Tag: NYC

Spotify and American Express Get Ready for ‘GUTS’ With an Olivia Rodrigo Pop-Up in New York

September 7, 2023

guts gallery header

From the moment Olivia Rodrigo’s second album, GUTS, was announced in June, fans have been hyped. The first two singles from the upcoming project, “vampire” and “bad idea right?,” have been fan favorites in the short time since their release, with “vampire” rising to become an unquestionable song of the summer.

To celebrate the release of GUTS on September 8, we’ve teamed up with American Express to bring fans the GUTS Gallery, a highly curated pop-up experience in downtown New York.

 

WHERE: 

25-27 Little West 12th Street NY, NY 10014

WHEN: 

Friday, September 8, 1pm – 6pm EST

Saturday, September 9, 12pm – 7pm EST

Sunday, September 10, 12pm – 7pm EST

 

The GUTS Gallery pop-up will have GUTS merch available for purchase, including t-shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts, as well as fun accessories like bumper stickers, dad hats, beanies, tote bags, and more. The elevated shopping opportunity will also feature photo moments and limited-edition giveaways.

Even more special, Olivia’s top listeners on Spotify along with American Express Card Members will be invited to explore the gallery one hour earlier than the general public opening on each day. They’ll also have the chance to experience more of Olivia Rodrigo with epic on-site benefits, including access to a limited-edition t-shirt for purchase, an exclusive gift with purchase for Amex Card Members, and a complimentary tote bag for all fans.

“We’ve worked in close partnership with Olivia and her team even before “drivers license” made its debut, so it was a no-brainer to join forces once again for her sophomore effort, GUTS.” Lucy Davidson, Manager, Label Partnerships for Spotify told For the Record. “Olivia has some of the most loyal and engaged fans in the world – and we’ve loved being there along the way. From supporting her single “deja vu” by sending lyrics to her top fans to facilitating one of the first opportunities for fans to meet Olivia with the Spotify x Olivia SOUR Car Wash – we’re thrilled to help bring Olivia’s creative vision to life again, this time by inviting NY “Livies” into the GUTS Gallery for the weekend. As another huge moment for Olivia, we’re so excited to create special moments with fans that have bolstered her rise along the way.”

For more information, the official website has all the details you need. And if you can’t hardly wait for release day, you can join in on the GUTS countdown and pre-save the album so that it’s in your Library as soon as it comes out.

Get ready for GUTS by listening to the This Is Olivia Rodrigo playlist, which contains all her essential tracks.

Electric Lady Studios’ Lee Foster Introduces a New Live EP Series in Partnership With Spotify

July 13, 2021

The legendary Jimi Hendrix founded NYC’s Electric Lady Studios in 1970 as an alternative to the dull, staid recording spaces that came before it. “He felt he needed a more playful environment to encourage creativity—so he built it,” the studio’s General Manager and Partner, Lee Foster, told For the Record. 

Playfulness and creativity are also two cornerstones of Spotify, so our initial partnership between the audio streaming service and Electric Lady Studios—Spotify Singles—was a perfect match. Now, we’re joining forces with the studio once again to announce Live at Electric Lady, a series of EPs featuring high-quality live audio recordings from the studio, distributed exclusively on Spotify.  

The upcoming slate of live EPs will include Jon Batiste, Patti Smith, Japanese Breakfast, Dominic Fike, Faye Webster, Bleachers, Remi Wolf, and Natalie Bergman, with surprise artists to come.  

Tchaikovsky, Composer of ‘The Nutcracker,’ is the Top-Streamed Russian Artist Outside of Russia

December 18, 2020

The holiday season is filled with festive modern hits from Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé, but when it comes to wintertime magic and timelessness, The Nutcracker ballet often takes center stage. With compositions like “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky made his mark, and the streams show it. Tchaikovsky, who is behind both The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, is the most popular Russian artist among Spotify listeners outside of Russia, with a monthly audience of 5.1 million worldwide.

Tchaikovsky’s use of rhythm and melody and his mastery of compositional technique are hallmarks of his work, which remains relevant 150 years later. Today, more than 100 playlists of his compositions are available on Spotify.

To celebrate the musician, we curated a special playlist, “This is Tchaikovsky,” that showcases some of his popular works. Spotify also commemorated the moment by featuring the playlist cover of Tchaikovsky on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square—a first for any Russian artist. 

Revisit Tchaikovsky’s classics with his top five most-listened to tracks on Spotify: 

1. Swan Lake, Op. 20, Act 2: No 10, Scene (London Symphony Orchestra)

2. The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2, No. 13, Waltz of the Flowers (Berlin Philharmoniker) 

3. The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2, Tableau 3, Variation 2, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Russian National Orchestra)

4. The Nutcracker Ballet, Op 71, Act 1, No 2, March (Berlin Philharmoniker) 

5. Album for the Young, Op 39, No 3 Mamma 

Can’t get enough of the timeless composer? Stream “This is Tchaikovsky” below.

