Tag: Pop

RADAR Türkiye Celebrates 1 Year With a New Class of 5 Genre-Bending Artists

November 14, 2024

It’s been a year since RADAR, Spotify’s program to spotlight rising talent from around the world, launched in Türkiye. During this time, our RADAR Türkiye playlist became one of the most successful editions of the program globally, amassing nearly 30,000 saves to date. The RADAR Türkiye class of 2023 is also riding a wave of momentum, with Böyleyken Böyle, Ege Can Sal, Paptircem, Selin, and Sena Şahin seeing an average 50% increase in their follower bases over the past year.

We recently launched our second edition of RADAR Türkiye, featuring Baran Mengüç, Ceren Sagu, Lotusx, Rana Türkyılmaz, and TUANA. As part of the program, all are included on our RADAR Türkiye playlist while receiving additional playlist support and off-platform promotion.

These five artists showcase the range of sounds reflected in the country’s latest listening trends. For years, pop and hip-hop dominated the local charts, but Spotify data now reveals a resurgence of alternative genres like rock, alt-pop, and arabesk—reimagined for a younger audience. Cross-genre collaborations and the integration of local cultural motifs are enriching Türkiye’s music landscape, with influences ranging from Turkish folk to electronic music.

“We are proud to be supporting another selection of Turkish artists, who are greatly inspired by different music styles as well as art, digital culture, and what is happening in the international music scene,” said Fırat Tekaüt, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager at Spotify. “As future voices of the music scene, I have no doubt that their unique visions and diverse backgrounds will contribute greatly to Türkiye’s evolving and interconnected music landscape. After all, it’s this very diversity and constant change that shapes both the Turkish music scene and the trends we see on our platform.”

Keep reading to get to know these rising stars.

Baran Mengüç

A multifaceted artist spanning pop, R&B, and traditional Turkish sounds, Baran Mengüç incorporates classical Turkish instruments into his music, creating a unique fusion that he calls “Ottoman Pop.”

Ceren Sagu

Ceren Sagu brings a youthful spin to arabesk, a genre traditionally associated with older generations, by blending it with modern trap beats, showcasing the resurgence of interest in this style among younger listeners.

Lotusx

Blending hyperpop with modern hip-hop and introspective lyrics, Lotusx continues to appeal to Gen Z’s love for emotional, genre-blending tracks.

Rana Türkyılmaz

Rana Türkyılmaz got her start channeling ’90s and ’00s rock nostalgia—but with a fresh indie twist. One to watch in Türkiye’s rock scene, she’s capturing the hearts of local rock enthusiasts.

TUANA

TUANA is transitioning from dance-pop to an alternative indie sound, in tandem with the growing interest in cross-genre experimental music among younger listeners.

Hit play on our RADAR Türkiye playlist to discover more emerging Turkish artists.

From Corridos Tumbados to Mexican Reggaetón, Experience the Wide-Ranging Sounds of Mexico at MEXCLA Spotify

October 29, 2024

On November 2 and 3, more than 27 artists will take the stage at MEXCLA Spotify: Palenque, Feria y Cotorreo. The event, hosted at Parque Bicentenario in Mexico City, brings fans, artists, and creators together to celebrate the sounds and styles of Música Mexicana. One of the strengths of the region’s music is its rich diversity—it’s no surprise to hear the beats of Mexican reggaetón alongside the reverberations of Mexican pop as you travel from shops to restaurants to live music venues throughout the country. 

MEXCLA Spotify aims to reflect that musical diversity during one special weekend in a lineup comprised of 100% Mexican artists—from Música Mexicana, banda, norteño, and corridos tumbados to hip-hop, Mexican reggaeton, alternative pop, folk, and electronica.

Spotify listening trends informed this event. Last year, half of the 50 most-listened-to songs on Spotify Mexico were by Mexican artists, a huge jump forward from just five years ago, when that number was only 14%. Additionally, the streams from Mexican artists are increasing, with a whopping 100% year-over-year growth in Mexico since 2013. This music is traveling far beyond the geographical boundaries of the country, too. Since 2019, the collective streams of Mexican artists have more than tripled globally, soaring by more than 220%.

Here’s a taste of whom fans will see.

Música Mexicana

  • Grupo Firme helped grow Música Mexicana into a global phenomenon.
  • Luis R Conriquez is one of the most popular singers and composers of Música Mexicana, and a pioneer of corridos bélicos.
  • Grupo Marca Registrada stands out for its norteño and sierreño styles and has been evolving to incorporate hip-hop and electronic.
  • La Adictiva is a quintet hailing from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, known for its norteño style.
  • El Padrinito Toys recently became one of the most-played corrido tumbados artists.

