Tag: Music

Why Cynthia Rowley Dressed Female Comedians During New York Fashion Week

February 14, 2023

Claudia Oshry, Esther Ku, Arden Myrin, Nikki Glaser, Ego Nwodim, Michelle Buteau, Rachel Feinstein

When New York Fashion Week rolls around, fans of iconic designer Cynthia Rowley know they’re in for a surprise. Cynthia combines her original styles with poignant, topical, and unique showcase themes for a refreshing—and sometimes risky—treat. And her fall 2023 show was no different as she treated NYFW to an all-female stand-up comedy event. 

During the showcase, Cynthia dressed 7 comedians, each of whom performed a short set while presenting the collection. Comedians Nikki Glaser, Rachel Feinstein, Arden Myrin, Rosebud Baker, Ego Nwodim, Claudia Oshry, and Michelle Buteau hit the catwalk in an elegantly staged ballroom with 200 guests including Olivia DeJonge, Eve Jobs, Cooper Hoffman, Jane Krakowski, and Alan Cumming. Comedian Esther Ku served as host alongside DJ Rachel Winters, who spun tracks curated by Cynthia and from the comedians’ walk-on playlists.

Belgian Artist Stromae Returns With New Music and Nominations

February 13, 2023

a photo of stromae standing on a platform looking out at a crowd

In 2010, Stromae emphatically introduced himself to the world with his electropop track “Alors on danse.” The song reached number one in 12 countries across Europe. The Belgian artist, who has a knack for blending hip-hop and dance music, followed with 2013’s “Papaoutai,” a hit in France, Germany, and Switzerland, among others. But after releasing two successful albums, receiving multiple awards, and performing on stages worldwide, the singer stepped away from the spotlight.

In 2022, Stromae returned in a big way with the release of Multitude, another chart-topper in Europe. He collaborated with Spotify to create a video for the third single off the album, “Fils de Joie.” Four nominations—and two wins—followed at the Victoires de la Musique, a premier music awards ceremony in France, including a nomination for best audiovisual creation for “Fils de Joie.” 

On Spotify, more than 425,000 playlists mention “Stromae,” and more than 25 million playlists include at least one track by the Belgian. Listeners often discover his music on party- and dance-themed playlists. And while his songs are sung in French, after France, the top countries streaming Stromae include Germany, the U.S. the Netherlands, and Mexico.

For the Record caught up with Stromae to learn more about his return to music, the video he created with Spotify, and how it feels to be the most-nominated artist at the Victoires de la Musique.

Multitude was your first album release in nine years. How has your sound evolved since the start of your career?

For this album, I wanted to go further in my musical inspirations and extend them to the whole world. I wanted to use folkloric, traditional sounds from all over the world, no matter what continent. It’s also the first time I collaborated with so many different musicians. I really enjoyed it, and it allowed me to enrich what I already had.

Can you tell us about the “Fils de Joie” music video and its creative direction?

The idea for the video came from Coralie Barbier, my stylist and creative director. We wanted to create a national tribute to a missing sex worker. The idea was to make her a national hero in an imaginary country. The lyrics of the song came to me while watching Faustine Bollaert‘s show, Ca commence aujourd’hui, which talked about the children of sex workers. 

I was very touched by their stories and shocked by the violence of some of the comments made about them. I started from that, and I wanted to take everyone’s point of view (the son, the client, the pimp, and the policeman) except his own [the son’s] because he is never asked for his opinion. It’s a way of highlighting these women who have a very difficult job and who are completely invisible. 

What was it like working with Spotify on the music video?

Spotify’s help allowed us to make a video that lived up to our ambitions. We are really grateful for that. Thanks again to them for their support, and especially to Spotify’s Global Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich!

Why do you think music videos are such a powerful addition to a song? 

I’ve always been a big fan of music videos. It’s a passion I share with Coralie and Luc Van Haver, who is my other creative director and longtime executive director. For us, it’s a way to add an extra dimension to a song and to immerse the audience in a unique universe. 

