Tag: playlist

Spotify’s 2021 Summer Song Predictions Are Here

June 29, 2021

We’ve been counting the days, and summer has finally arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. As parts of the world begin opening up for outdoor concerts and backyard barbecues, this is sure to be a season dominated by feel-good jams and odes to a fresh start. 

Spotify’s global curation team has been hard at work reviewing streaming numbers, analyzing current track trajectory, and peering into crystal balls—all in service of forecasting what songs may feature heavily on your playlists this summer.

Grab your sunscreen and headphones. Here, in no particular order, are Spotify’s official Songs of Summer predictions:

Ready to bask in the sunshine to a new soundtrack? Stream Spotify’s Songs of Summer playlist.

The New Summer Breakouts Playlist Is Your Soundtrack for the Season

June 28, 2021

What’s the soundtrack to your summer? At Spotify, we’re taking bets on which breakout artists and songs will be racking up streams and sharing these songs in our new Summer Breakouts playlist, available to users across the U.S. and Canada.

Curated by Spotify’s editorial experts with tracks they predict will pop off this summer, the playlist also ranks the order in which they appear to fit each user’s taste based on the music they love.

 

From artists like BIA and Tai Verdes to Dayglow and Audrey Nuna, the playlist provides a range of new music to explore. Each week, the songs on the playlist will refresh, giving you more artists and tracks to discover and share. No matter your plans, you’ll have the perfect summer playlist for any moment. 

Ready to discover the artists and songs that we think will hit it big this season? Check out the Summer Breakouts playlist.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXbAmP7AvWeiR

Internet Sensation Quinta Brunson Discusses Her New Memoir and the Music That Inspires Her

June 15, 2021

Quinta Brunson, actor, writer, comedian, and viral meme creator, is adding another job title to the list: author.

She’s known to many for her starring role on Buzzfeed videos and as the “he got money” girl, a meme inspired by the viral video that’s garnered more than 1 million views. She’s also gained accolades from her role on the TV show A Black Lady Sketch Show and is in the midst of creating, producing, and starring in upcoming show Harrity Elementary. Now, the multihyphenate star is celebrating the publication of her new memoir, She Memes Well. The book gives fans an intimate look at her life through a collection of funny personal essays reflecting on her experience rising to viral fame.

To celebrate the publication of her memoir, Quinta channeled her passion for music into curating an exclusive Spotify playlist. For the Record caught up with the author to talk about going viral, the challenges of writing, and her musical inspirations.

Photo credit: The Riker Brothers

As someone who in many ways originated “going viral” and continues to do so, how do you create content that resonates with so many people?

I don’t think that there’s any one specific path. A relatable tweet can go viral, but also a bear attack can go viral. It’s about shock and awe, and there are many ways to achieve that. But I don’t think virality is the most important thing anymore, which I know might be ironic coming from me. Creating content, whether it be something on the internet, TV, music, or something that feels like art, that’s most important. If it goes viral, great. If not, that’s fine, too. It’s really about creating meaningful work.

You’ve said that writing She Memes Well was the hardest thing you’ve ever done. What made it more difficult than other projects you’ve worked on? 

For one, when writing a memoir, you’re making yourself more vulnerable. With the show, I’m creating fictional characters. But here, it’s me I’m putting on the page, so naturally I felt more protective of myself. Plus, the book is going to be out there forever. You can’t go in and change the book after it’s done, so you become super aware of what you’re saying. But I wanted to get over that fear and take risks. If some people don’t like what’s in the book, that’s fine, but these are my truths. I can’t do anything but tell the truth in my book.

Another hard part was that I was writing the book during a very formative time in my life. I was writing from age 27 to 31 and so much of me was changing. Writing a book, you’re supposed to start with ideology and themes. But that’s complicated when your sense of self is still changing. It was a lot of checking in with myself and asking what do I believe? Who am I actually, and what am I putting on the page? And the answer is that I’m different from who I was a month ago. And I want to be able to tell this truth right now. It felt like therapy, but I was my own therapist.

Do you listen to music when you’re writing?