Mexican Reggaetón

Mexican Hip-Hop

  • RICH MAFÍA is composed of two artists who influenced the last decade of Mexican hip-hop: Alemán and Gera MX.

 Alternative Pop and Folk

  • Kevin Kaarl is a folk artist who has racked up streams in 180 countries. 
  • Silvana Estrada won the Latin Grammy in 2022 for Best New Artist.
  • ALMAS is a female group with a K-Pop-inspired style.

 

Find a full list of artists performing here, and you can purchase tickets through Boletia.

The MEXCLA Spotify event will soon be upon us. Get inspired by the wide-ranging sounds of Mexican music by listening to our MEXCLA Spotify playlist.

 

Your Exclusive Look Inside Our Charli xcx and Troye Sivan SWEAT Tour Afterparty

October 17, 2024

Since Charli xcx and Troye Sivan kicked off SWEAT, their joint tour of North America, in September, the live shows have become part of the cultural canon. Together, the longtime friends and occasional collaborators take pop music to new heights, transforming arenas into full-on raves. And on Tuesday, after Charli and Troye took the stage at the Kia Forum for the first of two shows in Los Angeles, Spotify teamed up with the pair for a SWEAT tour afterparty.

The co-headliners kept the night going and celebrated with their teams and friends at the Forum Club. It was a star-studded affair with artists like JENNIE, Halsey, Benny Blanco, Fergie, Dom Dolla, and The Dare in attendance, plus Kesha, who made an appearance after her surprise performance at the show.

Meanwhile, Charli helped provide the soundtrack for the event while DJing with her fiancé (and The 1975 drummer) George Daniel and Zoe Gitter.

Introducing Spotify’s 2024 Global Songs of Summer—and Why These Top 5 Tracks Reigned Supreme

August 28, 2024

Every summer, as people across the Northern Hemisphere seek out the perfect songs to soundtrack the season, Spotify is right there with them. The fun starts in early June with our annual Songs of Summer predictions featuring the red-hot hits our global team of editors thinks will pop off. This year, we even gave you our first-ever midsummer update with the top 15 songs from our original list, plus five new wild card additions.

Now, for the big end-of-summer reveal, we’re doing things a little differently. Instead of picking one winner based on streams alone, we’re presenting our Global Top 5 Songs of Summer to capture a more dynamic view of the sounds and moments that soundtracked the season. We also took a more holistic approach to our process, using Spotify streaming data, the expertise of our music editorial team, and cultural impact as criteria.

“Our editors are constantly watching culture evolve and seeing how the music landscape ebbs and flows during certain moments in time,” said Spotify’s Talia Kraines, Senior Editor, U.S. Pop. “The Songs of Summer we’ve chosen this year really reflect the wide variety of sounds our listeners were finding joy in throughout the season, and what resonated with them culturally. We looked beyond the charts—although they still played an important role—to see which songs became a staple in culture throughout the summer. These tracks really encapsulate the unique moods listeners have been leaning into.”

So without further ado, here are the five songs that defined summer 2024 for our listeners around the world—from female pop breakthroughs to country’s global surge to instant hip-hop classics, as featured on our official Songs of Summer playlist.

Spotify’s Global Top 5 Songs of Summer

(Listed alphabetically by artist first name)

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish

“HOT TO GO!” – Chappell Roan

“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar

“Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey

To close out the season, let’s unpack each track and the key trends that contributed to its undeniable popularity.

“BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – Billie Eilish

Billie had a refreshing return to tempo this summer with this breezy hit, which boasts more than 855 million streams on Spotify. One of the biggest tracks from her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, the song reached a fever pitch after Billie’s unforgettable performance at the summer games closing ceremony on August 11. The following day, it was streamed more than 9 million times on Spotify, quickly rising to the top of our global chart.

“HOT TO GO!” – Chappell Roan

In many ways, it has been the summer of Chappell, with “HOT TO GO!” emerging as a 2024 festival favorite and becoming one of Spotify’s wild card picks in our midsummer update.

Globally on Spotify, the track saw its biggest spike of the summer on June 10, the day after Chappell’s showstopping Gov Ball set in New York City. A photo of the artist in her iconic Statue of Liberty costume became the cover of Spotify’s I Love NYC afterward, and the playlist grew by nearly 350% over the following week. Following her record-breaking Lollapalooza performance, Chappell was also featured on the cover of our Hot Pink playlist, which grew by nearly 145% in the week following.