What was your reaction to your four nominations for the Victoires de la Musique?

I was very honored to learn I was nominated in four categories. It’s the maximum you can get, so it’s very gratifying. I would like to thank all the people who voted for me. It’s very heartwarming.

Mosaert, the creative label you co-founded in 2009, fuses music, visual design, and fashion. Is it important for you to have a creative outlet that expands beyond your music?

Mosaert has allowed me to keep a lot of artistic freedom since I started. My label produces everything I do—all the content we create, the videos, the live shows, the outfits, etc. We love to imagine unique and complete universes that go beyond the music; it allows us to amplify it and add an extra dimension to each creation.

 

Check out the latest music from Stromae on Spotify:

 

Photo credit: Lydie Bonhomme

Set the Mood on Valentine’s Day With a Playlist Curated by Michael Bublé, a Blend With Your Soulmate, or the Top-Streamed Love Songs

February 8, 2023

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and chocolates and flowers aren’t the only things that should be top of mind. What music will you have queued up for the drive to dinner? What’s the perfect soundtrack for a little at-home slow dancing? We have some suggestions on how lovebirds can get in on the musical fun together. 

We Blend together

When it comes to music, are you and your significant other “two peas in a pod,” or more “opposites attract”? Spotify’s Blend feature can help you celebrate whatever mix-and-match music style you share.  

Start by heading over to Your Library, tap the “+,” and hit “Blend.” Then you can invite your friend, lover, or crush to join the fun. Once they accept, you’ll unlock a shared playlist and a personalized taste match score to compare your listening preferences. From “Relationship Rising” to “Off the Charts,” you can share your score (and love) loudly and proudly with friends on social media.

If there’s not a special someone in your life right now, you can still get in on the Blend fun by creating a unique playlist with your favorite artist crush, like BTS, Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, The Chainsmokers, Post Malone, and Charli XCX.

Creators and Fans Celebrate the Playfulness of Wrapped Around the World

December 8, 2022

a DJ playing music at a wrapped event in pakistan

In case you missed it, last week Spotify unveiled 2022 Wrapped. To toast the highly anticipated year-end toplist reveals, the unparalleled user and creator experiences, and the beloved data stories, we hosted Wrapped-themed parties in cities across the globe. This year’s Wrapped is all about self-expression and play—celebrating the two-way connections that bring millions of creators and fans together through audio each and every day. From Paris to Karachi, our events invited fans, creators, and influencers to celebrate how they listened in 2022, and encouraged them to revel in activities that highlighted their music listening personalities.

France

For its 2022 year-end retrospective, Spotify France opened the doors of its Wrapped Café, a temporary space in Paris’ 10th arrondissement. The pop-up space gave fans a new way to extend their Wrapped experience into real life. Visitors had the chance to control the venue’s playlist, get a personalized Wrapped Café t-shirt, capture the night in a photobooth with custom audio personality filters, and play Wrapped-themed arcade games.

Over the course of the four-day event, French artists and podcast creators performed at the café. Fans had the chance to enjoy performances by rapper Fresh la Peufra, singer and EQUAL ambassador Chilla, and artist Bianca Costa. Attendees also took part in a live recording of the Spotify Original history podcast Oyez, Oh Yeah with cohosts Manon Bril and Alex Ramires.

Casa Spotify Medallo Brings Together the Finest Talent in Medellín

October 13, 2022

image of colombian artists with the text Casa Medallo over it

It’s no surprise that Medellín has become an epicenter of Latin music. The sound of the city, which adopted reggaeton as its own a couple of decades ago, echoes around the world thanks to stars like J Balvin and KAROL G.

At Spotify, we’re taking our support of Colombian talent to the next level with Casa Spotify Medallo. Located in Plaza Botero across from the Museum of Antioquia, a venue that holds historical importance for the city’s rich musical tradition, the four-week program will become a meeting place for both stars and emerging talent in the urban genre. From artists and producers to composers and podcast hosts, creators across the industry are invited.

