Tag: podcast

The ‘Batman Unburied’ Audio Series Is Ready To Take Flight Across the World in Spotify’s Largest Simultaneous Launch

April 5, 2022

Anytime the Dark Knight returns to clean out the seedy Gotham underworld, excitement is bound to follow. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Batman Unburied, the upcoming Spotify audio series created in partnership with Warner Bros. and DC. Luckily for listeners, the wait is nearly over: Batman Unburied will premiere simultaneously in nine global markets May 3. That’s right—along with the original English-language script, eight adaptations of Batman Unburied will also land in Portuguese, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. And now that the U.S. trailer is out on Spotify, those wanting a sneak peek can check it out below.

The upcoming global launch of Batman Unburied comes on the heels of Spotify’s November release of The Last Days of Maradona, which simultaneously launched in six markets, and the recent adaptations of Chile’s Caso 63 for Brazil, India, and the United States. Developed and produced by Warner Bros., Batman Unburied follows suit; the fully localized casts and production teams ensure that the adapted scripts, specifically crafted to reflect the different cultures and languages while remaining true to the core story, will bring Batman Unburied to life for fans across the globe. It will debut as our largest simultaneous launch to date.

“With the global launch of Batman Unburied, we are excited to bring the iconic franchise and the legacy of Batman to our hundreds of millions of listeners around the world,” said Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content & Advertising Business Officer. “Through our extraordinary partnership with Warner Bros. and DC, we have the unique opportunity to usher in a new era of the universally beloved DC Super Heroes through the world of audio, voiced by all-star casts. The power of podcasts has never been more evident than it is with David Goyer’s spine-chilling soundscape masterpiece that tells the transcendent story of the one and only Bruce Wayne.”

Written by Executive Producer and Batman Begins screenwriter David S. Goyer, Batman Unburied takes us on a new journey deep into the mind of Bruce Wayne, introducing a slew of dark twists and turns with a number of classic Batman super villains. Working as a forensic pathologist in the bowels of Gotham Hospital, the superhero must not only face his own mental demons, but also overcome them in order to save the citizens of Gotham.

“David Goyer, this amazing cast, and the entire Batman Unburied team have created a Batman experience that stretches the narrative podcast medium to new levels along with your expectations on how immersive and compelling a Batman story can be,” said Peter Girardi, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Warner Bros. Animation. “I could not have asked for a better way to kick off our creative partnership with Spotify.”

The new series will have plenty of star power. The U.S. version of Batman Unburied features Winston Duke as Bruce Wayne surrounded by an A-list cast that includes Hasan Minhaj as the Riddler, Gina Rodriguez as Barbara Gordon, Jason Isaacs as Alfred, and Lance Reddick as Thomas Wayne.

But the global adaptations of Batman Unburied have accomplished casts of their own. And for the role of Batman, they’ve brought in some of the best international talent around. These actors include Rocco Pitanga (Brazil), Dali Benssalah (France), Murathan Muslu (Germany), Amit Sadh (India), Ario Bayu (Indonesia), Claudio Santamaria (Italy), Ryohei Otani (Japan), and Alfonso Herrera (Mexico).

Still not sure what you’ll do with yourself until the Bat-Signal is cast May 3? We recommend starting with this quiz and finding out how well you know the U.S. cast of Batman Unburied.

Hosts of True Crime Podcast ‘And That’s Why We Drink’ Are Partnering With Parcast for New Occult Variety Show ‘Rituals’

March 29, 2022

Ghost stories, true crime reporting, and boxed wine recommendations are the pillars of Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz’s podcast And That’s Why We Drink. In each episode, Christine reports on unsolved crimes and murder mysteries while cohost Em covers all things paranormal. But since the podcast’s launch in 2017, the pair has wanted to dive deeper into the themes that exist beyond the physical realm. Now they’re doing just that with their new Spotify Original podcast, Rituals.

Produced in partnership with Parcast, Rituals will explore topics like witchcraft, sorcery, alchemy, satanism, spiritualism, and the occult. Christine and Em will separate fact from fiction as they take listeners on a tour through the dark arts and share stories about people who have first-hand experience bridging the gap between our world and the realms beyond it.

“I’ve loved reporting on this type of content during the few times I have on And That’s Why We Drink. However, I feel like my brand on ATWWD is primarily centered on hauntings, and that’s kept me from letting myself really look into more spiritual topics,” Em told For the Record. “With Rituals, I’ve been having so much fun discussing new cases that I’ve always hesitated to cover before now.”