I actually really enjoy listening to classical music when I’m writing because it doesn’t have lyrics. It feels like I have more freedom to write instead of listening to the lyrics. I really enjoy old-school Beethoven; I throw some on and just get with it.

Any favorite artists you listen to when you’re off the clock?

I love music so much. It’s just so formative to my spirit. I’m a big fan of the group The Internet—always will be, always have been. Other favorites are Solange, Frank Ocean, Hiatus Kaiyote, Little Dragon, and Noname. There’s an artist named Amindi whose music I hope gets more plays. Thundercat, I can throw him on any time. Stevie Wonder, I think he absolutely is the best artist of all time. And Aretha Franklin, she’s on play a lot, as is Ms. Lauryn Hill.

 And definitely Anderson .Paak. I was so happy about Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars forming Silk Sonic. You know when you feel like something was done personally for you? I feel like they did that collaboration for me. Separately, they’re two of my favorite artists, and when they formed a band—I just couldn’t even. That was one of the few things that happened in 2020 that brought me joy.

You curated a playlist to pair alongside your new book. How did you choose the songs for it?

The playlist is really fun! I wanted to create a list of songs I mentioned in my book in the order that they’re mentioned so it would feel like people are taking the same journey I took. The first song I danced to at dance school was the Space Jam theme song by Quad City DJ’s, “Space Jam,” so I wanted that to be the playlist’s musical introduction to the book because it’s fun and represents my childhood. Then it grows into more mature songs, some ballads, some heartbreakers, and some songs from Stevie Wonder that fit in that world in all types of different ways. Really, I wanted people to be able to experience the journey of the book in playlist form the same way you have a soundtrack for a movie. 

If you had to pick one song to represent the book, what would it be?

You know what song I think about a lot? The theme song to the TV show Big Mouth, “Changes” by Charles Bradley. It’s very simple, the lyrics are just “I’m going through changes,” but I think that song is a good representation of this book. I talk a lot in She Memes Well about evolution and allowing myself to change throughout my life. I think part of growing up is letting yourself go through those changes and not resist them. I also talk about it through memes and how memes evolve on social media. I love hearing that song when the show comes on because it just touches your heart.

Explore Quinta’s curated playlist, inspired by her new memoir She Memes Well, below.

What Type of Fan Are You? Celebrate the Arrival of Spotify’s Football Now Playlist in the U.K. and Germany

June 10, 2021

League preferences and team allegiances may differ, but one thing remains consistent in the world of football: the sport’s legion of passionate fans. For those wanting to stay on top of the latest and greatest, Spotify’s new Football Now playlist is the perfect companion.

Similar to Spotify’s Daily Sports and Daily Drive playlists, Football Now gives fans one destination for access to the sport’s best audio content. The playlist also includes music based on a user’s personalized preferences, making it a unique experience that’s tailored to every listener.

Updated daily, this football-specific playlist is currently accessible for fans in the U.K. and Germany. Whether you prefer to yell “goal!” or “gol!” Spotify has plenty of football podcasts to give you the game commentary, latest news, interviews, opinions, and more about your favorite leagues, players, and clubs.

Need help deciding which football podcast to explore first? We’ve rounded up suggestions of some of our favorite U.K. and German podcasts based on their topics. Check it out below:

For the fan who wants to hear stories from the professionals

Einfach mal Luppen (German): This podcast is cohosted by two professional footballers—and brothers—Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos and Eintracht Braunschweig midfielder Felix Kroos. In the episodes, which will be released three times a week, Felix calls up his brother to discuss the latest updates surrounding the German national team.

Welcome to ‘Wrighty’s House’ (U.K.): Former professional footballer and television and radio personality Ian Wright hosts this podcast, where he interviews a variety of guests about the sport, personal experiences, and more.

For the fan who wants real-time updates in a concise format

kicker News (German): This podcast releases regular football updates, summarizing the latest news in brief, 90-second episodes. The show is updated throughout the day so fans can easily stay up-to-date on what’s happening with their favorite sport.