A bevy of performances and programs for artists

Between October 11 and November 3, the venue will house recording studios and a space for live performances with a lineup that includes Ryan Castro, Farina, and Ovy On The Drums. All the artists will be performing new music for their fans, beginning with “Empeliculados” from Ovy On The Drums, featuring ZARAMAY and Elniko Arias. The soon-to-be hits will be available in a special series of Spotify Singles within the next month.

In addition, a selection of loyal fans will have the opportunity for a meet and greet with some of the artists, like Feid, Blessd, and Farina.

This generation of artists has cemented the country’s reputation as a talent-exporting powerhouse. 

a graphical depiction of top stats related to colombian artists

 

Medellín is also the mecca of musical production in the urban genre. Casa Spotify Medallo will bring together composers and producers behind the hits that are conquering the Spotify charts in both Latin America and around the world. Ovy On The Drums, The Rudeboyz, Sky Rompiendo, and SOG will present a series of keynotes where they share their advice with up and coming producers. 

A place for songwriters to hone their craft

As part of Spotify’s Noteable program, The Rudeboyz (a producer duo formed by Chan El Genio and Kevin ADG and who are behind hits like Maluma‘s “Hawaii” and Shakira‘s “Me Enamoré”) will conduct a three-day work session where they will work with songwriters like Vibarco, Itzza Primera, and Juan Duque to create new music.

Later in the schedule, these studios will be converted to Noteable rooms and will be open to use for any emerging songwriters, producers, and artists who have registered.

A schedule chock-full of workshops and panels

The heart of Casa Spotify Medallo is a daily program that will offer more than 70 educational and inspirational activities in formats such as workshops and panels. In addition to these courses, we will also launch MUdaL, a learning platform created by Music Ally and Relatable, with the support of Spotify for Artists.

Casa Spotify Medallo is the first initiative of its kind in Latin America focused on providing audio professionals with the tools and educational resources necessary to develop their careers. The program is all-encompassing, covering topics like how to make the best use of Spotify tools and the basics of different aspects of the industry—from publishing rights to tours and marketing.

These sessions also include an EQUAL panel. EQUAL is Spotify’s program that seeks to foster gender equality in the industry, and this panel will feature artists Farina and Mabiland and designer Daniela Valencia, creator of the TRUE brand.

A place for emerging artists and podcast creators to shine

At the launch of Casa Spotify Medallo, we asked emerging artists to submit music for consideration to our editors. Some of these artists will have the opportunity to participate in the Mercadito, a session in alliance with Circulart, the city’s most reputable music industry market. These artists will be able to present their projects and receive feedback from experts. 

The venue will also host a showcase with talent from the RADAR Andinos program, the Spotify program that, for more than two years, has put the spotlight on new talent such as Blessd, Nath, and ICON, among others.

Casa Spotify Medallo will offer workshops for up-and-coming podcast creators, and the topics will cover everything from show planning to production to how to use Anchor tools.

“Our goal is to establish Spotify as the home of creators. A place where artists, composers, producers, and creators can develop their careers and live off their art,” says Mia Nygren, General Manager of Spotify in Latin America. “And what better place to make this vision a reality than Medellín, a city that has an enormous influence on the music heard around the world.”

Artists, producers, composers, and podcast creators interested in participating in Casa Spotify Medallo can register and find the complete schedule of activities here. 

Spotify’s editorial playlists are perfect for fans looking to discover the emerging sounds of Medellín and the next wave of Paisa talent. Barras 24 features hip-hop, trap, and R&B music; Reggaetoncito highlights the latest pop-reggaeton sounds; and Pa’Perrear spotlights perreo and reggaeton tracks. If you’re not sure where to jump in, we recommend giving Pa’Perrear a listen below:

Casa Spotify Medallo reúne a lo más fino del talento de Medellín

October 13, 2022

image of a colombian artist with the text Casa Medallo over it

No sorprende que Medellín se haya convertido en un epicentro de la música latina. El sonido de la ciudad, que adoptó como propio el reguetón hace un par de décadas, resuena en todo el mundo gracias a estrellas como J Balvin y KAROL G.