“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar

This razor-sharp track transcended the rap beef that brought it to life and became a worldwide summer anthem. It also drove massive boosts for Kendrick’s entire catalog on Spotify immediately following its release.

Both globally and in the U.S., “Not Like Us” saw its biggest surge on June 20, the day after Kendrick’s Juneteenth concert in Los Angeles. And after the music video dropped on July 4, the song spent 28 consecutive days at No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. chart.

“Espresso” – Sabrina Carpenter

When “Espresso” first dropped in April, it instantly felt like the song of the summer—before the season had even started. With its beach-themed music video, catchy chorus, and idiosyncratic lyrics (“that’s that me espresso!”), this hit held on to its staying power all summer long.

Since June, the song has spent 20 days at No. 1 on Spotify’s global charts while also topping 25 regional charts in countries like Australia, Malaysia, Jordan, and Singapore.

“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey

With “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey secured an instant hit. Based on a familiar, nostalgic track from the early aughts—J-Kwon’s “Tipsy”—this infectious sing-along rendition crossed borders and topped charts around the world.

Since June, the song has hit No. 1 on Spotify’s charts in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. It reached No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. chart for the first time on July 4, solidifying its status as the perfect summer holiday anthem.

“The global success of Shaboozey really exemplifies a shift in the sound reaching new audiences globally—it’s been incredible to see the growth of country music outside of the U.S. over the last few years,” said Spotify’s Emma Vikström, Editorial Lead, Nordics. “Early spring, we saw ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ take off in the Nordics, and Shaboozey quickly reached his first-ever No. 1 in Sweden. Sweden was also the first country in the world that had him at the top of the charts, and he remained at the top throughout the entire summer. And Shaboozey is not alone—we’ve seen many other country stars have unprecedented success in our Hot Hits flagships all over the world. The country genre is breaking through this season like never before.”

The season’s not over yet, so there’s still plenty of time to queue up our Summer Hits 2024 playlist for your next gathering. And if you’re heading out on one last sunny vacation, check out our beach-themed podcast picks and audiobook selections.

Meet the Newest Stars of Colombian Pop Music

August 13, 2024

With its diverse sounds, music from Colombia has connected with a range of audiences from all around the world—and Colombian pop is no exception. This genre has seen rapid growth over the past five years, with streams doubling in Colombia and increasing by over 250% globally. On Spotify, it’s the second-most-listened-to genre from the country, surpassed only by reggaetón.

The world is familiar with the talents of Colombian stars Shakira, Sebastián Yatra, and Morat, and now there’s a new wave of artists revolutionizing Colombian pop with their unique sounds, heartfelt performances, and catchy lyrics. With the help of Spotify, these artists have been connecting with fans both locally and globally.

As this genre continues its rise, we’ve notably seen female voices taking center stage. Here are a few that should be added to your queue:

Ela Taubert

Hailing from Bogotá, Ela Taubert has rocketed to stardom with her emotive pop and personal lyrics. She has over 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and her hit “¿Cómo Pasó?” has surpassed 78 million streams, ranking it third among the top 30 most-listened-to Colombian songs abroad so far in 2024. Other popular tracks include “¿Y Si Eras Tú?” (over 15 million streams) and “Crecer” (over 11 million streams). More than a million playlists feature at least one of her songs!

Most of Ela’s streams come from Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and Chile, but she is also gaining traction in countries like Egypt, India, Austria, Australia, and Ireland.

Laura Pérez

Another Bogotá native making her mark in pop is Laura Pérez. A singer and guitarist, Laura released her first EP, Retazos, in 2020 and has been unstoppable since, amassing over 125,000 monthly listeners. “Buenos días” is her most-streamed song, with over 3 million plays, followed by “Vuela,” with over 1 million streams, and “La Luna y Tú,” with over 790,000 streams on Spotify.

Over the past year, her melodies have seen a notable increase in streams in countries like Nicaragua, Canada, the U.K., Japan, and the Netherlands.

Jules

With a background in musical theater, Jules combines her vocal talent with a unique and distinctive narrative in her music. This year, she released MELODRAMÁTICA, her first solo album, which blends pop, R&B, orchestral arrangements, and ambient sounds.

Jules has over 39,000 monthly listeners on the platform, and her most popular songs on Spotify include “ENCONTRARME,” with over 931,000 streams; “CUMPLEAÑOS (ira),” with over 688,000 streams; and “AUTOSABOTAJE (avaricia),” with 262,000 streams.