Das EM-Update (German): This Spotify Original podcast, produced in collaboration with Deutsche Presse-Agentur, provides all the Euro tournament updates you want. Episodes will be released twice a day on match days and will offer insight into all 51 matches. In addition to sharing statistics and tactical analysis, episodes will also include reporter interviews from those on and off the field. 

For the fan who wants to hear about football history

GIANT (U.K.): This weekly Spotify Original podcast is hosted by Owen Blackhurst and features guests who share their personal football stories. From the great Arsenal and Manchester United rivalry to the most legendary on-the-field penalty stories, the podcast covers a variety of topics and stories for football fans.

Players (German): This podcast goes behind the scenes of the Euro tournament through short and concise episodes that will be released twice a day. On the show, listeners will learn more about the background and context of the tournament as the host explores questions like “Who actually came up with the idea of a pan-European European Championship?” In the morning edition, host Raphael Späth and European Championship reporter Matthias Friebe will talk about the topic of the day. In the evening, the podcast will dive deeper into another narrative topic.

For the fan who wants a good laugh

The Teamsheet (U.K.): On this Spotify Original podcast, celebrity football fans serve as guest hosts who share their top fantasy picks if they were in charge of building their own football team. Over the course of a week, episodes will be released daily, and in each one guests debate the merits of whom to add for their goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker, wildcard, and manager. On the final day, the hosts design their perfect kits. Listeners can expect laughs and legends as they hear from the likes of comedian Elis James, professional footballer Lianne Sanderson, and more.

Ready for more football fun? Germany and U.K.-based listeners can find your personalized Football Now playlist here. 

Spotify’s New Fresh Finds Program Helps Independent Artists Build Their Careers

May 26, 2021

For independent artists, sometimes all it takes is having a song in the right place at the right time for a legion of new fans to discover your music. Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist serves as this type of launch pad for up-and-coming artists who are beginning their careers. 

The playlist, which started in 2016, now has 10 accompanying playlists that have specific focuses, like Fresh Finds: Experimental and Fresh Finds: Latin. These playlists are the place for fan and industry tastemakers alike to find the next big thing in music. Since its launch, Fresh Finds has featured more than 25,000 artists, like Clairo, Omar Apollo, and 100 gecs, who have seen their music take off after their songs were included on the list. Spotify data even shows that artists featured on Fresh Finds see their average monthly listeners increase by 108% in the 28 days following their addition to the playlist. 

Now, Spotify is taking its support of these independent artists to the next level with the Fresh Finds program. Building off the success of the playlist, this new program focuses on giving developing artists the tools and educational resources needed for long-term career success. 

“Independent artists are at the forefront of what’s next in music,” says Rachel Ring, Music Marketing Manager at Spotify. “It’s vital that we continue to create space and opportunities for this wide-ranging group of artists, meet them where they are, provide tools for them to have agency over their careers, and give them a voice in our marketing campaigns.” 

Over the span of six to eight weeks, artists in the program have access to one-on-one mentorship with members of Spotify and a personalized Masterclass to learn how to best use Spotify for Artists tools (like Canvas and Marquee). There will also be collaboration opportunities with songwriters and producers set up in partnership with Noteable, Spotify’s Songwriter and Publishing Relations team. At the end of the program, each of the four groups of artists and producers/songwriters will release an original Spotify Singles track. The collaboration process will be documented through a social content series so fans can follow along as the tracks are created and see the songs come to life.

“It was important for us to build an ecosystem around the artists we’re working with to ensure they have the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in the short and long term,” continues Rachel. “At the end of this program we want our Fresh Finds artists to leave with a fluency in Spotify’s tools, a connection with other creators, growth across a wide range of new fans, and deeper engagement within their existing fan base.”

Spotify has announced the inaugural four independent artists chosen for the Fresh Finds program. Get to know them below.