En Spotify, estamos llevando nuestro apoyo al talento colombiano al siguiente nivel con Casa Spotify Medallo. Ubicada en la Plaza Botero frente al Museo de Antioquia, un recinto de importancia histórica por la rica tradición musical de la ciudad, el programa de cuatro semanas se convertirá en un lugar de encuentro tanto para estrellas en ascenso como para talentos emergentes del género urbano. Desde artistas y productores hasta compositores y presentadores de podcasts, los creadores que son el alma de la industria están invitados.

Variedad de espectáculos y programas para artistas

Entre el 11 de octubre y el 3 de noviembre, el recinto albergará estudios de grabación y un espacio para presentaciones en vivo con una alineación que incluye a Ryan Castro, Farina y  Ovy On The Drums. Todos los artistas interpretarán música nueva para sus fanáticos, comenzando con “Empeliculados” de Ovy On The Drums, con ZARAMAY y Elniko Arias. Los próximos éxitos estarán disponibles en una serie especial de Spotify Singles durante el próximo mes.

Además, los fans más fieles de artistas como Feid, Blessd y Farina en la plataforma tendrán la oportunidad de conocerlos y convivir en un ambiente íntimo.

Esta generación de artistas ha cimentado la reputación del país como una potencia exportadora de talento.

a graphical depiction of top stats related to colombian artists

 

Medellín es también la meca de la producción musical en el género urbano. Casa Spotify Medallo reunirá a los compositores y productores detrás de los éxitos que están conquistando los charts de Spotify, tanto en América Latina como en el mundo. Ovy On The Drums, The Rudeboyz, Sky Rompiendo y SOG  estarán presentes una serie de charlas donde compartirán sus consejos con productores emergentes.

Un lugar para que los compositores perfeccionen su oficio

Como parte del programa Noteable de Spotify, The Rudeboyz (dúo de productores formado por Chan El Genio y Kevin ADG que están detrás de éxitos como “Hawaii” de Maluma y “Me Enamoré” de Shakira) realizarán una sesión de trabajo de tres días en la que que trabajarán con compositores como Vibarco, Itzza Primera y Juan Duque para crear nueva música.

Más adelante en el calendario, estos estudios se convertirán en salas Noteable y estarán abiertos para que los usen los compositores, productores y artistas emergentes que se hayan registrado.

Una agenda repleta de talleres y paneles

El corazón de Casa Spotify Medallo es un programa diario que ofrecerá más de 70 actividades educativas e inspiradoras en formatos como talleres y paneles. Además de estos cursos, también lanzaremos MUdaL, una plataforma de aprendizaje creada por Music Ally y Relatable, con el apoyo de Spotify para Artistas.

Casa Spotify Medallo es la primera iniciativa de su tipo en América Latina enfocada en brindar a los profesionales del audio las herramientas y los recursos educativos necesarios para desarrollar sus carreras. El programa cubre temas como cómo hacer el mejor uso de las herramientas de Spotify y los conceptos básicos de diferentes aspectos de la industria, desde los derechos de publicación hasta las giras y el marketing.

Estas sesiones también incluyen un panel EQUAL. EQUAL es el programa de Spotify que busca fomentar la igualdad de género en la industria, y este panel contará con las artistas Farina y Mabiland junto a la diseñadora Daniela Valencia, creadora de la marca TRUE.

Un lugar para que brillen los artistas emergentes y los creadores de podcasts

En el lanzamiento de Casa Spotify Medallo, les pedimos a los artistas emergentes que enviaran música para la consideración de nuestros editores. Algunos de estos artistas tendrán la oportunidad de participar en el Mercadito, una sesión en alianza con Circulart, el mercado de la industria musical más reputado de la ciudad. Estos artistas podrán presentar sus proyectos y recibir retroalimentación de expertos.

El recinto también albergará un showcase con talento del programa RADAR Andinos, el programa de Spotify que, desde hace más de dos años, ha puesto el foco en talentos emergentes como Blessd, Nath y ICON, entre otros.