Her songs are included in over 37,000 playlists worldwide, from Colombia and Peru to Italy and Uruguay.

Lina Sanabria

Colombian singer-songwriter Lina Sanabria has captivated over 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify with her emotive music and personal lyrics. Over the past year, her popularity has grown in countries such as El Salvador, Italy, Nicaragua, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.

On Spotify, Lina’s music is featured on more than 21,000 user-created playlists, and her most-streamed songs include “Hasta Cuando” with Simon Savi (over 578,000 streams); “por la herida” in collaboration with Analu Dada (over 398,000 streams); and “Cobarde” with Jota E (over 370,000 streams).

Antonia Jones

This young artist began her musical career recording covers and has since evolved her style, blending organic and acoustic pop sounds with her own lyrics.

Songs like “Sexto Sentido,” with over 500,000 streams; “Pago Yo,” with over 160,000 streams; and “Aventurera,” with over 80,000 streams, are her most popular tracks on Spotify. This year, she released her self-titled album Antonia Jones, which includes songs like “19y33” and “Pedazos,” each of which has surpassed 80,000 and 19,000 streams, respectively.

Antonia has almost 9,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, primarily from Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and the United States.

Find more music from the country’s top artists on the Pop Colombia playlist:

 

Conoce a las nuevas estrellas de la música pop colombiana

August 13, 2024

Con sus diversos sonidos, la música de Colombia ha logrado conectar con una amplia gama de audiencias de todo el mundo, y el pop colombiano no es una excepción. Este género ha experimentado un crecimiento rápido en los últimos cinco años, duplicando sus reproducciones en Colombia y aumentando en más de un 250% a nivel mundial. En Spotify, es el segundo género más escuchado del país, superado sólo por el reggaetón.

El mundo está familiarizado con los talentos de estrellas colombianas como Shakira, Sebastián Yatra y Morat y ahora hay una nueva ola de artistas que están revolucionando el pop colombiano con sus sonidos únicos, presentaciones emotivas y letras pegajosas. Con la ayuda de Spotify, estos artistas han conectado con fanáticos tanto a nivel local como global.

A medida que este género sigue en ascenso, hemos notado especialmente la presencia de voces femeninas que están tomándose el foco del escenario. Aquí te contamos de algunas que deberías agregar a tu playlist:

Ela Taubert

Desde Bogotá, Ela Taubert se ha catapultado al estrellato con su pop emotivo y letras personales. Con más de 3 millones de oyentes mensuales en Spotify y su éxito “¿Cómo Pasó?”, ha superado los 78 millones de streams, ubicándose en el tercer lugar entre las 30 canciones colombianas más escuchadas en el exterior en lo que va del 2024. Otras canciones populares son “¿Y Si Eras Tú?” (+15 millones de streams) y “Crecer” (+11 millones de streams). ¡Más de un millón de playlists tienen al menos una canción de la artista!

México, Perú, Colombia y Chile son los países con más streams, pero también está presentando crecimientos en lugares tan lejanos como Egipto, India, Austria, Australia e Irlanda.

Laura Pérez

Laura Pérez es otra bogotana que está dejando su huella en el pop. Cantante y guitarrista, Laura lanzó su primer EP ‘Retazos’ en 2020 y no ha parado desde entonces, acumulando más de 125,000 oyentes mensuales en total. “Buenos días” es su canción más escuchada con más de 3 millones de streams, seguida por “Vuela”, con más de 1 millón de reproducciones, y por “La Luna y Tú” que acumula más de 790,000 streams en la plataforma.  

En el último año, sus melodías han experimentado aumentos en países como Nicaragua, Canadá, Reino Unido, Japón y Países Bajos. 

Jules

Con una formación en teatro musical, Jules fusiona su talento vocal con una narrativa única y distintiva en su música. Este año lanzó ‘MELODRAMÁTICA,’ su primer álbum como solista, que combina pop, R&B, arreglos orquestales y sonidos ambientales. 

Jules tiene más de 39,000 oyentes mensuales en la plataforma y sus canciones más populares en Spotify incluyen “ENCONTRARME”, que supera las 931,000 reproducciones;  “CUMPLEAÑOS (ira)”, que registra más de 688,000 reproducciones y  “AUTOSABOTAJE (avaricia)” que alcanza los 262,000 streams. 

Sus canciones están incluidas en más de 37 mil playlists alrededor del mundo, desde Colombia y Perú hasta Italia y Uruguay.

