Tag: playlists

Spotify Amplifies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists With New Playlists and a Music + Talk Show

a series of artists looking at camera and a graphic treatment on top

In 2017, Spotify launched Blak Australia, a music playlist that spotlighted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians. Since then, our support of First Nations artists has grown into Dreaming Loud, with multiple playlists and programs featured on the platform to amplify these talented creators.

Now we are excited to debut new playlists that highlight Indigenous artists and give listeners music tailored to different genres—and even tailored to family members. Fans will now find a hip-hop playlist called Proppa Bars, a mood playlist called Big Ancestor Energy, and two new kids’ playlists, Too Deadly Bub and Blak Hits for Kids.

To celebrate, we are updating all our existing First Nations playlists with a new visual identity created in collaboration with Aboriginal artist and designer Arkie Barton. The new design “represents a coming together of community and mobs from all across so-called Australia, specifically within the digital space of the Spotify First Nations arena,” shared Arkie.

Oscars Music Director Rickey Minor Reveals His All-Time Favorite Nominated Songs

On Sunday night, movie fans around the world will tune in to the 95th Academy Awards—aka the Oscars—to celebrate Hollywood’s exceptional talent. Once the show begins, it’s the musical numbers that help create the magical atmosphere the event is known for. 

This year’s musical director for the show is Rickey Minor, who previously worked on tours for the likes of Whitney Houston, Beyonce, and Ray Charles, and also served as the musical director and bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Rickey’s job for the Oscars is to plan out the music that will play throughout the show, and then work with the house orchestra to bring it all to life.

Ahead of the big night, we teamed up with Rickey on a special Oscars-themed playlist. From classics like Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” to Encanto’s “The Family Madrigal,” this playlist is not only a collection of Rickey’s favorite Oscar past nominees, but also a look back at the show’s rich musical history.

For the Record recently sat down with Rickey to discuss his work leading up to the Oscars, this year’s nominees, and what excites him most about working on this iconic show. 

What do you work on in the lead up to the Oscars?

There’s a lot of music to prepare. It’s upward of 170 pieces, so my team and I have to get through it all in two days of pre-recordings and rehearsals. And then we get in, perform sound check, and it’s time to go. But it’s all exciting.

Thankfully, this is a show with a rich, 95-year legacy. You don’t have to rewrite the book. You just have to come in and infuse a different perspective. This is my third time doing the show, and so I look at the years before and bring that inspiration to this year’s incredible films. When it comes to the music, I think a lot about ways to be more inclusive—not just with different eras, but also with different countries and genres—because all of us make up this world. So my thought is that if you’re in South America or Europe, how cool would it be to hear a cue that references a movie from your part of the globe?

How is working on the Oscars different from working on a tour, a TV show, or other projects?

The pressure is bigger because there’s a lot riding on it. Generally speaking, for all of us working on the show, we have one chance to get it right. And when an article goes out, or a book goes out, or a record goes out, this is what will be remembered as our best work. It requires a mix of paying attention to detail, but also letting go. If it feels right, it’s right. If it feels wrong, it’s wrong.

There might be times when my team and I debate whether a certain decision might be too on the nose. Like, is it patronizing to introduce someone from another part of the world with music from their country? But I just try to approach it with respect and offer a sense of representation. Because if we don’t support each other and celebrate our differences, they’re not there.  

How does the music featured during the Oscars help to set the tone for the entire show?

Music is life. Life is music. We speak in rhythm, we walk in rhythm, and our hearts beat in rhythm. And so, with the Oscars, the tone of the show really starts with the music. Yes, it’s all about the films, but it’s also all about the great music from these films that takes you back. And so, having these iconic musical moments helps everyone feel the moment—the joy, sadness, and triumph.

Can you tell us about your creative process?

When I start a process like this, I listen with my eyes closed so I can really get a sense of what the music makes me feel and then decide whether or not it’s an emotional moment I want to include.  

The show has to have a lot of different styles and diversity in the music, but it also has to have a flow. So there’ll be a time where I have a very romantic moment, and it’s lush and beautiful, and then I’ll drop into some hip-hop. Then I’ll jump right out of that into classical. I’ll go wherever the flow feels right. 

If you have someone that’s an iconic artist, then you’re going to want something grand and beautiful, and to give them their due and give them time to walk out. There’s no rush to get them there. And I have to keep in mind not only the television audience, but the audience in the building. It’s really a chess game.