Spotify’s NYC-Focused Content Hub Gives the Concrete Jungle Its Spotlight

May 14, 2020

New York, New York: The city that never sleeps is a city that listens to Spotify a lot. Now, New Yorkers can access music and podcasts tailored for them 24/7—all in one convenient hub on Spotify. Named Listen Local: New York, this new hub includes music that celebrates New York’s unique culture and podcasts that give residents the information they seek.

From CBGB to Lincoln Center to Broadway, New York City’s long-standing relationship with music is like no other. Curated playlists on the hub will share songs recorded in iconic venues and by iconic New Yorkers. The hub will bring the city’s diverse music history to life, allowing users to explore the sounds of the Metropolitan Opera one minute and recordings from the Apollo Theater the next. 

If there’s one thing that’s true of New Yorkers, it’s their city pride and—more specifically—borough love. This hub includes playlists for each of the five boroughs based on the distinct listening habits of the Spotify users living there. But it’s also available globally, so whether you’re based in New Jersey or New Zealand, you can experience the same music that’s trending in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Queens.

Scary is Nothing to Be Afraid of at Spotify’s Artist-Inspired NYC Costume Pop Up

October 29, 2019

This Halloween, step beyond trick-or-treating—and out of your comfort zone. Dare to listen to some of the artists who have endeavored to push culture forward in the pursuit of their art, whether via provocative on-stage performances, music videos, or their uncompromising style. 

At Spotify’s Stay Scary pop-up this past weekend, we celebrated artists who have done just that by inviting music fans to check out—and even take home—costumes inspired by artists like Billie Eilish, Freddie Mercury, Lil Nas X and Madonna at a thrilling immersive pop-up in New York’s Soho neighborhood.

The costume accessories included an Eilish crown adorned with spiders, similar to the one featured in the singer’s “you should see me in a crown” music video, and the Lil Nas X rhinestone-accented jacket patch seen in his “Old Town Road” music video.

Also available was Trippie Redd’s iconic fang grillz and as well as a replica of the live python Britney Spears famously draped around her shoulders during her 2001 MTV VMA’s performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U.”

Stars Shine During Ziggy Stardust Tribute at Brooklyn Museum’s “David Bowie Is” Exhibit

May 18, 2018

Legendary singer-songwriter David Bowie was otherworldly throughout his life—and his presence was very much felt at David Bowie is at the Brooklyn Museum on May 7. The exhibit, which was organized by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and opened in March, features displays of artwork, photography, and clothes that represent Bowie’s dynamic and lasting work and career. To celebrate the exhibit’s arrival in New York City, a star-studded event provided proper tribute to Ziggy Stardust.

Kicking off the evening was an introduction by Spotify Global Head of Communications, Dustee Jenkins, and Spotify Head of Creative Services, Troy Carter, who noted “there are few stories like the David Bowie story.” Troy then introduced the featured performer of the evening, English singer-songwriter Jade Bird.

Jade, who performed her songs, “What Am I Here For,” “Cathedral, and “Lottery,” feels a connection with Bowie due to their shared British heritage and love for American songwriting culture—she played her song “If I Die” as a tribute to the artist.

“‘If I Die’ is basically saying that we take part in art because we’re competing in the dance of death,” Jade told us. “You’re trying to be immortalized in music; that’s why you do it. ‘If I Die’ is about that. It’s kind of got this optimism to it because you live on in your music.”

If I die, put me in a song, tell everyone how in love I’ve been.

– Jade Bird, “If I Die”

After the performance, attendees of the event, including actress and singer-songwriter Emmy Rossum, and Mama Glow creator Latham Thomas, had a chance to explore the exhibit and take in features from the life of the legendary artist. Latham noted that the event was “Simply beyond.” Meanwhile, DJ Mia Moretti of “What to Listen to When…” fame spun her newest playlist.

While Mia was spinning Bowie classics and songs by related artists such as The Beatles, a trio of writers from Haiku Guys + Gals encouraged fans to contribute a word or phrase about what David Bowie meant to them, then used the inspiration to type a personalized haiku for each participant.

The David Bowie is exhibit, which has received rave reviews by the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and SPIN and is sponsored by Spotify, features original costumes, handwritten music, and photos in an interactive retrospective from Bowie’s teenage years to his final months in New York. Bowie’s New York City presence was celebrated earlier in the month when Spotify unveiled a David Bowie Subway Takeover at the Broadway-Lafayette subway station in the Bowery, and created David Bowie “Tickets to Mars” – keepsake Metrocards featuring an image of one of five Bowie personas.

Fans, commuters, and visitors have the opportunity to explore the Bowie subway takeover at the Broadway-Lafayette station until May 13. The David Bowie is exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum will be open until July 15.