Lina Sanabria 

La cantautora colombiana Lina Sanabria ha conquistado a más de 50,000 oyentes mensuales en  Spotify con su música emotiva y letras personales. En el último año, su popularidad ha crecido en países como El Salvador, Italia, Nicaragua, Colombia y República Dominicana.

En Spotify, la música de Lina aparece en más de 21,000 listas de reproducción creadas por los usuarios, y entre sus canciones más escuchadas se encuentran “Hasta Cuando” con Simon Savi (más de 578,000 reproducciones); “por la herida” en colaboración con Analu Dada, (más de 398,000 reproducciones), y “Cobarde” con Jota E (más de 370,000 reproducciones). 

Antonia Jones

Esta joven artista que inició su carrera musical grabando covers ha evolucionado en su estilo mezclando sonidos orgánicos y acústicos, propios del pop, pero imprimiendo su estilo con sus propias letras.

Canciones como “Sexto Sentido” que registra más de 500,000 reproducciones; “Pago Yo” con más de 160,000 streams y “Aventurera” con más de 80,000 reproducciones, son las más escuchadas en Spotify. Este año lanzó su álbum homónimo ‘Antonia Jones’ que incluye canciones como “19y33”, y “Pedazos” que superan las 80,000 y las 19,000 reproducciones, respectivamente. 

Antonia tiene casi 9,000 oyentes mensuales, principalmente de Colombia, México, Perú, Ecuador y Estados Unidos. 

Encuentra más música de los mejores artistas del país en la playlist Pop Colombia:

 

Check Out Our Updated Songs of Summer Predictions (Complete With Five New Wild Card Picks)

July 25, 2024

Last month, Spotify’s annual Songs of Summer predictions made their return, and fans have rallied around the anthems they can’t get enough of. Some have been working late (…’cuz they’re a singer), while plenty have been feeling so Julia. Meanwhile, others have been looking for someone to match their freak. 

Now, for the first time ever, we’re giving you a midsummer update that reveals the top 15 songs from our original list, along with five new “wild card” songs. These updated predictions reflect our final contenders for the Song of Summer as we approach the end of the season.

Backed by Spotify data and cultural buzz, and hand-picked by our global team of editors, our wild cards were either released after we made our initial predictions, or they’ve experienced a recent spike in global streams. Wild card track “360” by Charli xcx, for example, has experienced an 80% increase in U.S. streams in the past month, while streams of “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan have spiked 110% globally on Spotify. 

Spotify’s updated Songs of Summer list 

(Listed alphabetically by artist first name; wild card picks in italics) 

Over the last year, we’ve seen increased popularity of dance and Afro house globally, and summer is the perfect time for these songs to cross over into the mainstream.

“‘Move’ has been an undeniable hit this summer and an obvious choice for our editors as one of our wild card additions,” said Luisa Kristen, Senior Editor, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at Spotify. “The song features the perfect recipe of beautiful Afro house production, earwormy melody, and pop lyricism—sounds that tend to thrive with listeners in warmer weather globally.”

Luisa also noted that in the last few weeks, the song has charted all around the world across many parts of Europe, the U.K., and the U.S. It drove record streams for the German group globally on its release day and was recently added to Today’s Top Hits—a monumental achievement for German artists and the Afro house genre overall. 

“Stumblin’ In,” which was released in November 2023, is also a strong example of how a song can have an extensive lifespan, cross borders, and experience a cultural resurgence during different moments of the year. It highlights the power of Spotify—our editors have tested it in various playlists, and since its release, it has grown and reached new listeners around the world. 

Tinashe’s “Nasty” also surged during the first two weeks of the Songs of Summer predictions reveal, both globally and in the U.S. Since then, the song has seen over a 110% increase in streams globally and in the U.S.

Celebrating 2024’s Songs of Summer

To continue the summer fun, we hosted our 2024 Songs of Summer event in Brooklyn this week, featuring electric performances from two of our contenders, Tinashe and Tommy Richman.

Billie Eilish and Spotify Bring the Mysterious Universe of ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ To Seoul

June 12, 2024

In May, Spotify and Billie Eilish welcomed U.K. fans inside the vast, mysterious world of her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, during an immersive listening experience hosted at the innovative London showspace Lightroom.

On June 18, we’re introducing this one-of-a-kind experience to Billie’s fans in Seoul, South Korea.

What can they expect? The event will offer a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Billie’s latest musical journey. Visitors will dive into Billie’s world through the album art—an image of the artist underwater, floating beneath a white wooden door. As they make their way through Billie’s tracks, they’ll plunge deeper into the music. 