When it comes to the music from this year’s Oscar nominees, is there anything that stands out to you?

I was inspired by a lot of it. Just looking at the songs alone, “Naatu Naatu” from RRR was a very exciting and fun number, and it made me feel proud of the inclusion that we have, and that we’re looking at art from a different way. Same thing with Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I mean, just put her in front of a microphone and I’m good. Then there’s “Applause” from Tell It Like A Woman, which was written by Diane Warren. I’ve known her my entire musical life and it makes me proud to see her receive an honorary Oscar. I also loved “This Is a Life,” from Everything Everywhere All At Once. 

Really, I feel like the winner because I get to do all five of these songs as well. 

Each year, as the show starts, what do you find you’re most excited about?

I have to be honest, every moment is amazing. Once the show starts, there’s a lot that I have to stay on top of and I’m watching so that I don’t lose track. There’s so much going on in the headset in between the director and the shots and the cues coming in. But I really just want to be present for every single moment and not miss a thing. I love seeing all the emotions, like the joy people express during their speeches. And sometimes I have to pull myself out because I have to say I’m on it, but I’m still so in it.

What’s your takeaway for fans? 

I say, get dressed up and get ready to party. Put your dancing shoes on, because we’re giving you all that energy. And make sure you have some tissues, because there are going to be some tears. Tears from the winners—and tears from everyone else.

5 Ways Spotify Playlists Help Your Songs Reach Fans Around the World

Today at Stream On, artists, songwriters, producers, podcasters, and authors from around the world joined for the latest announcements and hands-on demos of the new tools and resources coming to our platform. We also hosted our companion event, Play On, which featured a series of talks and interactive sessions that inspired and educated creators about how they can leverage the full potential of our platform.

Among these sessions was a Spotify for Artists Masterclass on playlists and music discovery hosted by Spotify Head of Artist and Industry Partnerships International Bryan Johnson, with panelists including Spotify Global Head of Editorial Sulinna Ong, Spotify Creative Director and Head of Urban Music Carl Cherry, and Spotify Head of Global Hits J.J. Italiano. Over the course of the talk, they dove into the ways artists can use—and maximize—the power of Spotify playlists to help grow their careers.

In recent years, streaming has helped music, and culture at large, cross borders across the world. And one of the main ways fans are discovering new artists is through playlists

Spotify playlists fall into one of three categories:

  • Made by Editors: Curated by our team of editors at Spotify, these playlists consist of beloved global and regional playlists, including Today’s Top Hits and Pollen.
  • Made for You: These algorithmically driven playlists—like Discover Weekly and Release Radarare tailored to each Spotify listener based on their taste profile and on a range of different signals.
  • Made by You: These playlists are created by fans who aren’t just sitting back waiting for new music; they’re leaning into artist discovery and actively finding tracks to share with other fans.

So how do these playlists drive artist discovery, exactly? There are five key factors:

1. Spotify playlists are global

Spotify exists in more than 180 markets around the world, and that has allowed us to develop a connected ecosystem of playlists across many different genres and regions. Along with our global offerings, we have thousands of playlists like African Heat, MANSIÓN REGGAETÓN, and K-Pop ON! (온) that help spotlight music coming out of regional and local scenes.

Together, these form our Playlist Pyramid, which starts with our more local and niche playlists, and filters up to our global playlists. Sitting at the top is Today’s Top Hits, which is the biggest and most popular playlist.

For many artists, their Playlist Pyramid journey will start with local or regional playlists. These are often streamed by highly engaged fans who are looking to discover new music, and they give artists a solid platform for building their audience. But from there, an artist can take many paths up the pyramid. When a song starts to perform well, it will be placed in the region’s larger playlists, and it may even be tested in other markets to see how it’s received by an international audience. If the song continues to resonate with fans, the artist can take the next jump up the pyramid, appearing in global playlists like Rap Caviar, Viva Latino, and Mint. And for artists whose songs really hit globally, they could earn a place in Today’s Top Hits.

The rise of Ghanaian singer and rapper Black Sherif is a great example of how this journey can unfold. His lyricism and unique blend of drill, Ghanaian highlife, and trap caught the ears of our editors in Sub-Saharan Africa, which led to his being playlisted in popular local lists like +233 Bars, Asakaa, Ghana Party, and more. As Black Sherif started to perform well on these playlists, he was placed in the region’s top flagship lists—Hot Hits Ghana, No Wahala, and African Heat—which further accelerated his popularity. 