Casa Spotify Medallo también ofrecerá talleres para creadores de podcasts emergentes, desde la planificación del programa hasta la producción, utilizando las herramientas de Anchor.

“Nuestro objetivo es establecer Spotify como el hogar de los creadores. Un lugar donde artistas, compositores, productores y creadores puedan desarrollar sus carreras y vivir de su arte”, dice Mia Nygren, Gerente General de Spotify en América Latina. “Y qué mejor lugar para hacer realidad esta visión que Medellín, una ciudad que tiene una enorme influencia en la música que se escucha en todo el mundo”.

Los artistas, productores, compositores y creadores de podcasts interesados ​​en participar en Casa Spotify Medallo pueden registrarse y encontrar el cronograma completo de actividades aquí.

Las playlists editoriales de Spotify son perfectas para los fanáticos que buscan descubrir los sonidos emergentes de Medellín y la próxima ola de talento paisa. Barras 24 presenta música hip-hop, trap y R&B; Reggaetoncito destaca los últimos sonidos pop-reggaeton; y Pa’Perrear destaca pistas de perreo y reggaeton. Si no estás seguro de dónde empezar, te recomendamos que escuches a Pa’Perrear a continuación:

Spotify’s New Home Feeds Make Discovering Your New Favorites Easy

August 9, 2022

Two phones displaying on a green and black graphic background

Spotify’s Home is a go-to spot to find new recommendations and revisit recent favorites. And with an upcoming update to Home, users will get a gateway to great content they will love—from tried-and-true playlists to new artists and thought-provoking podcasts. 

A gif sharing the benefits of the new spotify home feed

This week, we are launching a new Home experience that includes feeds for both Music and Podcasts & Shows. The feature is currently rolling out to Android users and will soon be available on iOS. By creating these feeds, Spotify will help listeners to easily scroll through the type of content they’re looking for at that moment. The updated interface will make the experience more personalized while allowing users to dig even deeper into their recommendations.

In the Music feed, listeners will have quick access to suggestions based on their music taste, making discovering new favorites easier than ever. There will also be album and playlist recommendations as well as buttons that make it easy to share, like, and instantly play music.

In the Podcast & Shows feed, listeners will be able to head straight to new episodes of their favorite shows. They’ll also find personalized podcast recommendations. What’s more, listeners will be able to read episode descriptions, save to Your Episodes or start playing podcasts without leaving the page, so the experience all starts from one place.

A gif showing information about how the home feed works on spotify app

The Home refresh is currently rolling out to users on Android mobile devices. iOS users can stay tuned for updates coming in the near future. 

Grab Your Sunnies and Celebrate With Our Songs of Summer Predictions

June 6, 2022

a hot pink inner tube sitting on top of a cartoon splash of water

The sun is out, the weather is warm, and it’s time to find the perfect song to pair with that umbrella in your drink. Every year as summer rolls around, the Spotify music editorial team scours all the hottest new tracks to determine which will dominate your speakers as the quintessential Songs of Summer. So apply your sunscreen, grab those shades, and get ready for our global Songs of Summer predictions for 2022. 

Again this year, the songs that speak to long hazy summer days, beach trips, and cool drinks span many genres—hip-hop, Latin, pop, country, indie, dance, and more—as well as moods, so there’s a song for every moment. 

As you’re planning the next summer soiree, might we suggest adding “As It Was” by Harry Styles and “Big Energy” by Latto to your queue? Or cranking up “Ojitos Lindos” by Bad Bunny (feat. Bomba Estéreo) when you’re hanging poolside? How about pressing play on Post Malone and Doja Cat‘s new track “I Like You (A Happier Song)” as you kick off your vacation road trip?

And there’s more where those came from. Without further ado, Spotify’s Songs of Summer 2022 predictions, in alphabetical order:

To determine this list of songs, which we predict will be on repeat over the next three months, our curation teams pay attention to a number of factors, including the track’s current trajectory and cultural impact, combined with forecasting based on prior years’ knowledge of what tends to pop throughout the summer. But we also took this moment to see what other summer trends are emerging as people start to enjoy more fun in the sun.