This occult variety show will give fans of And That’s Why We Drink more opportunities to bond with Em and Christine as new episodes release each Monday. To celebrate the podcast’s launch, For the Record asked the dynamic duo more about what listeners can expect from their new project.

How can your fans who love And That’s Why We Drink expect this new podcast to be similar? Different?

Christine: Fans of ATWWD will get the same banter they’ve grown to love (or at the very least, tolerate), plus the same brand of spooky topics. But having the Parcast research team behind us is a game changer; they are experts at what they do and dig up so much incredible info, allowing us to focus on the fun part—sharing the story with you all, and each other!

Em: The main difference is that we cover less of the true crime cases and focus more on the occult and spiritual topics. Some people at Spotify joked that Rituals is the “occult variety show” and that definitely feels on target.

Why is podcasting a good medium for these kinds of stories?

Christine: At the core, we are storytellers. ATWWD grew out of our love of sharing spooky stories over wine late into the night. We just added a microphone!

Em: We’ve been told over and over that people who listen to our podcast feel like they’re just “catching up with friends.” I think our way of storytelling has made people feel comfortable to learn about darker topics without any pressure, because for them it feels like a laid-back conversation amongst pals.

On the surface, true crime and comedy seem like an unlikely pairing. Why do you think the mix works so well for your podcasts?

Christine: We have always made it a priority to entertain our audience, but never at the expense of the victims. We try to sprinkle in some humor to help us cope with how dark these topics can get.

Em: We have always tried to keep the levity away from the actual stories and more on ourselves. It’s always been important to us to keep things in perspective and remember that the content we cover is often the worst parts of someone’s life. The comedy element is never about their cases, and we try to poke as much fun at ourselves as we can.

What is your favorite topic you cover in the podcast?

Christine: My favorite topic so far has been tarot. I learned so much and have a whole new appreciation for the art of it. I have even pulled out my own decks and have begun dabbling myself!

Em: I loved reporting on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I love the history of spiritualism and always knew the author was a big part of the movement, but I never totally knew where he fit in. It was a bonus to find out that he and I are both members of the same parapsychological organizations!

Ready to start learning about healing waters, love potions, and tarot decks? Listen to the first episode of Rituals here.

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.

‘Sounds Like A Cult’ Podcast Gets Its Own Fervent Following as It Rises in the Charts

February 24, 2022

With more than 3.2 million podcasts on Spotify, it’s impossible for listeners to know every show that drops. Fortunately for fans, our Podcast Editorial team is here to help. They follow the trends, listen to new episodes, and determine what shows should be recommended to Spotify users across a variety of genres. By highlighting different shows and topics—such as true crime—the team gives podcast creators a way to build new audiences while helping listeners discover a new binge.

So when Sounds Like A Cult was placed in the coveted spot on Spotify’s main podcast page, it was thus propelled into the earbuds of new listeners.

Cohosted by Isa Medina and Amanda Montell, Sounds Like A Cult offers a humorous take on the true crime genre as each episode examines modern-day “cults.” From cheerleading to astrology, they analyze what it is about the topics, people, and companies that results in such a loyal fanbase. And it seems that the creators struck a chord with listeners because their show soon made its way onto Spotify’s Top 50 charts and even ranked in the top 10 in the Comedy category.

Fans have been craving more from Isa and Amanda, so Spotify worked with the duo to create a new curated playlist called The “Cults” We All Follow. The collection features some of their favorite episodes across a variety of podcasts, giving listeners who love Sounds Like A Cult new shows to check out. For the Record recently spoke with the hosts to learn more.

What gave you the idea for this podcast?

The podcast initially stemmed from Amanda’s book Cultish. There were so many fascinating “cults” from pop culture and the zeitgeist that didn’t make it into the book, and we wanted to explore them in a fun and conversational, but still insightful, way. We were inspired by the juicy-meets-bantery format of “cult-followed” podcasts like My Favorite Murder and Be There In Five, so Isa’s hilarity combined with Amanda’s nerdiness felt like the perfect way to cover the “cults” we all follow!

When it comes to the people and things who are at the center of these “cult” groups, are there any shared characteristics or qualities that lend themselves to this level of fan worship?