Eventually, our hip-hop editors took note of his growing audience, which was starting to cross borders, and supported him across various playlists, including our global flagship playlist for drill, City to City. He has since become an emerging name outside Sub-Saharan Africa and was selected as one of our six RADAR artists in 2022.

2. Spotify playlists are curated

Placements on our editorial playlists are driven by a combination of the cultural knowledge, passion, and expertise of our editorial teams, and the variety of data insights we gather from Spotify’s audience. Crucially, music submitted via the playlist submission tool is the starting point for all songs, and Global Curation Groups, which are tapped into the latest trends and discussion points, can also determine the outcomes of where a song’s journey continues in the editorial ecosystem.

If you’re an artist who wants to better understand the pitching process, the panelists shared a few best practices to get you started:

  • Do pitch your music before it’s released: Using our playlist submission tool on Spotify for Artists is the most effective way to pitch new music. To give your track the best chance of getting playlisted—either editorially or algorithmically—we recommend pitching your song at least seven days in advance of its being released. 
  • Do provide as much info as you can: Our editors love having context when considering a song for placement. Who made it with you? When was it made? Where did you make it? It is also helpful to include any press, music video plans, release schedules, and promotions, as well as the social media accounts linked in your artist profile. If there’s an interesting story around you and/or the song, definitely let us know. 
  • Do think globally: When you pitch a song for placement, it’s visible to our entire team of editors around the world. They’re also constantly sharing their discoveries with each other. So if there are markets or regions outside of your own where you think your song will attract fans, be sure to include those suggestions when you pitch.
  • Do engage your audience: While you can’t pitch your music to us post-release, our editors still look at signals from our broader data to see which songs are resonating. Engaging with your audience and encouraging them to stream your tracks can help build momentum and catch our editors’ attention.
  • Don’t pay for playlist placement: You cannot pay to get on an official Spotify playlist. If someone or a third-party company is offering placement on a playlist in exchange for money, this is a streaming manipulation service that goes against Spotify’s guidelines for music promotion. Additionally, we routinely remove user-generated playlists that claim to offer this, so it won’t benefit you in the long run.
  • You can only pitch via Spotify for Artists: This is the place where ALL editors go to look for new music, and it’s your route to get your music in front of our editors. 

3. Spotify playlists are personalized

Personalization is one of Spotify’s most loved features, drawing upon a multitude of signals to connect the right song to the right ears at the right time. Personalized playlists include not only the aforementioned Discover Weekly and Release Radar, but also playlists like Blend and Daily Mix. They also include playlists like Beast Mode and Songs to Sing in the Shower, which are personalized for each listener but are based on a larger pool of potential tracks chosen by editors. 

One-third of all new artist discoveries on Spotify happen in these personalized sessions, which also help to drive future streams from new fans. Submitting a pitch at least seven days before release day via the playlist submission tool also helps ensure that an artist’s new release shows up in their listeners’ Release Radar.

4. Spotify playlists are driven by fans and artists

The majority of Spotify streams come from active streams, where fans are seeking out the music they want to hear by visiting album pages, artists profiles, or liked songs. This also includes streams from listener playlists. These can help signal to Spotify (and to other fans) that we should be paying attention to a particular song or artist. Artists can also engage fans by creating playlists that feature their music, or tracks by other like-minded artists that they’ve worked with and are inspired by. This can not only help to catch the eye of editors when they’re looking at streaming data, but could also lead to visibility on other artists’ profiles.

5. Spotify playlists are timeless

Spotify playlists are composed of the hottest tracks of the moment, as well as classics from the past. That’s because catalog music—or music that is more than 18 months old—maintains a large presence on Spotify. According to our Catalog Fan Study, roughly 75% of active streams consist of catalog music. Furthermore, catalog music has become increasingly popular with younger audiences who are discovering artists from previous generations for the first time.

While artists can’t pitch catalog music, our editors are always looking at the data to see if a catalog song is a good fit for one of our editorial playlists. And if an artist’s catalog song happens to go viral on a playlist, the benefits are sizable: On average, artists can see a 70% jump in streams for the rest of their music. 

As you can see, playlists are vital to how fans connect with new artists and how artists engage those new fans. And we’ll continue to use our ecosystem of playlists to support artists as their musical journey unfolds.

Are you an artist looking to get your track on Spotify’s playlists? Visit Spotify for Artists to pitch our editors.

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

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.