The temperature is rising on these summer trends

Summer is a time to shed layers and get out in the sun—we all know about 2019’s viral “hot girl summer” moment. Now, there are nearly 170,000 “hot girl summer” user-generated playlists on Spotify worldwide. And this year, we’re already seeing new seasonal themes emerge.

User-generated “feral girl summer” playlists have surged more than 320% in the past three months.  Some of the top-added songs include “Psycho” by Maisie Peters, “Get Into It (Yuh)” by Doja Cat, “Thot Shit” by Megan Thee Stallion, “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift, “Promiscuous” by Nelly Furtado (feat. Timbaland), and “Act Up” by City Girls.

Searches for “coconut girl summer” have surged nearly 950% this year, with top-added songs for these playlists including “Island in the Sun” by Weezer, “Diet Mountain Dew” by Lana Del Rey, “Santeria” by Sublime, “Malibu” by Miley Cyrus, and “Could You Be Loved” by Bob Marley & The Wailers. 

The “coastal grandmother” trend is buzzing on Spotify as well—average daily plays of related playlists have skyrocketed nearly 5,000% over the last month!

a graphic design that's yellow, blue and green that lists songs that make up coastal grandmother playlists on Spotify

And when it comes to the drink of summer, some fans think that Dirty Shirleys are in. That seems to be true on Spotify—”dirty shirley” user-generated playlists saw nearly a 95% spike in average daily plays over the past month.

Makin’ a splash

We’re bringing back the Songs of the Summer chart for the second year in a row, so you can keep track of your favorite artists all summer long and see whose hits are climbing as the temperature rises. Follow @SpotifyCharts on Instagram and Twitter to catch the latest Songs of the Summer chart published every Wednesday, starting this week on June 8, 2022.

Grab your favorite ice-cold beverage—whether it’s a cool lemonade or a Dirty Shirley—and listen to our full Songs of Summer playlist below. And as we know, all good things come to an end—including summer. Check back here as the weather cools to learn which song was crowned the most-streamed song of the summer.

Three Things To Know About Spotify’s Featured Curators Pilot

April 4, 2022

Spotify’s community is unlike any other. We know that none of our 406 million global listeners stream quite the same way, and we’re always inspired by the creativity, passion, and originality our users bring to the platform each and every day. 

One of the biggest ways that listeners bring their individuality to life is through playlist creation. So this month, Spotify is testing a new way to amplify the playlists our listeners create. With the rollout of the Featured Curators pilot, Spotify is testing a new way for listeners to discover music they love with a collection of playlists curated by select Spotify users and influencers. 

Here’s what you need to know:

1. It’s inspired by—and made for—fans

The Featured Curators pilot is a limited-time test that promotes popular user and influencer playlists alongside our Spotify playlists. The curators we selected are music lovers with established followings and popular playlists on Spotify, or they’re users telling unique stories through playlists and creating authentic connections with other users.

2. It’s a first

Spotify transformed music discovery through flagship playlists like RapCaviar and personalized playlists like Discover Weekly. Now, we’re experimenting with taking playlist creation and discovery even further. We’re always testing unique and different listening experiences and programs for our fans, and we’re excited to watch this one unfold. 

3. It’s a limited pilot 

Users in select markets may soon begin to see Featured Curator playlists recommended in-app and on their homepages. As we continue to workshop the program throughout the testing period, we’ll be thoughtful in how we evolve and innovate the experience.

 

Our goal is always to make Spotify the number one destination for the best listening experience, and with this pilot, we’re giving listeners a new way to discover music from fellow fans who are as engaged as they are.

Spotify Celebrates 10 Years in Germany

March 11, 2022

It’s been 10 years since Spotify first launched in Germany, and what a decade it’s been. In that time, German listeners have streamed music on Spotify more than 450 billion times. There have been plenty of local picks available for fans, too, as more than 150,000 German-language artists are on the platform.