Spotify Transports NYC Commuters to Mars with Immersive David Bowie Subway Takeover

April 17, 2018

Although he hailed from London, music icon David Bowie spent the majority of his life living in, and falling for, New York City. After moving across the pond, he was welcomed to the City with open arms, and soon came to call himself a New Yorker. In the way that Bowie discovered his adopted city, Spotify is giving music lovers the opportunity to go on a journey through the immersive David Bowie Subway Takeover exploring the musician’s influence on music, fashion, culture, and the city that he loved.

David Bowie is, organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has been up since March at the Brooklyn Museum and honors Bowie’s life, art, and work. In a larger-than-life extension of the exhibition, Spotify is transforming New York City’s Broadway-Lafayette subway station into an underground takeover that pays tribute to the legendary works and sensational life of the musical icon. Fans and visitors can be awed while exploring the Broadway-Lafayette station from Tuesday, April 17 until Sunday, May 13.

Office Tour: Behind the Scenes at Spotify’s Creative, Collaborative NYC HQ

April 2, 2018

Walk into Spotify’s offices on West 18th Street in New York City, and it’s clear that the two-floor space isn’t only about music. Of course, there’s music everywhere, including the lobby and the restrooms. Listening rooms provide intimate spaces for visiting artists to play new material. Interviews and recording sessions are conducted in studios.

But Spotify is evolving—from a tech company to a music company and now, a media and creator company that connects people and culture worldwide. And the look and feel of the company’s offices are evolving with it.

“We tend to do things that are a bit outside the box,” says Cecilia Vigil, a Swedish, New York-based design manager at Spotify. “We believe that we’re paving our own way.”

The New York City office is a prime example of a modern, agile, collaborative workspace. The libraries, research labs, squad rooms and collaborative spaces that pepper the interior are choice spots for its employees, plus visitors and artists, to collaborate and create. Vigil calls it a “chaotic, controlled environment”—in the best possible way.

Honest and clean design

Photo credit: Spotify

Spotify’s Swedish roots mean that Scandinavian design influences the core of the company’s offices. Clean, honest woods, palettes of white, gray and pastels, an abundance of plants and soft velvety furniture stay true to that philosophy.

“It’s a very clean palette that doesn’t say much until you add a layer to it. A layer can be different materials or different colors. It can be people, artwork, or music,” Vigil says.

Separate but connected

Photo credit: Spotify

The concept of the string wall—a Spotify signature—was born, after much trial and error, to give the company’s developers a space that had enough physical separation to allow them to work efficiently, but not so much that they felt disconnected from one another.

“We started playing with this whole web of how we could connect the different floors,” Vigil says of the concept, which is now featured in locations from New York and Stockholm to San Francisco and Mexico City. “It has a physical presence of fun colors and shapes.”

The curated effect

Photo credit: Spotify

Spotify’s walls are a rotating gallery for up-and-coming or under-the-radar artists—and even for employees themselves. For instance, it commissioned a mural from New York street artist FAUST.

“We’ve always nurtured local connections in each city we’re in,” Vigil explains. “The most important thing is to really understand the background of the artist. We always try our best to be as diverse as possible, as the world is not viewed from one point of view.

“It’s about how we can stay connected with the art community and how that’s connected to the culture at Spotify.”

An always-evolving experience

Photo credit: Spotify

None of Spotify’s global offices feel overdesigned—and that’s a purposeful approach. “Just as you’d develop your own home, nothing here really stays the same forever,” Vigil explains. The simple act of moving a table, chair or whiteboard can make the space feel new. Or an employee might add a success story to a mural, evolving the look. “That’s a good thing because it means that someone could use what you created as a springboard to be more creative,” Vigil says.

Looking to the future of workspaces

Photo credit: Spotify

Since office spaces are ultimately about functionality, flexibility and creativity, currently in the works is a “Workspace lab” of the furniture and systems Spotify uses or may want to use in the future. Every detail—raised floors, height-adjustable furniture, writeable surfaces and sustainability programs—will be evaluated and evolved.

“We’re constantly changing and trying to see what can be better,” Vigil notes. “How does the power and data connection come from the floor or wall to the computer? How can you change the furniture, connect it back and change it again hundreds of times if you want to?”

A space that gives a sh*t

Photo credit: Spotify

“When I started at Spotify, [CEO] Daniel [Ek] was always talking about how he wanted a space that makes you feel you are welcome whenever you want to come here,” Vigil says. “You’re not always the most creative when you’re working, so you can come in on a Saturday or Sunday and play ping-pong or grab a coffee… People just feel very much at home, and I think that if you see that, you’ve been successful.

“We have a great relationship with our artists. They can see we care about them and about what they do. I think that’s why our offices are so special… It’s not because of a piece of furniture, or because we have an amazing DJ booth. It’s about how we actually connect with creators.”