You can’t earnestly compare the “cults” of Trader Joe’s (which happens to be our favorite cult that we’ve covered) and The Bachelor franchise to flat earthers and multilevel marketing schemers, but that’s why we have our three cult categories—Live Your Life, Watch Your Back, and Get the F*ck Out—which we use to classify the “cult” of the week at the end of every episode.

As a broad generalization, though, what these different groups offer is the promise of belonging, ritual, and meaning, which are fundamental human drives that a lot of us find ourselves sorely lacking during this turbulent time in history. Some groups mostly deliver on their promises, but some become powerful by way of deception and exploitation. We genuinely hope these conversations make people feel better equipped to engage in life’s “cultiness” the healthy way. That’s why our sign-off at the end of every episode says, “Stay culty . . . but not too culty!”

How has working with Spotify helped you broaden your audience reach?

Spotify is the perfect platform for us. The core Spotify listener seems savvy and curious, and that’s exactly the type of listener who vibes with our show. We would not be where we are today without Spotify’s support. Almost 90% of our listenership comes from Spotify.

How was having your podcast featured on Spotify’s “True Crime Scene” section on the main podcast page impactful?

The Spotify true crime feature was vital for us. True crime fans are always thirsting for new pods, but it’s becoming harder to find ones that add something new to the mix—not to mention, in these tough cultural times, we don’t always want to listen to a pod that’s going to make us feel worse! We basically made this show for Spotify’s true crime listener demo, and Spotify’s audiences really trust their playlists, so getting that exposure was like lightning in a bottle for us.

After the Spotify feature, we saw a significant uptick in streams and shares on social media. Appearing in this section seems to have caused a word-of-mouth snowball effect, and we’re so grateful for it.

What are some ways you’ve seen success with the podcast?

Sounds Like A Cult wound up on Spotify’s Top 50 charts (and Top 10 in the Comedy category), and after gaining some traction, we were able to sign with the podcast network All Things Comedy to receive production help and actually start earning revenue from the pod! Up until a couple weeks ago, we just made the whole thing on our own in our bedrooms for free. We’ve also seen a flood of new followers engaging with us on social media. Our listeners are so engaged, constantly messaging us and recommending episode topics.

You recently announced that the podcast is moving to a weekly format. What factored into the decision to release episodes more frequently?

The least we can do for our supportive listeners (or “culties,” as we call them) is to use these new resources to deliver the show weekly! Our team agrees it’s also just better for the growth of the podcast not to have long mid-season breaks. Consistency is everything.

Can you tell us about the curated playlist you made for Spotify? What podcasts made the list?

We wanted to curate a diverse mix of episodes from shows that you might not think of as “cult” podcasts but that comment on the cultiness and scaminess in various corners of everyday life in a smart, entertaining way.

All you “culties” out there, are you ready for more? Check out what shows made it onto Isa and Amanda’s The “Cults” We All Follow playlist.

Catch Up on the Festival di Sanremo With Camihawke and Alice Venturi on the ‘Tutte le Volte Che’ Podcast

January 31, 2022

Italy’s Festival di Sanremo is an annual music competition where artists perform new songs in the native country’s language. The show, which takes place at the famous Ariston Theater, is broadcast live on television and the winners are determined both by votes from a jury and by guests watching and voting from home.

This year, whether you’re a fan watching the performances in Liguria or tuning in from the comfort of your living room, you can find plenty of Sanremo-related podcasts and music on Spotify. Listeners can explore songs through playlists like Sanremo 2022 and Sanremo: La Storia on Spotify’s Sanremo Hub, and they can sing along to their favorite hits with the Lyrics feature on the app.

Fans looking to dive deeper into the festival can check out Tutte le Volte Che, the popular Spotify Studios podcast cohosted by Italian influencers Camilla Boniardi and Alice Venturi. For their weekly show, where they chat about their personal experiences, they will release six special episodes focused on the Festival di Sanremo. In these episodes, the two have fun recounting and sharing their opinions on this year’s performances.

For the Record caught up with Camilla and Alice to learn more about their special edition episodes and why the festival is so important to them.

The Festival di Sanremo is a pretty significant event for you two. Isn’t that where you first met?

Alice: We met in Sanremo in 2017 while we were both working with the same brand, in the same place, and with the same agency. But we had never met before! The job consisted of leading daily livestreaming from the brand’s spot in Sanremo.

A member of the staff introduced us and asked us to test making a livestream video together. The result was unexpected: We felt like we had known each other for forever, despite just meeting. A director of an Italian radio show saw us interacting and, just one year later, we started a new adventure as radio hosts together!