But music isn’t the only reason Germans flock to Spotify. Podcasts are very popular in this market, with more than 70,000 German-language pods on Spotify. And here’s a fun fact: from January 2017 to December 2021, German listeners streamed 1.3 billion hours of podcasts on our platform. 

“Being able to listen to your favorite music anytime, anywhere, and completely legally was one of the main objectives when Spotify was founded in 2006. Between the launch in March 2012 and February 2022, listeners in Germany streamed 310 million personalized playlists, thus creating their own personal audio moments,” shared Michael Krause, General Manager Europe at Spotify. “All in all, we are pleased with the positive growth of Spotify in the German market to date and also look forward to continuing to shape the future of audio with innovations and content.”

To celebrate the decade, we’re taking a look back at some of the major moments the German market has experienced.

Tune in to these highlights for listeners

  • September 2013: We launched Spotify Connect, allowing listeners to stream across multiple devices like their TV, gaming console, or speakers.
  • September 2014: Spotify Premium Family became available for family members living under the same roof.
  • July 2015: The first personalized playlist called Your Mix of the Week debuted.
  • December 2015: Spotify started sharing its annual Wrapped review of the top lists of the most successful artists, songs, and albums worldwide while also giving users insights into their very individual listening behavior.
  • May 2016: Fest & Flauschig, the first-ever worldwide Spotify podcast, launched.
  • October 2019: Daily Drive, the first playlist to combine podcasts and music, became available for listeners. 
  • November 2021: The Lyrics feature, which displays in-app song lyrics, rolled out for listeners.

Showing support for German creators

It’s a priority for Spotify to work with emerging talent and amplify their music and podcasts to reach new audiences. Sound Up, Spotify’s podcast education program for underrepresented creators, was launched in Germany in 2019. RADAR, Spotify’s emerging artist program debuted in 2020, and EQUAL, Spotify’s program to foster equity for women in the music and audio space, got its start in 2021.

Ten years of top songs, podcasts, and trends

  • The most-streamed song was “Roller” by Apache 207, followed by Tones And I’s “Dance Monkey” and The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” 
  • Hip-hop held a solid place in listeners’ earbuds as CRO was the most-streamed artist in 2012, and Bonez MC claimed the top artist spot in 2021.
  • In 2018, Fest & Flauschig, the first Spotify Exclusive podcast, took the spot of the most-streamed podcast globally.
  • In Berlin, listeners streamed a particularly high volume of music in 2021. The capital city ranked first among German cities where the most music was streamed on Spotify last year. 
  • On December 24, 2021, a new record was set: it was the day the most music was streamed on Spotify in Germany since 2012.
  • Favorite genres didn’t change much over the years; pop music was the most popular genre in 2012 and it remained so in 2021.
  • Podcasts are as popular as ever: more than half of the 18- to 24-year-olds in Germany regularly stream podcasts. Among 25- to 34-year-olds, the figure is over 40%.

 

To learn more about this decade of streaming decadence, grab your party hat and head on over to Spotify Germany’s 10th Anniversary website.

Classic Hip-Hop, Rap, and R&B Hits Spiked After Yesterday’s Halftime Show

February 14, 2022

The halftime show of the Big Game garners as much excitement and anticipation as the gridiron rivalry itself, and last night was no exception. In Los Angeles, while the players hit the locker rooms, icons Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, along with surprise guests 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak on drums, pumped up viewers in the stadium and at home with an electrifying set of hip-hop, rap, and R&B hits.

Halftime Hits

Following the 12-minute performance, fans were ready for more. Listeners turned to Spotify to continue streaming their favorites from the show. Last night, Mary J. Blige saw a lot of love with a more than 520% increase in streams of her song“No More Drama.” Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “The Next Episode” saw more than a 270% increase in streams. The 1999 track “Still D.R.E.” saw an increase of more than 245%, and Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” saw more than a 250% increase. In the U.S., overall streams of Dr. Dre saw a nearly 185% increase on Spotify in the hour following the game.