Wallice

Wallice, who first started writing songs in middle school, has a sweet and nostalgic sound with a rowdy edge. After completing a year at the New School’s Jazz Vocal Performance program in NYC, the California native moved back to the West Coast to focus on her music. Her first single, 2020’s “Punching Bag,” was influenced by the favorites of her youth (Weezer and Lana Del Rey), as well as her current role models (Vampire Weekend and The Drums). Wallice will be paired with songwriter and producer marinelli and producer Ariel Rechtshaid for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

Unusual Demont

Unusual Demont is a Wisconsin native whose music is effortlessly forward-thinking. His grandfather, who was the drummer for R&B and soul legend Curtis Mayfield, has influenced his work, but the artist also finds inspiration from other sources, ranging from K-Pop to Frank Ocean. Unusual Demont originally started honing his skills as a rapper, but has shifted to singing with a more eclectic pop sound, which can be heard in his 2020 single “Amber.” Unusual Demont will be collaborating with producer Kieran Watters, professionally known as “The Idiot,” for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

Julia Wolf

Julia Wolf hails from Queens in New York City. She’s a singer-songwriter and visual artist whose confident and left-of-center vision for pop music has built her an already rabid fan base since she released her music on social media in 2019. The classically trained pianist had her breakout moment with the single “Hoops,” defying genre conventions with her stream-of-conscious lyrics and unforgettable hooks. Julia will be working with songwriter and producer Jackson Foote for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

EKKSTACY

Canadian singer-songwriter EKKSTACY has found refuge in his music. After a challenging youth that included his parents’ divorce and alcohol abuse, the artist turned to writing and recording music as a way to share his thoughts and feelings. EKKSTACY, who was influenced by the work of Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, and Bedroom, describes his music as fusing elements of indie, post-punk, and synth wave. The artist’s unique sound can be heard in tracks like “i walk this earth all by myself.” EKKSTACY will be paired with Jonny Pierce of The Drums for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

These artists are only the first to benefit from Fresh Finds, and they won’t be the last. But how to choose who’s next? 

“To select these artists, we utilized a combination of data and editorial decision-making, with our Editorial and Artist & Label Partnerships teams choosing artists for the program that are showing momentum both on and off Spotify,” says Rachel. “Ultimately, we don’t have formalized qualification criteria because being a developing artist is undefinable, and career growth can mean different things to different artists. Our gut instincts are based on what we think is the beginning of an amazing career.”  

Alongside the program’s launch, Spotify is releasing 13 new regional Fresh Finds playlists in Brazil, Spain, Australia/NZ, UK/IE, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore/Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Italy, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, South Korea, and Turkey to further our mission of disseminating the music of developing artists on a global scale.

Follow the four Fresh Finds artists to be the first to hear their new Spotify Singles, releasing on June 23. In the meantime, discover new music from independent artists in our Fresh Finds playlist below. 

Soleil Moon Frye Shares the Soundtrack of Her Teens and the Influence of Music in Her Documentary, ‘Kid 90’

April 20, 2021

Photo credit: Amanda Demme

Soleil Moon Frye became a household name upon starring in the 1980s television show Punky Brewster. Now, the actress is once again across our screens, revisiting her adolescence in the documentary Kid 90.

The film chronicles Soleil’s teenage years using never-before-seen footage and features a number of familiar Hollywood stars, like Leonardo DiCaprio, Robin Thicke, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar, in their teens. Soleil produced Kid 90 using her personal collection of video recordings from the decade. The documentary also draws heavily on the music of the era, creating an audio time capsule of sorts.

Soleil curated an exclusive playlist for Spotify of songs that represent the soundtrack of her life in the ’90s. For the Record spoke with the actress to learn more about the significance of her song choices and the experience of creating her documentary.

Photo courtesy of Soleil Moon Frye

We now capture and document everything on social media, but the ’90s was a very different world. What drew you to video and document your life as you did for Kid 90?

I feel like there was always this journalist inside of me from the time I was really young. At five years old, I started writing in diaries. By the time I was 12 years old, I had an audio recorder. In my preteen years I started carrying a video camera with me everywhere I went. 

As a teenager, I had so many questions. I was on this path of self-discovery and was going through the trials and tribulations of growing up. The camera almost became like a safety device, a protective device between me and others, where as long as I put my pain or my insecurities through the lens of looking at the world, I could turn it into art.

How does the playlist reflect your experience during that era?