Why did you decide to create special podcast episodes dedicated to Sanremo?

Camilla: Our podcast, Tutte le Volte Che, aims to share real chats between 30-year-old friends sharing their point of view about everything happening—from serious to entertaining topics. And we couldn’t miss Sanremo! Festival di Sanremo is known as the most important music event in Italy and for a week, it’s the talk of the town! Everybody talks about Sanremo, especially the morning after each show. So, in this special edition of our podcast, we are going to talk about what’s happening during this festival but also share some gems from the past.

What is your favorite part of Sanremo?

Camilla: My favorite part of the show, besides the music performances, is the artists’ “grand entrance.” I don’t know why but I always hope one of the artists slides down the stairway, obviously without getting hurt. It would be a very fun moment!

Alice: I obviously love the music performances but also everything about Sanremo. Every year, I spend all of my “Sanremo week” watching artist interviews, sound checks, and I can’t resist following the festival’s bizarre moments, like “police chases in the night” (i.e., “the Orietta Berti situation” in 2020). Sanremo always has some big surprises!

Can you share a past winner (or winners) of Sanremo that you are big fans of?

Camilla: “Come Saprei” by Giorgia in 1995. Everybody knows that song by heart—even today. That’s why I think it was very deserving of the win.

Alice: Totally agree with Cami. But my favorite edition ever is the 2001 one, when Elisa won with “Luce” and Giorgia got second with “Di sole e d’azzurro.”

The festival starts tomorrow and the first special edition episode of Tutte le Volte Che is available now. Give it a listen.

‘The Big Hit Show’ Podcast Analyzes What Makes Something Pop in Pop Culture

January 12, 2022

What makes something a cultural phenomenon? Is it the people involved or the topics covered? Or does it just have to have that special je ne sais quoi? The Big Hit Show, a new podcast from Spotify and Higher Ground—President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s media company—is setting out to examine the rise and enduring power of global sensations.

This new podcast looks at a moment where a title made it big across mediums—film, music, TV, internet culture, and video games. Each topic gets its own “chapter,” with each chapter spread out over five episodes. “The shows and films and albums we explore have all been chosen not just because they’re massive pieces of popular culture. We’ve picked them because each has had a profound butterfly effect on our culture,” said host Alex Pappademas.

The first chapter of the podcast will highlight Twilight, the four-book teenage vampire series that became a global phenomenon and eventually inspired a movie franchise. To understand fans’ love for the saga, just look at Spotify, where listeners have made more than 1.3 million Twilight-themed music playlists. The movies’ soundtracks have also seen quite a bit of play time, from Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole – Twilight Soundtrack Version” (almost 310 million streams) to “Bella’s Lullaby” (almost 18 million streams).

Now, nearly two decades after the first book’s release and 13 years since the first movie premiered, The Big Hit Show will explore this unlikely success story as well as the power of teenaged girls and the rise of fan fiction.

In the second chapter, which debuts in February, Alex will explore the musical styles of American rapper Kendrick Lamar—and specifically, the effects of his album To Pimp A Butterfly. The music that won Kendrick a 2016 Grammy for Best Rap Album was born out of his grappling with personal tragedy and the world around him. Since 2015, the album has seen more than 1.5 billion streams on Spotify, and every year it has remained in the top 1,000 of the most streamed albums on the platform.

“Whether we’re tracing how an author’s vivid dream about a sparkly vampire led to an entirely new fan culture or how a megastar reckoning with success, expectation, and survivor’s guilt crafted a masterpiece that became the soundtrack to the biggest protest movement in a generation, listeners will know from chapter to chapter they’re getting a high-stakes narrative that explains how our culture has been influenced and shaped by these creations,” explained Alex.

After dissecting Twilight and To Pimp A Butterfly, the show will continue its deep dive into pop-culture phenomenons. Follow the podcast to find out which topic it will cover next.

Athletic Greens is the premier sponsor of season one of The Big Hit Show. Dive into the first chapter on the Twilight phenomenon, below.

‘Spotify: Mic Check’ Welcomes Fresh Finds Artist Julia Wolf To Share Her Story

October 21, 2021

If you love hearing artists and creators tell their stories in their own words, you’re in luck. One of our new podcasts, Spotify: Mic Check, connects creators with fans by doing exactly that. In each episode, artists and podcasters share exclusive recordings and personal stories in their own words.