Taking place at Seoul’s Théâtre des Lumières, the event will accommodate hundreds of fans.

“We are thrilled to bring Billie Eilish’s immersive listening experience to Korea, serving as the bridge that connects Billie and her fans in South Korea,” said Jungjoo Park, Spotify’s Head of Music, South Korea. “We will continue to showcase our global music ecosystem and help drive culture that brings artists and fans together in a truly unique, Spotify way.”

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT marks Billie’s first full-length album in three years, following up on 2021’s Happier Than Ever and 2019’s WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? With each album release, Spotify has helped connect Billie devotees to the dark-pop prodigy in new and exciting ways, including a multisensory interactive experience, our first-ever artist hub, special on-platform album experiences, and more.

Check out photos from the event, where Billie herself made a special appearance alongside global superstar JENNIE to answer fan questions!

Spotlighting the Artists To Watch in 2024

January 10, 2024

It’s a new year, and that means it’s time to predict which artists will make their mark in 2024. Continuing our annual Artists To Watch campaign, we’ve expanded the list to feature even more artists across many more genres. 

Along with streaming data, we tapped our North American music team and editors of our playlist brands—Viva Latino (Latin), Pop Rising (pop), Hot Country (country), juniper (folk), New Noise (rock), Lorem (indie), R&B Rising (R&B), Most Necessary (hip-hop), and mint (dance)—to help select the 90 rising talents featured below. You can also find all of our picks rounded up in one convenient spot with our brand-new Artists To Watch playlist. 

You’ll find Musica Mexicana crooner Chino Pacas among Viva Latino’s picks, and introspective hitmaker Teddy Swims included in Pop Rising’s selections. Country and folk singer-songwriters MacKenzie Carpenter and Chance Peña made Hot Country and juniper’s cuts, respectively, while all-women rock band The Beaches and moody indie songstress Chappell Roan were tapped by New Noise and Lorem. Meanwhile, South African vocalist Tyla, Texas rapper That Mexican OT, and Greek electronic producer Argy were recognized by R&B Rising, Most Necessary, and mint, respectively. 

Who else should you keep an eye on in 2024? Keep reading for the full list of Artists To Watch. 

Viva Latino’s Artists To Watch

Bellakath
Chino Pacas
Dei V
Estevie
Gonzy
Jasiel Nuñez
Junior Zamora
Saiko
Xavi
Yami Safdie

Hot Country’s Artists To Watch

Anne Wilson
Dylan Gossett
Graham Barham
Lauren Watkins
Mackenzie Carpenter
Matt Schuster
Michael Warren
Owen Riegling
Sam Barber
Wyatt Flores

Pop Rising’s Artists To Watch

Aidan Bissett
Alexander Stewart
bludnymph
Emei
Isabel LaRosa
Matt Hansen
Meg Smith
METTE
SNOW WIFE
Teddy Swims

juniper’s Artists To Watch

Bo Staloch
Chance Peña
hey, nothing
Jack Van Cleaf
Kara Jackson
Mon RovÎa
Paris Paloma
Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners
Searows
Tiny Habits

New Noise’s Artists To Watch

Amira Elfeky
Destroy Boys
Jack Kays
Jhariah
julie
Scowl
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
The Beaches
The Last Dinner Party
ThxSoMch

R&B Rising’s Artists To Watch

Amaria
Bellah
Chxrry22
Elmiene
Jordan Ward
Khamari
Lekan
Leon Thomas
Naomi Sharon
Tyla

mint’s Artists To Watch

Argy
BUNT.
DBN Gogo
HoneyLuv
Knock2
LP Giobbi
Mochakk
Sammy Virji
Shermanology
Uncle Waffles

Lorem’s Artists To Watch

Abby Sage
bar italia
Chappell Roan
Frost Children
Hannah Jadagu
hemlocke springs
Provoker
sign crushes motorist
waterbaby
Wisp

Most Necessary’s Artists To Watch

310babii
41
BabyDrill
BigXthaPlug
Hunxho
Lay Bankz
ODUMODUBLVCK
Skilla Baby
That Mexican OT
Veeze

Press play on our Artists To Watch playlist to discover the sounds of all the artists we’re expecting to make waves in 2024. 

What Gen Z Listeners Are Streaming in Pakistan

September 15, 2023

Since Spotify’s launch in Pakistan in 2021, the platform has become a destination for younger generations to make their voices heard by powering unprecedented musical trends. To better understand what these listeners love, we looked at Spotify streaming data between July 2 and August 2 for listeners aged 16 to 27 to see what tracks, artists, and genres are rising to the top.