The playlist shows where I was and the songs I was hearing. In New York City, for example, there was so much hip-hop and reggae. We would listen to the most incredible hip-hop and sit around and laugh, share stories, and talk about our experiences. We were so alive at that time.

And growing up in Los Angeles, I remember Portishead and Tricky, music that got me through love and through all of those teen emotions. Liz Phair I would just play over and over again for every one of my teenage angst moments. Pearl Jam, too. It was the soundtrack to my life back then. Sinead O’Connor coming out with “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Jeff Buckley. There were so many albums and artists that I played over and over again.

We noticed a few ’80s hits made it on the playlist. Why did you add those songs?

It was really a challenge to separate between the ’80s and ’90s because there are songs that are so definitive of the ’90s even though they were released in the late ’80s. One of my favorites, which I needed to put in my playlist because it had to do with every teen love experience, is “Almost Hear You Sigh” by The Rolling Stones. I’d listen to it over and over. Another one of the most impactful albums in the ’90s for me was Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits. I’ll never forget going on tour with Danny Boy and House of Pain, and he would pop that CD in, and we would listen to it over and over, so on my playlist I added “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”

The playlist is definitely a collage of lots of moments. I hope people have fun diving into it.

In the process of making the playlist, did you rediscover any songs or artists that you had forgotten?

Some of my favorite musicians have all come back to me. People and bands like Bruce Springsteen, Mojave 3, Mazzy Star, A Tribe Called Quest. And it was so fun to see my kids discovering the music of that time too. My girls love Mazzy Star, they love Portishead and Tricky and Notorious B.I.G.—it’s so fun.

Linda Perry and her first new song in 15 years, “The Letter,” are featured in Kid 90. How did she end up joining the project and collaborating with you?

Linda Perry has inspired me since the ’90s—you can see 4 Non Blondes is on my playlist. Perry has been a true muse to me throughout this incredible experience. She actually saw an early cut of the documentary and said, “I want to give you your own soundtrack,” which was such an honor. Really, she scored the music of my life, and did it beautifully. It was such an incredible experience working together. She just put her heart, soul, pain, love, just everything into it. 

The song itself was inspired by a real letter I wrote to myself at age 15. In it, I asked myself, “Who are you? Have you made your life worthy? Have you found a place to belong?”

It was profoundly moving for me to rediscover the letter because it made me look inward and question whether I made that teenager proud. Was I living the life that I expected for myself? Often in our youth we have these dreams of all that we’re going to become and somewhere along the way, we get caught up in life. And sometimes we steer away from those dreams. Reading this letter and hearing the song Perry created felt like the teen me and the adult me coming together again. It was incredible.

How did Perry’s score influence the film?

Every song connected so much with the emotion that I was going through at that time. Working with her was an incredible source of inspiration. I’d be so moved by songs she sent me that I would cut sequences of Kid 90 to fit the music, which is such a gift.

And finally, for all the Punky Brewster fans out there, we have to ask: Is there a song on your playlist that speaks to that inner strength or Punky Power for you?

Oh, my God, there are so many! “One,” U2? “Hallelujah,” Jeff Buckley? Each song speaks to that experience and time of love and life and joy and fun.

Revisit the ’90s with Soleil’s playlist below and catch her new documentary on Hulu.

La Reina, la playlist con Clásicos y los Nuevos Hits del Regional Mexicano

November 25, 2020

El regional mexicano es un término que comprende una familia de géneros, ritmos y tradiciones musicales del país como la música banda, norteño, mariachi y cumbia, que en los últimos años se ha fusionado con otros como el hip hop, el rock y el pop.

Para celebrar esta explosión de éxitos, clásicos y experimentos, Spotify creó La Reina: una playlist que conjuga las raíces de la música tradicional mexicana con éxitos que exploran nuevas direcciones. Un año de creación y medio millón de seguidores después, La Reina ha sido capaz de cautivar a los nativos del género y también a quienes se acercan a él por primera vez. 