In the inaugural Spotify: Mic Check, you’ll hear from Julia Wolf—a rising star from Queens, New York, whose refreshing indie-pop sound is influenced by her classical training and love of hip-hop. She’s a recent graduate of Spotify’s Fresh Finds program, which provides up-and-coming artists with the tools to build a long-term career.

In the episode, Julia speaks about how she overcame her severe shyness to become an artist.

“I only started writing because my music teacher at the time said, ‘If you want to participate in the final showcase, it has to be an original song,’” shared Julia. “And I was mortified, like so embarrassed. For me, I just thought no one wanted to hear what I had to think. I went home and wrote it anyway because I wanted to participate. And that’s when I really fell in love with the music and being able to let people know what’s going on in my head without having to talk to them.”

This past weekend, Julia sold out her first hometown show—something she had strived for despite the naysayers. And over the years, she’s learned a lot about her music and herself.

Listen to everything Julia has to say on Spotify: Mic Check.

Meet Iconic Australian Musician in Spotify Original Podcast ‘Who is Daniel Johns’

October 19, 2021

Daniel Johns is one of the most successful, controversial, and enigmatic artists in Australian music history. Best known as the frontman of Silverchair, Daniel and his bandmates first rose to fame at the age of 15 when their debut album, Frogstomp, was released in 1995. Buoyed by the single Tomorrow, Frogstomp topped the Australian charts and cracked the top ten in the U.S., making Silverchair the first Australian act since INXS to enjoy such success in the States. Daniel then went on to collaborate with Paul Mac to create The Dissociatives in 2003—and endured constant speculation into his personal life throughout it all.

Today, some of the enigma around the musician disappears, as he takes part in our newest Spotify Original podcast in Australia, Who is Daniel Johns?

Fans can look forward to episodes with introductions from actor Guy Pearce, deep dives into the life and times of the musician, and even special guests. The five-part documentary podcast gives the former Silverchair frontman—who notoriously doesn’t do interviews—a chance to tell his story as he addresses the tough questions that have surrounded his entire career. Produced by global podcast heavyweights Kaitlyn Sawrey, Amelia Chappelow, and Frank Lopez, the weekly series also includes a soundtrack of original, yet-to-be-released Daniel Johns music.

“I’m happy to do it because I think it’s a good vessel to release art,” explained Daniel Johns.
“Above all things, I just want to make art, and I would really love for people to hear it. And the only way to get people to hear my art is through vessels like this because I don’t want to perform on stage.”

Following the first five episodes, the season will end with a series of bonus episodes where Daniel has one-on-one conversations with key figures in his life, including collaborators and luminaries Natalie Imbruglia, Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, and Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins.

Get a sneak peak at what each had to say about the elusive artist, whether ever-reverent, or initially skeptical:

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala

“My brother had Frogstomp and he’d just crank it out of his bedroom. Something blasting out of your older brother’s bedroom from behind a closed door—it’s always gonna sound awesome because you’re like, ‘Wow, what is that?’ you know? Yeah, so that was my first Silverchair experience.”

Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins

“I can see [Daniel Johns] at 15 to 16 years old singing on stage, singing in the Australian sun many summers ago. If you’d asked me, ‘You think this kid’s got a future?’ I would have said ‘No chance in hell.’”

Natalie Imbruglia

“Who is Daniel Johns? The first thing that springs to mind is musical genius. Also Peter Pan, maybe.”

Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun and The Sleepy Jackson, Dreamz collaborator

“I think Daniel is probably one of the last true enigmas of the world. He’s like a rare bird.”

In the first episode, Daniel tells the story of his life, capturing key figures, important locations, the formative events that led him on his journey—and the impact of fame on his life. Stream it now, only on Spotify.

How Well Do You Know the Star-Studded Cast of ‘Batman Unburied’?

October 18, 2021

[qsm quiz=30]

El Podcast Chileno que Encabeza las Listas de Éxitos “Caso 63” se Prepara para la Segunda Temporada y Anuncia una Adaptación en Inglés

September 29, 2021

Desde su lanzamiento en noviembre de 2020, el podcast Original de Spotify Caso 63 ha estado encabezando los rankings de podcasts y expandiéndose en nuevos mercados. La historia de ciencia ficción chilena de 10 episodios se ha convertido en el Podcast Original con guión más escuchado en América Latina e incluso fue adaptado para oyentes brasileños e indios. Para continuar con el cautivador dominio de esta historia, Spotify lanzará una adaptación en inglés en los Estados Unidos, que se estrenará a finales de 2021. Pero quizás la noticia más emocionante para los fanáticos y posibles fanáticos es que el equipo detrás de Caso 63 lanzará una segunda temporada a finales de este año, con el creador Julio Rojas a la cabeza.