’90s and ’00s Nostalgia

Last night’s performances brought back some of the most iconic hits of the 1990s and early 2000s, but the halftime show isn’t the only place listeners are getting a dose of nostalgia—listening to popular tracks from the past has become a big trend on Spotify.

Eminem is one of Spotify’s top-streamed hip-hop artists of all time, with “Lose Yourself” topping the list as the most-streamed track across classic hip-hop, rap and R&B.* Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are two of Spotify’s top-streamed classic hip-hop artists, with “Still D.R.E.” being one of the most popular tracks.

Hometown Pride

Spotify also dug into the data for what listeners in Los Angeles and Cincinnati were playing on Sunday to prepare for the game. 

In Cincinnati, listeners showed spirit for their home team by streaming Bengals-themed tracks like “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses, “The Bengals Growl (Fight Song)” by Cincinnati Pep Band and ML Music, “Joe Burrow” by Lil Gav, and “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.

Farther west in LA, Spotify listeners prepped for the eventual Rams victory by cranking up tracks by the halftime performers, including “Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang” by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, “California Love – Original Version” by 2Pac, Dr. Dre, and Roger, “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre and Eminem, and “Money Trees” by Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar.

Check out the “I Love My Classics” playlists if you’re craving more of the hits you heard last night. From LA to ATL, Spotify’s regional playlists (West Coast, Down South, Midwest, and East Coast) give fans the best of the genre.

*“Classic hip-hop, rap, and R&B” refers to anything released pre-2005

Celebrate Billie Eilish’s New Album Launch With Spotify’s First-Ever Artist Hub and Enhanced Experiences

July 30, 2021

Billie Eilish

We have a feeling Billie Eilish fans are about to be very happy. Billie’s highly anticipated—and aptly named—second studio album, Happier Than Ever, debuts today. In honor of the release, Spotify has created our first-ever artist hub and three new enhanced album experiences.

In the last six years, Billie’s listenership has grown exponentially. She rose to become the 12th-most-streamed artist in the world, with fans playing her songs a whopping 15.5 billion+ times. This new hub is the latest milestone in Spotify’s ongoing support of the artist’s meteoric rise. It builds on past memorable moments, including sweeping platform takeovers and our 2019 celebration of the growing artist’s first album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, where we worked with Billie to map out a unique interactive immersive experience. 

Now, we’re upping the ante with Happier Than Ever: The Destination, on-platform releases, a global marketing campaign, and an exclusive Billie Eilish experience in Los Angeles. 

Happier Than Ever: The Destination

Billie’s new hub, Happier Than Ever: The Destination, gives fans a wide range of exclusive content custom-created by the artist herself. It features four shelves chock full of Billie’s catalogue, her personally curated playlist of favorite tracks, surprise Easter eggs, and much more. The custom destination will also be featured on Browse and can only be accessed on Spotify.

The Enhanced Album Experiences

The Destination also contains three new enhanced album experiences: “Fan Mode,” “Billie Mode,” and “Lyric Mode.” Each features new and exclusive custom Billie Eilish content that will bring Billie fans further into her world, including Canvas, Storylines, and Playlist Clips. Here’s what listeners can expect from each album:

  • Fan Mode features exclusive interview content with the star and a soundscape of audio from fans. From pressing questions to Easter eggs, this experience celebrates listeners who know the artist best.
  • Billie Mode is a visual feast. This is an artist who is constantly evolving, and here visitors get to see different versions of Billie in poses that reflect her creative journey and self-discovery. Billie even addresses the camera directly to share her story.
  • Lyric Mode explores the meaning and creation of the star’s favorite lyrics. The words themselves are styled to the album’s Old Hollywood glamour, while exclusive audioliners bring the meaning behind her songs to life.

The IRL Celebration

In addition to the on-platform experiences, fans in LA will be able to attend an in-person event that captures the spirit of Billie’s highly anticipated album. The immersive Happier Than Ever destination brings the bespoke enhanced album experiences to life inside a glamorous 1950s-inspired Los Angeles estate, with Billie herself in attendance.