“La Reina es una playlist que tiene un poco de todo lo que nos gusta a los mexicanos en el vasto espacio del Regional Mexicano. Aquí los oyentes encuentran a los reyes y reinas del género”, dice Uriel Waizel, Editor Senior de Spotify. “En Spotify tenemos el compromiso de celebrar a la música de México y en La Reina esperamos que los fans exploren las muchas facetas del Regional Mexicano y descubran nueva música que amarán.”

El objetivo al crear La Reina fue ampliar el espectro para que en un una misma playlist los fans puedan escuchar la música de leyendas del género como Los Tigres del Norte, Banda el Recodo, o Los Ángeles Azules en la misma playlist que una nueva generación que está redefiniendo el género como Christian Nodal o Ángela Águilar.

Para los fans, La Reina es una playlist para escuchar en fiestas, para cantar a todo pulmón en modo karaoke o para escuchar en el trabajo. Además, los acerca a subgéneros emergentes los corridos tumbados con artistas como Natanael Cano y Junior H que cuentan las historias de la frontera, la calle y el barrio.

Además, la curaduría destaca colaboraciones que cruzan las barreras del género, como el mariacheño y pop de Christian Nodal con Piso 21 en Pa’ Olvidarme de Ella o  Qué Maldición donde Banda MS mezcla su sonido con el hip hop de Snoop Dogg 

No importa qué tipo de fan del regional mexicano eres, la variedad que encontrarás en La Reina: Éxitos del Regional Mexicano la hace una playlist para ti.

After 7 Years of Breaking Boundaries, Spotify’s Baila Reggaeton Playlist Hits 10 Million Followers

May 14, 2020

Reggaeton first surfaced in Panama in the 1970s and quickly took on a vibrant life of its own. As the genre found footholds in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the United States, it also welcomed new talents and sounds. In the years to follow, the reggae-dancehall fusion solidified as a prevailing cultural movement with its own language, symbols, and artistic identity. In 2013, Spotify recognized this rapidly growing movement and created the Baila Reggaeton playlist. Now, seven years later, the playlist has skyrocketed—much like the genre itself—and has now reached 10 million followers.

From Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” in the mid-2000s to 2017’s “Mi Gente” by J Balvin, the genre—and the playlist that captured it all—has seen explosive growth and influence throughout the years. Two reggaeton artists (Daddy Yankee and J Balvin) have even become the number-one-streamed artist on Spotify globally following the release of their hits on the playlist.  

But these milestones are only the tip of the reggaeton iceberg. The Baila Reggaeton playlist has ridden the genre’s groove and helped break the new wave of reggaeton artists like Sech, Rauw Alejandro, and Lunay. The top 10 songs streamed on the playlist from January 1, 2014, to now encompass many of the artists who make up the sounds of the genre.    

  1. “Sola (Remix)” — Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Farruko, Wisin, Zion & Lennox
  2. “Te Boté – Remix” ­— Bad Bunny, Casper Magico, Darell, Nicky Jam, Nio Garcia, Ozuna
  3. “Me Rehúso” — Danny Ocean
  4. “Escápate Conmigo” ­— Ozuna, Wisin
  5. “La player (Bandolera)” ­— Zion & Lennox
  6. “Otra vez” — J Balvin, Zion & Lennox
  7. “Sin Pijama” — Becky G, Natti Natasha
  8. “Criminal” ­— Natti Natasha, Ozuna
  9. “Vaina Loca” ­— Manuel Turizo, Ozuna
  10. “Ahora Dice” ­— Arcangel, Chris Jeday, J Balvin, Ozuna

The increasing popularity of reggaeton is reflected not only on this playlist, but also heavily across social media platforms, where reggaeton artists thrive and have become cultural influencers, tastemakers, and role models for the new generation of Latin music fans. See what some of your favorites have to say.

What does it feel like to be part of a genre that has now revolutionized the music industry?

Becky G: I feel empowered to be a part of a genre that is revolutionizing the music industry. I have always believed in the power of music and how it can bring others together, so I love seeing how the universal language of music is starting to pick up a little slang from us too. 

J Balvin: It feels amazing. I have spent my entire career trying to push the “Latino Gang” culture forward, so it feels special to see the genre become a truly worldwide movement.