La primera temporada de Caso 63 se centra en las interacciones entre la psiquiatra en la ficción Elisa Aldunate y el “Paciente 63”. Cada episodio marca una nueva “sesión” y a medida que avanza la historia, el tiempo, el espacio y la realidad comienzan a desdibujarse. A lo largo de 10 episodios, este misterio que invita a la reflexión juega con las mentes de los oyentes y les hace cuestionar qué es y qué no es real.

La popularidad de Caso 63 entre los oyentes lo llevó a alcanzar un nuevo hito dentro del podcasting: esta es la primera vez que un podcast Original de Spotify de uno de los mercados de habla no inglesa, se ha adaptado a varios idiomas. Protagonizado por los actores Antonia Zegers y Néstor Cantillana, fue tan bien recibido por el público que, menos de un año después de su lanzamiento, Spotify adaptó el emocionante misterio a una versión en portugués, Paciente 63, con los actores brasileños Seu Jorge y Mel Lisboa. A principios de este mes, Spotify India creó una adaptación en hindi del podcast llamado Virus 2062, protagonizada por los actores de Bollywood y el dúo de marido y mujer Richa Chadha y Ali Fazal. Ahora, el casting está en marcha para la adaptación al idioma inglés.

Pero incluso antes de romper un récord de Spotify, su gran número de seguidores también se reflejó en las listas de ranking con Caso 63 liderando las listas de Top Podcasts de Argentina y México durante un mes luego de su estreno. También alcanzó el número 1 en las Listas de Tendencias en Chile, Colombia, Argentina, México y los EE. UU.

Los oyentes no hispanohablantes también adoran el podcast: En la India, Virus 2062 alcanzó el puesto número uno en la Lista de Tendencias locales de Spotify y se ubicó entre los cinco primeros en la Lista de Podcasts principales locales de Spotify. Por su parte, la adaptación en portugués Paciente 63 ocupó el primer lugar en la Lista de Podcasts de Tendencias locales de Brasil al día siguiente de su estreno y permaneció allí durante más de dos semanas. También ocupó el primer lugar en las Listas de Ficción de Brasil y permaneció allí durante más de un mes.

El creador Rojas ha atribuido desde hace tiempo el atractivo de la serie a su formato. Rojas comenta que el medio de solo audio recuerda la forma en que se han transmitido las historias durante siglos, invitando a los oyentes a llenar los espacios en blanco con su imaginación.

“El equipo de Latinoamérica, dirigido por Javier Piñol [de Spotify], creó una historia universal que transportó a los oyentes a su propia imaginación junto con los protagonistas. Las adaptaciones tanto en Brasil como en la India, y pronto en los EE. UU., utilizaron equipos y talentos locales para recrear la historia para nuevas audiencias”, dijo Courtney Holt, Líder Global de Podcasts y Nuevas Iniciativas en Spotify. “El éxito que hemos visto en todas las adaptaciones hasta ahora refuerza la misión de Spotify de brindar a los creadores la oportunidad de desarrollar historias y ofrecer a las audiencias de todo el mundo las mejores historias, independientemente de su origen”.

¿Listo para aprovechar tu imaginación y comenzar tu sesión con la Dra. Aldunate? No te pierdas la primera temporada ya disponible en Spotify. Y quédate atento a la adaptación al inglés del fenómeno de este podcast global que estará disponible pronto.

Chart-Topping Chilean Podcast ‘Caso 63’ Gears Up for Season 2—And Announces an English-Language Adaptation

September 29, 2021

Since its release in November 2020, Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been topping charts and taking on new markets. The 10-episode Chilean science fiction story has become the most-listened-to scripted Original podcast in Latin America and was even adapted for Brazilian and Indian listeners as well. To continue this tale’s captivating hold, Spotify will be releasing an English-language adaptation of this story in the United States, premiering in late 2021. But perhaps the most exciting news for fans and could-be fans is that the team behind Caso 63 will be releasing a second season later this year, with creator Julio Rojas at the helm.

