘Legendary’ Top Love Song Ahead of Valentine’s Day

February 11, 2020

With more than 1.1 billion streams on Spotify to date, John Legend’s hit song, “All of Me” may just be the ultimate romantic legend. Streaming has shown that it’s the top song for lovers on Spotify, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“I hear from so many people that they’ve used it to propose, to walk down the aisle, and to celebrate milestones,” Legend told For the Record. “Thank you all for making me a part of your most memorable moments.”

So, how do we define the top love song on Spotify? By the listeners, of course. Check out the data that shows the mind-blowing popularity of this track:

  • “All of Me” is the most-added song in love-themed playlists. Spotify listeners have created more than 75 million playlists with the word love in the title.
  • The track is also the top song choice for both men and women on playlists titled “Valentine’s Day.”
  • “All of Me” has been added to more than 29 million playlists.
  • Since its release in 2013, streams of the track have spiked by at least 50% every year on Valentine’s Day (the most notable spike was in 2017 with an 85% increase in streams).

“The impact of ‘All of Me’ continues to amaze and inspire me,” Legend said. “I’m so honored to know we created something that has meant so much to so many people. I wrote this song to express how I felt to the woman I love as we were about to commit to a lifetime together. But often the best songs are able to express something in a way that is both personal and universal. I’m grateful to know that lovers around the world have connected with this song and made it their own.”

Spotify fans simply can’t get enough of People’s 2019 “Sexiest Man Alive” and his new single, “Conversations in the Dark,” which has already seen more than 10 million streams on Spotify since its release last month. And according to John, the track has wife Chrissy Teigen’s stamp of approval: “Chrissy has even said it’s her favorite song of mine since ‘All of Me,’ and that’s pretty high praise from her!”

“‘Conversations’ is about those little intimate, magical moments that loved ones share and the commitment to protect each other’s heart,” Legend added. “I’m excited to see the journey that this song will take. It has only been out for a few weeks, but I’ve already seen so many passionate, emotional reactions to ‘Conversations in the Dark.’” 

And clearly music makes for the best romantic gift on Valentine’s Day. We’ve seen a growing trend with listeners choosing to share their Valentine’s Day playlists with their special someone on Spotify. Last year, Valentine’s Day playlists were gifted (aka shared) almost twice as much on February 14 compared to 2018. 

As for what John and Chrissy have planned this February 14, Legend has something special in the works. “Chrissy and I do have Valentine’s Day plans,” Legend said. “We’ll get away from the kids for a night, go up to Napa Valley and visit one of our favorite restaurants. I’m looking forward to it!”

If you need inspiration for what to add to your romantic playlist, look no further than Legend’s catalog on Spotify: This Is John Legend. Also check out Love Pop, Spotify’s most-followed playlist of love songs. 

Spotify and Procter & Gamble Dive into Bias in Music with “Harmonize” Original Podcast

November 14, 2019

“You’re not pretty for a Black girl. You are beautiful, period.”

With this simple reminder from a mother to her young daughter, Procter & Gamble’s award-winning campaign, “The Talk,” began a conversation about race in mainstream media. Now, Spotify and P&G are continuing the dialogue with Harmonize, a new podcast series focused on the impact of racial bias in the U.S. and how music has served as a catalyst for change. The four episodes, featuring Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winner (EGOT) John Legend and rapper, songwriter, and record executive Pusha T, are available today exclusively on Spotify.

Hosted by communications consultant and award-winning writer Jamilah Lemieux—a leading millennial voice on issues of race, gender, and sexuality—and featuring music expert Cory Townes, Harmonize expands the conversation that P&G pushed into the mainstream with “The Talk,” and continues with their more recent campaign, “The Look.” (Visit TalkaboutBias.com to get the 411 on “The Look”). 

“It is so important to have an open, honest dialogue around difficult topics like race, gender and bias,” said John Legend. “I have huge respect for companies like Spotify and P&G that are creating spaces for artists like myself to have these conversations, which are long overdue.”

 

“Our latest film, ‘The Look’ is designed to spark reflection and dialogue on the frank realities of racial bias, and the sometimes subtle ways it manifests itself in everyday situations for people of color,“ said Damon Jones, Vice President, Global Communications & Advocacy at Procter & Gamble. “Together with Spotify, we’re deepening this conversation, illustrating how race intersects music and culture and bringing together a variety of perspectives and experiences we believe will inspire people to take action to address these all too common instances of individual and institutional bias.”

Harmonize will focus specifically on how Black music is celebrated around the world despite the bias-related challenges so many Black people face. The podcast will dive deep into conversations with musicians, cultural commentators, and artists who share their stories about how bias has impacted their personal and professional lives, with a particular focus on the Black male experience in America. Harmonize has plans to expand beyond season one and shine light on bias related to gender, LGBTQ, identity, and more.

“We are proud to amplify the conversation that P&G has so thoughtfully sparked with the launch of Harmonize,” says Danielle Lee, Global Vice President, Partner Solutions at Spotify. “Consumers expect brands to take a stand on issues they care about and contribute to society in a meaningful way. Our hope is that Harmonize will expand the conversation around bias in America in an effort to build empathy.”

Last summer, Spotify launched our first branded original podcast series, Ebb & Flow, in partnership with New Amsterdam Vodka. Recently, we’ve added even more voices to our growing podcast slate with Dope Labs, Jemele Hill Is Unbothered, and the newly announced partnership with President Barack Obama & Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Audio. Through partnerships like these, as well as programs like Sound Up, we’re amplifying underrepresented voices in podcast and beyond. 

Listen to the first four episodes of Harmonize featuring EGOT John Legend and Pusha T below.

https://open.spotify.com/show/6OKSCkzx8EeHFccPSekW9H?si=4Z8NWAU6SP-XXjFMQUMngw

‘Bells Will Be Ringing’: It’s Christmas Singles Time

November 19, 2018

It’s holiday season—don’t fight it!—and we’re once again unwrapping a playlist of festive covers. Spotify Singles: Christmas Collection features 15 new tracks recorded by an eclectic mix of artists in our studios in Nashville, London, and New York City.

Included in the mix is John Legend singing the Jackson 5’s “Give Love On Christmas Day,” Meghan Trainor performing “White Christmas,” Nina Nesbitt crooning “Oh Holy Night,” and the classic “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” getting a jazz spin from Tony Bennett and Diana Krall.

“‘White Christmas’ has always held a special place in my heart because I sang it with my high school jazz band back in Cape Cod,” says Trainor. “It was nerve-wracking to perform for my peers, but when everyone reacted so loudly I realized I would remember that moment for the rest of my life. I will also always remember seeing this little green light in the audience and it was actually my mom recording the whole thing. She’s the best.”