Ivy Queen: I feel great pride to see how a genre that started off in Borinquen’s streets and garages has shaken the world.

Daddy Yankee: I always had the vision that reggaeton would be heard in the entire world. It was already a lifestyle but it took some time to realize that people would grow within this new culture—it was a movement. I was absolutely clear about it, and even if they called me crazy I always envisioned what we are now living through.

Spotify Fêtes Best New Artists at 2020 Celebration

January 24, 2020

For the past four years, Spotify has celebrated the Best New Artist nominees at a one-night-only party to remember. The event is intended to help further amplify the voices of several breakout stars, and this year was no different. All eight members of the 2020 class—Billie Eilish, Black Pumas, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Maggie Rogers, Rosalía, Tank and The Bangas, and Yola—hit the stage last night and delivered electrifying performances. 

Collectively, the category’s nominees have racked up a total of more than 15 billion Spotify streams to date. We caught up with the artists from the red carpet at The Lot Studios in Los Angeles, California—read on to hear what they had to say and to check out the night’s picture-perfect moments. 

Lizzo

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

  • “Aye yi yi” did Lizzo knock her performance out of the park. On the red carpet, Lizzo shared her thoughts on what the Best New Artist nomination meant to her: “For me, it was really cool to be like ‘Oh, I was impactful.’ Not only did I put out a good album, but I really showed the world who I was this year; and the world really fell in love with who that person was.” 
  • Lizzo is the collaboration queen. Everyone wants her voice on their tracks. With 23 collaborations to her name, Lizzo is the most featured artist of all the Best New Artist nominees.

Yola

Credit: Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Spotify

  • Born in Bristol, England, Yola’s country-soul vibe spans across genres, and at last night’s event, she highlighted the impact of her Best New Artist nomination: “It means a sense of validation … It just feels so much like I’m being lifted up by people. People are seeing me for my ability to write, for my ability to perform. Yeah, it’s an utter joy.”
  • Many listeners are discovering Yola’s music on Spotify’s Best Folk & Americana Songs of 2019 playlist. Also, Yola covered Elton John on her debut album—check out her soaring version of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

Billie Eilish

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

  • “Don’t say I didn’t warn ya,” but Billie Eilish’s performance was “!!!!!!!” The singer’s stripped-down set, with brother Finneas on piano, included “bad guy” and “everything i wanted.” “The video for this song just came out today,” Eilish told the audience as she introduced the latter. “Very exciting!” 
  • With roughly 55 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Billie conquered the charts in 2019—and then some. Last year the singer had the largest number of songs on our Global Top 50 Chart at the one time. On April 1st—and this is no April fool’s joke—14 of the tracks on the Top 50 were Billie’s, and “bad guy” was in the number one spot. 

Black Pumas

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spotify

  • This soul-funk duo from Austin, Texas, said the nomination caught them by surprise. “We just started working on music two years ago with humble goals, you know,” said Black Pumas’ guitarist-producer Adrian Quesada. “‘Let’s just make songs that move us,’ and here we are two years later. It’s exciting.” 
  • Since the Best New Artist nominees were announced, Black Pumas saw the largest percentage increase in the number of playlists their music was added to.

Maggie Rogers

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

  • “We’re always searching for language,” Rogers told Spotify before her set. “If you’re an artist, you were born an artist. Everyone here has been working for ten, five, seven, eight, however many years to make music and be at this place; and I think tonight is really about celebrating that work.” 
  • Of all the Best New Artist nominees, Maggie Rogers saw the biggest increase in streams in the week following the announcement of her nomination: Her music shot up more than 103%.

Lil Nas X

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spotify

  • Lil Nas X crushed the stage with his performance of “Old Town Road,” with Billy Ray Cyrus beside him. “It means I’m one of the few artists who the Grammys saw as deserving of a nomination in a year of so much amazing music. And I’m thankful for that. With Spotify, it’s easier for a new artist to be heard; and when ‘Old Town Road’ was just coming up, the playlisting helped so much.” 
  • While five of the Best New Artist nominees have remixed versions of some of their tracks, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road – Remix” with Billy Ray Cyrus is the top streamed, with more than 870 million streams.