The Newly Rebranded KrOWN Playlist Gives International Fans a Taste of Korean Hip-Hop

a graphical image that's a black box with KrOWN written over it in gold.

K-Pop ON! (온) is the Spotify destination for K-Pop fans—but what if you’re looking for the best in Korean hip-hop? Well then, we’d like to introduce you to KrOWN. This editorial playlist is the ultimate place for K-hip-hop listeners around the world and serves as a brand that symbolizes the hottest of South Korea’s hip-hop scene. 

This new playlist gives local and international fans of the genre a one-stop destination to listen to the latest music from their favorite and soon-to-be favorite artists. The name is a combination of “KR,” the country code for South Korea, and “Crown/Own,” which refers to the crowned kings and queens who own K-hip-hop worldwide. 

KrOWN originally existed as the K-Hip-Hop+82 playlist. Prior to the rebranding, Spotify listeners streamed the playlist more than 20 million times just last year and racked up more than 430,000 followers. 

The playlist’s top streaming countries include the United States, Taiwan, Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan—proving that Korean hip-hop truly is a global sensation. In fact, listeners streamed K-hip-hop tracks more than 13.1 billion times on Spotify, with Gen Zs (18- to 24-year-olds) accounting for nearly half of the listenership.

Other Spotify playlists like TrenChill K-Hip Hop, K’illin’, From Bottom to Top, and Jazzy Hip-Hop give fans a taste of the many sounds within Korean hip-hop, and the newly rebranded KrOWN will be the perfect home for the overarching genre.

Check out the newly relaunched KrOWN playlist below.

K-Pop Fans Can Now Blend With Some of Their Favorite Groups on Spotify

K-Pop fans, Spotify has a listening experience that will let you connect with your favorite bands in a new way. Through Spotify’s Blend feature, you can sing and dance along to an all-new set of playlists that merge your personal music taste with that of some of the biggest names in K-Pop.

Blend was introduced last year as a new way for two Spotify users to combine their musical preferences into one shared playlist made just for them. Earlier this year, we announced updates that included the chance to Blend with some of your favorite artists. 

Now Spotify is expanding the collection of Blend artists to include K-Pop superstars BTS, Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, NMIXX, and AB6IX. When you Blend with these artists, you’ll get a curated playlist that combines your favorite tracks with theirs. You’ll also receive a share card showing your taste-match scores and the songs that bring you two together. The cards can be shared directly to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter so you can show off your matches with other members of the ARMY, Stay, ENGENE, MOA, NSWER, and ABNEW fan bases.

Ready to see what these bands have been listening to lately? Grab your headphones and Blend by following the link for your favorite K-Pop artist below.

Blend with BTS

the band BTS is standing in front of a gas station looking at the camera posing

 

Blend with NMIXX

the band NMIXX are standing in front of the camera posing. Some members are kneeling and others are standing.

 

Blend with Stray Kids

The band stray kids are standing in front of the camera posing. their shadows are showing behind them.

 

Blend with TOMORROW X TOGETHER

the band tomorrow x together are on a white backdrop posing in front of the camera.

 

Blend with ENHYPEN

the band enhyphen are posing in front of the camera in this black and white photo. they are holding a sign that says "just stop."

 

Blend with AB6IX

the band ab6ix are standing outside in front of a concrete structure and are posing for the camera.


Update as of October 19, 2022: BLINKs rejoice: You can now also Blend with BLACKPINK on Spotify.
Find a full list of all available Blends here.

How To Celebrate Star Wars Day With Spotify

Calling all Jedi masters and young Padawans! You probably don’t need reminding that today is May the Fourth (aka Star Wars Day), but Spotify is here to help you celebrate by taking our Blend feature to a galaxy far, far away. You can now merge your musical taste with that of Yoda, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia to create a shared playlist full of your favorite songs.

After you Blend with one of these iconic Star Wars heroes (or villain), you’ll receive a share card showing your taste-match scores and the song that brings you two together. You can then share the cards, which also reveal your listening preferences compared to the character, directly to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.

Three Things To Know About Spotify’s Featured Curators Pilot

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.

Discover and Listen to Music With Even More Friends and Family—Plus Some of Your Favorite Artists—With Spotify’s Newest Blend Update

Music has been bringing people together for generations, from concert halls to car rides to online communities. Last year, Spotify took group listening a step further and launched Blend, a shared playlist that combines the best of Spotify’s personalization capabilities and collaborative playlist functionality into a single shared playlist, making it easy for users to get into a listening session that is made just for them. 