Overall, these listeners gravitate toward genres like filmi, modern Bollywood, desi pop, pop, and Punjabi pop. These high-bass beats often reverberate across Pakistan late into the evening, with 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. representing the most popular time frame for these listeners to stream music on Spotify.

We also learned that “Lagda Nahi” by Ammy Gill and Toshi is the most-streamed track for listeners between the ages of 16 and 20. Next in line are “Bikhra” and “Iraaday” by the powerful duo Abdul Hannan and Rovalio. Shifting to listeners aged 21 to 27, we found that the same songs rank in the top three, but the order is reversed: “Iraaday” ranks top, with “Bikhra” next and “Lagda Nahi” third.

One thing that the 16 to 27-year-olds can agree on: Rapper and songwriter Talha Anjum sits at the top as the most-streamed local artist for these listeners in Pakistan. He is followed by the pop legend Atif Aslam and Spotify’s Fresh Finds discovery, Abdul Hannan, who has blossomed into a global sensation.

If we turn to global artists, Indian artist and the king of heartbreak anthems Arijit Singh is the artist 16-to-27-year-olds stream the most, with Indian composer Pritam, American pop star Taylor Swift, Indian rapper Shubh, and Indian singer AP Dhillon rounding out the top five.

Spotify’s curated local playlists have also become a favorite for many listeners. For Gen Z, the top playlists streamed include Hot Hits Pakistan, Shaadi Hits, and Desi Hits. Millennials also gravitate toward Hot Hits Pakistan and Shaadi Hits, but their third-most-streamed playlist is Pakka Hit Hai.

Check out what Gen Zs in Pakistan have been grooving to late into the evening. Check out Hot Hits Pakistan.

P!nk Takes the Helm as This Month’s EQUAL Global Artist

August 8, 2023

With more than 20 years in music, P!nk has cemented herself as a powerful force. She racked up so many top singles that she filled a greatest hits album just 10 years into her solo career, and her passionate fans have helped her sell out arenas around the globe.

Since her debut, she’s released nine studio albums—2023’s TRUSTFALL is her latest—and received 21 Grammy nominations, and she took home three of those awards. P!nk has always pushed boundaries to emerge as an artist with a strong message that empowers women. Her advocacy is just one reason she’s our August pick for EQUAL Global Artist of the Month.

Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program started in 2021 with the aim of contributing to gender equity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As a Global Ambassador, P!nk adorns the cover of our EQUAL Global playlist, and her hit single “TRUSTFALL” is featured in the top spot of the playlist.

For the Record chatted with the award-winning artist to learn what it’s like to be a part of EQUAL and how she’s breaking down barriers for women in the music industry.

The thing that excites me most about being a part of EQUAL is…

That I believe in equal representation for everyone in all walks of life, regardless of your gender, who you love, or how you identify. Having strong and inspiring women leaders in all industries, and especially in music, is important because it shows our children what’s possible. It inspires their dreams and aspirations of who they can become. I am so grateful and humbled that I can play a small role in the evolution of future generations. 

As an artist, to me, women’s representation means…

When I was a little girl, I looked up to my favorite female artists like Madonna and Mary J. Blige, who were not only talented and successful but pushed artistic boundaries and were unapologetic and fierce with their messages. It’s so important that women are an equal part of the artistic conversation at all levels of the music industry—as artists, executives, directors, choreographers, studio engineers, etc., because we have a different way of seeing things, expressing ourselves, and understanding and leading the world. If we want our little girls to be inspired and believe they can do these things too, women need equal representation to show them the way.

The artists who have most inspired me are… 

There are so many. So obviously it’s hard to choose. Cher, Madonna, Debbie Harry, and Bette Midler. Bette Midler comes to mind because she, to me, is one of the most incredible entertainers. You can tell when someone really loves what they do. And to me, Bette is a triple threat: singer, actress, dancer. . . well, a quadruple threat—she’s also a comedian. I’ve watched her walk into a room, and she’s so incredibly charming and she’s so joyful that she has the entire room eating out of the palm of her hand. And she does that onstage. When I go and see somebody perform, I want to know that they love it. I want to know that their heart is in it. I want to feel like I’m getting to know the actual person who’s onstage. And I don’t think anybody does that like Bette Midler. I love her.