Season one of Caso 63 centers on the interactions between fictional psychiatrist Elisa Aldunate and her client, “Patient 63.” Each episode marks a new “session,” and as the story progresses, time, space, and reality begin to blur. Over the course of 10 episodes, this thought-provoking mystery plays with listeners’ minds and causes them to question what is and isn’t real.

Caso 63’s popularity with listeners has helped the show reach a new milestone within podcasting: This is the first time a non-English-language Spotify Original podcast has been adapted to multiple languages. The Chilean show, which stars actors Antonia Zegers and Néstor Cantillana, received so much buzz that, less than a year after its release, Spotify adapted the thrilling mystery into a Portuguese-language version, Paciente 63, featuring Brazilian actors Seu Jorge and Mel Lisboa. And earlier this month, Spotify India created a Hindi-language adaptation of the podcast called Virus 2062, starring Bollywood actors and husband-and-wife duo Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. Now, casting is underway for the English-language adaptation.

But even before breaking a Spotify record, its large following was also reflected in the charts with Caso 63 ranking number one on Argentina’s and Mexico’s Top Podcasts charts for nearly a month following its premiere. It also reached number one on the Trending Podcasts charts in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S.

Non-Spanish speaking listeners are loving the show just as much. In India, the adaptation, Virus 2062, reached number one on Spotify’s local Trending chart and landed on the top five on Spotify’s local Top Podcasts charts. The Brazilian adaptation, Paciente 63, ranked number one on Brazil’s local Trending Podcasts chart the day after it premiered and stayed there for over two weeks. It also reached the top spot on Brazil’s Fiction charts and stayed there for over a month.

Creator Rojas has long credited the show’s appeal to its format. He says the audio-only medium calls back to the way stories have been handed down for centuries, inviting listeners to fill in the blanks with their imaginations.

“The LATAM team on the ground, led by [Spotify’s] Javier Piñol, created a universal story that transported listeners into their own imaginations alongside the lead characters. The adaptations in both Brazil and India, and soon the U.S., utilized local teams and talent to reimagine the story for new audiences,” said Courtney Holt, Global Head of Podcasts and New Initiatives at Spotify. “The success we’ve seen in all the market adaptations thus far has reinforced Spotify’s mission to provide creators with the opportunity to develop stories and expose audiences worldwide to the best storytelling narratives, regardless of origin.”

Ready to tap into your imagination and start your session with Dr. Aldunate? Catch season one below. And stay tuned for the English-language adaptation of the global podcast phenomenon, coming soon.

The Viral Duo Behind The Inspired Unemployed are Bringing Their Talents to a New Spotify Original Podcast

September 21, 2021

Australians Matt Ford and Jack Steele may seem like a pair of average Joe’s, but their 1.2 million social media followers, modeling contracts with high-end brands, and spreads in magazines like GQ and Vogue tell a different story. The duo, known as The Inspired Unemployed, are not yet accustomed to their new lives, however—their ascent to fame only began when their comedy sketches started going viral in 2019. Now the two friends are taking on a new media format with their Spotify Original Podcast of the same name: The Inspired Unemployed.

Starting today, fans of The Inspired Unemployed account will get to listen to honest, real, and funny conversations that reflect on Jack and Matt’s feelings of being “fish out of water” in the world of internet stardom.

“The podcast is about us and how we are navigating the sudden whiplash of fame and success,” the best friends told For the Record. Apparently, that also includes changes in their family dynamics. “We have both overtaken our sisters and are now our mothers’ favorite children,” they added.

Their success didn’t come overnight, however. The pair took a big risk in quitting their day jobs once they started gaining a steady following in 2019. Now, even with millions of followers and 700,000 daily views, they’re still the bros-next-door who hit it off when they met in grade school over a decade ago.

That’s what makes them so engaging to watch and listen to. When it comes to finding creative inspiration, they shared, “Most of the time it’s just us sitting around talking about funny scenarios and then bringing them to life.”

And while their fan base is mainly concentrated close to home in the Australia and New Zealand regions, the pair hopes their weekly podcast will resonate around the world: “While you can see there is a very Aussie feel to our comedy, we still think it’s relatable. Humour is universal, after all.”

Ready for your weekly dose of tongue-in-cheek humor, spontaneous dares, and hilarious musings directly from the minds of Matt and Jack? Listen to the first episode of The Inspired Unemployed podcast below.