And as of today, Spotify is expanding Blend’s reach with two new updates: The first allows you to Blend with up to 10 people in a group—whether it’s your running club, favorite coworkers, group chat, book club, or chosen family. And the second gives you the chance to Blend with some of your favorite artists. 

Two’s a party (and so is 10)

Now that you can Blend with up to 10 friends or family members, you’ll be able to listen to a personalized playlist with your entire group chat. 

To blend with a group, just follow a few easy steps: 

  • Create + Invite: Just search “Blend” within the “Search” tab on Spotify. Then, tap “Invite” to select people to Blend with. 
  • Blend: Once your friend has accepted the invite, Spotify will generate your shared Blend playlist, which will include songs and recommendations that reflect everyone’s music preferences and tastes. You’ll even be able to see which songs were added for which friend. 
  • Listen + Share: After everyone has joined the collaborative playlist, you and your friends will receive a custom share card that you can use to spread the word on social media.

Have you ever been curious about your favorite artist’s creative influences? Now, you can find out—and see how yours compare—when you make a Blend with one of 20 music artists that merges tastes into one shared playlist made just for you. 

‘A1: The Show’ Brings a New Side of Australian Hip-Hop to Listeners

Hip-hop fans in Australia know exactly where to go to get a taste of the latest hits: Spotify’s A1 playlist. A1 has been rapidly growing in listenership and last year saw as many as 227,000 daily streams. The playlist is known for highlighting tracks of both seasoned stars and emerging talent. In fact, RADAR artist The Kid LAROI saw fast-rising success when his debut song “Blessings” first appeared on the playlist.

The demand for this genre shows that hip-hop is no longer a niche sound in Australia, but rather a global trend that has a dominating presence in mainstream music. Building off this demand, Spotify is excited to introduce A1: The Show, which uses our new music and talk feature. 

The format will put top tracks from the A1 playlist alongside talk show–like commentary from hosts. Listeners will get to hear the voices of local hip-hop artists, and the content provides new opportunities to expand the conversation around the genre in Australia.

A1: The Show will be hosted by Jade Le Flay, Jazmine Nikitta, and 24 Karat Kev, who are influential members of the Australian hip-hop community. Each episode will feature tracks from the A1 playlist (which is updated weekly) and will showcase both local and international artists. Check out the show below:

How Who We Be, Altar, and Our Generation Are Propelling UK and Irish Artists to the Top

Spotify’s editorial playlists are full of musical collections that fans won’t find anywhere else. Some of these playlists follow moods, while others contain songs curated for a specific genre—many of these playlists highlight emerging artists and help them connect their music with new audiences.

In the UK and Ireland, three flagship playlists are particularly influential. Listeners can find the UK’s biggest rap, grime, R&B, Afrobeat, and dancehall hits on Who We Be. Altar is the destination for the best electronic dance music. And for those looking to experience new and emerging genreless sounds, the Our Generation playlist contains some of the most exciting emerging acts on the UK and Irish scenes.

In 2020, many fans discovered new artists through these lists, and the proof is in the numbers. Read on to learn about some of the standout artists who saw success on these playlists last year. 

Who We Be

The Who We Be playlist has grown significantly since its launch in 2016, and it now has over half a million fiercely loyal and engaged followers. One of the playlist’s biggest breakthroughs in 2020 was Central Cee. The West London rapper commanded more than 200,000 streams from the Who We Be playlist alone, and he saw almost instant success with his single “Day In The Life.” Since he joined the Who We Be Community, the artist’s followers on Spotify have grown by almost 359%.

S1mba is another rapper who made waves last year with his debut single, “Rover (feat. DTG),” which peaked at number two in the UK Top 40 in April. The Zimbabwean-born Londoner is the 15th-most-streamed artist overall on the playlist, and since “Rover” was released, he has seen a 16,435% rise in listens.

After being featured on Who We Be, Tiana Blake’s “Cut Ties became the best-performing traditional R&B track from a British artist on the playlist. The track went on to make waves in other global Spotify playlists, such as Chilled R&B, and saw a 159% rise in streams.

Altar

Dance and Electronic music isn’t going anywhere. If you need proof, look no further than the Altar playlist, which saw a 193% increase in listens in 2020. One of the biggest artist breakthroughs of 2020 was award-winning producer Fred Gibson, who released tracks under his alias, Fred again... The artist’s unique sound blends raw vocal samples with club-ready euphoria and has been a hit with the Altar audience; they’ve made him one of the top 20 most-streamed artists on the playlist last year.