A woman artist that I’m excited about is… 

Brandi Carlile. I have been a fan of Brandi’s since her EP came out, Eye of the Needle. Her voice is very, very, very, very special and I am a fan of a singer that you can feel their soul. I like when her voice cracks and it’s imperfect and she has so much f*@kin’ swag. I love her so much and she plays the sh!t out of a guitar. She’s kind. She’s been working her ass off for years and years and years and years, and she’s finally hit this place in her career where people are giving her the love that she deserves. I love singing with her. I love being her friend. I love walking the earth at the same time that she does. I love what she’s doing for the industry. She’s really bringing women together and she’s out and proud and she’s a mama. And I couldn’t love her more. And I get to tour with her soon because I’m a lucky b*tch.

The idea behind your newest song, “TRUSTFALL,” is…

I sort of went to the studio with [the lyrics] “it’s a trust fall, baby.” Just the idea that, in today’s world, it requires so much of us to feel safe and to get out of bed and to leave the house and to love and be who you really are. And it feels like a trust fall. It feels like you’re falling backwards and you don’t know where the ground is. I love performing it live because it’s a different-style song than what I do a lot of the time. And it’s so amped and it’s at such a perfect point in the show—it just feels like letting go. It feels like why I used to go to raves. You want that moment where the music comes on, it’s inside of your entire body, and you can’t do anything but move and let go of all the stuff you’ve been carrying around. And that’s what “TRUSTFALL” feels like to me. So I’m grateful to have written a song like that. And it’s a f*@king banger.

Get ready to turn the volume up and sing along with P!nk, and other amazing talents, in our EQUAL Global playlist.

6 Artists Taking Mexico’s Pop Scene to the Next Level

July 7, 2023

a series of artists looking at the camera with a graphic treatment that resembles a school yearbook

Music from Mexico boasts talent across many genres, including Música Mexicana and hip-hop. But like many markets, pop remains a staple. In fact, Mexico ranks fourth as the country that consumes the most pop on Spotify, and many of the world’s beloved Spanish-language pop stars hail from Mexico.

Now Spotify is featuring the latest wave of Mexican pop stars in a new campaign: La Gen 23. “For many decades, Mexico has led the Latin pop movement,” explains Uriel Waizel, Spotify Mexico’s Head of Editorial. “We are excited to amplify a new era of pop by showcasing the talented and creative Mexican artists who are captivating a new generation through music.” With an identity marked by collaboration and authenticity, this new generation of talent has made an impact on its Gen Z audience. On Spotify, listeners only have to go to one place to find the latest music from them: the la pop~wave playlist. 

Our campaign kicks off with RENEE, Kevin Kaarl, Bruses, Bratty, Humbe, and Leon Leiden, six artists whose monthly streams have increased by more than 9,000% since June 2020. They have a combined total of 18.4 millions monthly listeners—more than double the population of Mexico City. By bringing these artists to the fore, we’re giving fans a look at the newest and hottest pop stars coming out of Mexico. Get to know them. 

Kevin Kaarl

Kevin Kaarl has become one of the leading figures of the pop wave. His emotional indie-folk songs have hooked more than 7 million fans who relate to the heartbreak he shares in his tracks. Last year, his album, Paris Texas, debuted at #5 on the Global New Releases list on Spotify. 

RENEE 

RENEE, a Spotify EQUAL ambassador, is one of the most electrifying artists of her generation. Her songs have become anthems for women, and she has nearly 2 million monthly listeners. “Nunca Tristes (Me vale madre),” her best-known song, has been streamed by fans more than 45 million times.

Bruses 

Bruses was the first Mexican artist to be named a global ambassador for GLOW, Spotify’s music program celebrating and amplifying LGBTQIA+ artists and creators. At the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards, her album Monstruos was nominated for Best Pop Rock Album, and her track “qué voy a hacer conmigo???” was nominated for Best Pop Rock Song.

Humbe 

Humbe, hailing from Monterrey, has a knack for releasing hit songs. His 2021 album, ENTROPÍA, was well received, with all of the songs debuting on the Top 200 of Spotify Mexico.

Leon Leiden 

At 23, artist Leon Leiden has racked up nearly 50 million streams for his song “Gitana (feat Jeis, Pao Alvarado & Charly Romero).” With an unparalleled style, the music of “ESE LION” has grown by more than 2,600% in monthly streams between June 2020 and June 2023.

Bratty 

In 2023, Bratty became the youngest Mexican artist to perform at Coachella. While commanding the stage in Indio, California, Bratty performed hits like “Honey, No Estás,” “Continental,” and “Quiero Estar.”

 

Find fresh new music from these Mexican artists and more on our la pop~wave playlist.