Rosalía

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Spotify

  • Rosalía Vila (aka Rosalía) hails from Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Spain, though she’s certainly made her mark beyond her hometown. At Spotify’s Best New Artist event, she performed a rousing five-song set, which included a surprise appearance by Ozuna for the hit track “Yo x Ti, Tu x Mi.”  
  • Rosalía, who has collaborated with the likes of J Balvin, Pharrell, and James Blake, has the most geographically diverse audience of all the Best New Artist nominees. 

Tank and The Bangas

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Spotify

  • The night ended with a “banga” performance from Tank and the Bangas, who had noted earlier that the best new artist category is a catalyst for discovery.  “(We) definitely checked out the Black Pumas and … Rosalia, everybody. You really are a Best New Artist because I’m checking out people who I never knew and that’s pretty dope within itself.”  
  • Listeners from Japan to the UK to Germany to Brazil have been streaming this band’s music. Their 2019 album Green Balloon has generated their two most-streamed songs, the curiously titled “Ants” and “Smoke.Netflix.Chill.”  

Spotify Has the Pawfect Playlist for You And Your Pet

January 15, 2020

There is something uniquely special about the relationship we humans have with our pets—it’s one filled with unconditional love, licks, snuggles, and cuddles. It’s hard to put into words the emotion these animals give us—other than pure happiness. So it’s only natural that we want to make them feel good, too, and many pet owners believe they do exactly that with music. 

We dug our paws into the subject and conducted a study on how pet owners use music with their pets. We found that 71% of pet owners surveyed play music for their pets, and that’s not all. Check out the rest of the furry (read: fun) facts we unearthed from pet owners in five countries across the globe.

Apache 207, Juju, Summer Cem, and More Headline Live Modus Mio Concert

December 17, 2019

For the second year in a row, hip-hop fans in Germany had the opportunity to witness a favorite Spotify playlist, Modus Mio, come to life on the big stage.

In honor of the playlist—which has over 1.3 million followers—Spotify brought some of the biggest names in the German hip-hop game to the Warsteiner Music Hall in Dortmund on December 14. For the second annual “Modus Mio Live On Stage,” artists including Kreuzberg phenomenon Ufo361, Juju, Summer Cem, Azet, KALIM, and Apache 207 performed many of their chart-topping hits for an über-enthusiastic crowd.

Spotify’s Biggest Playlist, Today’s Top Hits, Celebrates 25 Million Followers

December 16, 2019

It’s been streamed more than 20 billion times. Over 70 featured artists have received 100+ million plays. And now, Spotify’s biggest playlist, Today’s Top Hits, can add “over 25 million followers” to its name. To put this in perspective: If Today’s Top Hits was an artist, it would be the third most streamed of all time (after Drake and Ed Sheeran).

Since 2014, Spotify’s team of curators have analyzed our streaming data, as well as music culture and trends, to populate the playlist. Each week, it features updated songs from artists around the world. Today’s Top Hits spans a variety of genres — from pop and Latin, to hip-hop and indie — giving listeners an opportunity to enjoy the music they already know and love, while also discovering new tracks.

Today’s Top Hits not only reflects the music culture of the zeitgeist, but also shapes it.  The playlist has helped kickstart the careers of many artists, including: Arizona Zervas, Tones and I, and Ant Saunders, whose respective singles “Roxanne,” “Dance Monkey,” and “Yellow Hearts,” have been some of the most recent staples. More than just serving as a platform of discovery for emerging talent, Today’s Top Hits has also amplified songs by established artists such as Post Malone, Selena Gomez, Khalid, Halsey, The Chainsmokers, and Camila Cabello.

We couldn’t be more excited about this incredible milestone—thanks to the 25 million fans and followers for listening. A few other people wanted to say thank you . . . (shout-out to Niall Horan, Julia Michaels, Lewis Capaldi, Marshmello, and Lauv).

See for yourself what Today’s Top Hits is all about.