TSHA was the third-most-streamed UK female on the playlist in 2020. She saw an increase in year-on-year streams of 134%. TSHA’s single “Change” with Gabrielle Aplin, which was recorded at a Spotify Song Writing Camp in 2019, became one of the top-100-streamed tracks from Altar in 2020. 

In May, one of Europe’s most exciting DJs and producers, India Jordan, launched their genre-defining EP For You. Two of the tracks, “For You” and “I’m Waiting,” were featured on the Altar playlist, and over the course of the year, their streams increased by 388%. India was also one of Spotify’s RADAR first listen artists in 2020.

Our Generation

Genreless playlists are growing in popularity around the world, and the case is no different for Our Generation. The playlist, which surfaces the new wave of artists emerging across the UK and Irish musical landscape, saw an 18% increase in streams in 2020. With playlist takeovers from some of the most exciting breakthrough artists on the scene, including beabadoobee, Thomas Headon, and Biig Piig, the home of genre-defying artists has driven huge discovery for fans this year.

Our Generation played an influential role in elevating many artists, including rising star Holly Humberstone, who has grown her audience to over 2 million monthly listeners since her first release, “Deep End,” was added to the playlist in early 2020. 

Other acts that saw great first-time success include Tayo Sound, who was busking on the streets of Reading less than a year before making it onto the cover of the Our Generation playlist in May 2020. His hits “Cold Feet” and “Heartbreaker” were two of the most-streamed tracks on the playlist in 2020, and overall his streams soared by more than 1,000% in the last six months. 

Kamal, an 18-year-old London alternative R&B star, secured the second-most-streamed track on Our Generation with “homebody” after he was featured on his first Spotify playlist cover art in early 2020. Since then, the artist has seen an 84% growth in listens.

With a new year comes more new music. Follow these playlists to discover the latest finds when it comes to emerging artists and hit tracks.

How to Share Your Favorite Songs with Your Child Through Shared Playlists on the Spotify Kids App

Since we first unveiled the Spotfy Kids app in October 2019 for Spotify Premium Family subscribers, young listeners have been able to explore a playground of sound and begin a lifelong love of music through a standalone app designed just for them. We’ve also been listening to parents during this time and have been committed to providing increased customization within the app. We started by giving parents the ability to block individual songs or audio stories in the app as well as giving them access to their kids’ “Listening History.” Now, we’re making it possible for parents to share the music they love—from the songs they grew up playing to the family’s dance party playlist—and further curate their child’s audio experience with Shared Playlists on Spotify Kids.

Being able to share your love of music with your children may feel as essential as teaching them to ride a bike. Shared Playlists—a highly-requested and pin-protected parental settings feature—lets parents share music playlists they’ve created in their Spotify account directly with their child in Spotify Kids, allowing them to further curate their child’s listening experience.  

We know that parents often have their own views on which content is and is not appropriate for their kids. The Shared Playlists feature gives parents more control, supplementing the growing library of more than 300,000 kid-friendly tracks and 1,300 playlists on Spotify Kids—all handpicked by our experienced team of editors.

Here’s how to share playlists with your little one using the Spotify Kids app:

  1. Create a playlist of your family’s favorite tunes on the Spotify app (or choose one you made in the past). Make sure to review the lyrics, album cover artwork, and any possible explicit tracks (which will be marked with an ‘E’).
  2. If there are individual songs within the playlist you don’t want to share with your kid, remove them from your playlist in the Spotify app. 
  3. Next, head to the parental settings section of the Spotify Kids app and enter your four-digit pin. 
  4. Tap the “Shared Playlists” section in your kids’ profile. Then, you’ll be able to see your Spotify playlists and select the ones you want to share with each child.
  5. The first time you do this, a pop-up screen will appear to confirm that you want to share the playlist. After, the child can access the playlist on their homepage from a new “Shared with You” section.

Note that if you update the playlist in the Spotify app, the playlist in Spotify Kids will be automatically updated too. Plus, you can revisit the PIN-protected parental settings on Spotify Kids at any time to remove a playlist, access your child’s listening history, and block or unblock tracks.

 

Not sure where to begin? Check out some of the top-shared songs in family playlists on Spotify: 

Ready to jump into Spotify Kids? Sign up for Spotify Premium Family and then download the app here.