Tag: prince harry

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Look Back on 2020—and Forward to 2021—With Special Guests in a New Holiday Special

December 29, 2020

While 2020 proved to be a challenging year that forced many to adapt to new realities, it also showed how people can thrive amidst change and find ways to look deeper at themselves. Today, in a new standalone Holiday Special produced by Archewell Audio and Gimlet, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reflect back on the year that changed everything. The episode, which listeners can stream for free exclusively on Spotify, features a diverse array of voices sharing lessons, reflections, and hopes for the new year. 

“As we come to the end of this year, and look to the future, let’s hold onto the lessons we’ve learned about how important it is to take care of one another, and how meaningful our connections are—even when they’re physically impossible,” explains Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, at the beginning of the episode.

“We thought, what if we can bring together some people that inspire us—people that we admire—and get their thoughts on what they learned from 2020,” continues Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

Tune into the Holiday Special presented by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they bring together a special collection of inspiration, reflection, and perspective from guests around the world including: Stacey Abrams, Christina Adane, José Andrés, Brené Brown, Rachel Cargle, Deepak Chopra, James Corden, Matt Haig, Sir Elton John, Hussain Manawer, Naomi Osaka, Tyler Perry, and George the Poet (plus a surprise or two). 

Join them as they reflect on the year, speak openly about the power of compassion, kindness, and connection, and toast to a hopeful 2021.

Subscribe to the Archewell Audio hub on Spotify to be the first to hear exclusive projects from The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Spotify’s New Multiyear Partnership with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Audio Promises Podcasts That Will Inspire

December 15, 2020

Telling and listening to uplifting and entertaining stories have been a vital part of many of our lives this past year. Today, Archewell Audio, the newly-formed audio-first production company created by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, has announced a multi-year partnership with Spotify to produce podcasts and shows that tell these stories—and inspire even more. 

Under this exclusive partnership, Archewell Audio will leverage Spotify’s global reach—with 144 million Premium subscribers and 320 million monthly active users—to spotlight powerful and diverse voices and perspectives.

“What we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to really listen, to connect to one another without distraction,” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a joint statement. “With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other’s stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are.”

Ahead of the new year, Archewell Audio and Spotify’s Gimlet studio will release their first offering; a holiday special hosted by The Duke and Duchess that will feature stories of hope and compassion from inspirational guests in celebration of the new year. In 2021, The Duke and Duchess will produce and host podcasts that build community through shared experiences and values. 

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may live in California, but the power of their voices rests in their status as citizens of the world,” says Spotify Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer Dawn Ostroff. “That they are embracing the extraordinary capacity of podcasts on Spotify while also seeking to elevate underrepresented voices is a testament to their appreciation for the potential of audio storytelling. We are proud to partner with The Duke and Duchess and look forward to listeners hearing directly from them and the other creators that they will be elevating via our global platform.”

The first complete series from Archewell Audio and Spotify is expected next year and will be available to stream for free on Spotify. Follow the show page here and take a listen to the trailer below.

Songs with Royal Influence: The Music of the Royal Wedding

May 22, 2018

Between the exquisite hats, tears shed, and two fairy-tale princess wedding dresses, the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was a sight to see—and hear—for viewers around the world.

The much-anticipated wedding of Prince Harry to the American actress Meghan Markle has come and gone, but the world’s fascination with the Royal Family didn’t end with their final vows. Our latest data shows that the event’s soundtrack still plays on for fans and romantics alike.

For the majority of us who weren’t invited to Windsor Castle on Saturday morning, or for those who simply want to relive the music of the fairy tale affair, The Royal Wedding – The Official Album is available to stream on Spotify. It includes the complete wedding service, from the instrumental Royal Salute, to the explanatory Giving of Rings, to the British National Anthem performed by various national orchestras and the Choir of St. George’s Chapel. And since its release, the album has received over 100,000 streams globally.

If you’re looking for an album highlight, try Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir’s performance of “Stand By Me.” Music loyalists will be happy to note that on the day of the wedding itself, the original “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King increased by a third (30%) globally.

However, it is 19-year-old British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason who garnered the biggest reaction on Spotify. Sheku, the first black musician to ever win the BBC Young Musician of the Year award since its launch in 1978, performed at the wedding. According to the latest data from Spotify, Sheku received a 428% increase in streams globally thanks to his performance at the wedding ceremony.

As widely noted by news commentators and viewers, Markle’s African-American heritage played a large role in highlighting some of the performances throughout the event, from Sheku’s cello playing to Reverend Michael Curry, the first Black presiding bishop in the Episcopal church, whose sermon, found in “The Address” track, is also available on the official album.

As for the reception, Harry and Meghan reportedly chose Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” for their much anticipated first dance. The ‘80’s hit, commonly played at weddings, is one of the top 10 wedding playlist tracks globally in 2018. After it was revealed that the royal couple selected the song, streams of the track increased by 15% worldwide.

With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex assuming their roles as the newest royal couple—and now apparently as musical influencers—only time will tell if Houston’s now-royal hit will become a top first-dance song for weddings to come.

Will Prince Harry and Meghan’s First Dance Feature Ed Sheeran? Our Data Says It’s Likely

May 17, 2018

Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take their first official spin to Adele, Ellie Goulding, Elton John, or some other artist entirely? Speculation ahead of the royal wedding on May 19th leaves everyone guessing whether the pair is more into gentle and jazzy or peppy and popular jams.

If they want to be right on trend, the couple everyone’s watching will go with Ed Sheeran for the first dance. In this year’s Sheeran vs. Sheeran wedding playlist showdown, his song “Perfect” topped his previous song “Thinking Out Loud” for the most-popular first-dance song worldwide in 2018, according to Spotify data.

While Ed is now unofficially the king of romance, the list reveals something for every twosome’s musical tastes, from first-dance classics (Etta James’ “At Last” and Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”) to modern romantic ballads (Bruno Mars’ “Marry You” and John Legend’s “All of Me”).

For the all-important wedding playlist, Spotify users are mixing the older (Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”) with the newer (Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk”) on the dance floor.

Even if you’re not on the royal guest list, get inspired for wedding season and start dancing—in the dark, or barefoot on the grass, as Ed sings—with the tracks below.

Top 10 first dance playlist tracks globally in 2018:

1. Ed Sheeran – Perfect

2. Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud

3. Etta James – At Last

4. John Legend – All of Me

5. Elvis Presley – Can’t Help Falling in Love

6. Christina Perri – A Thousand Years

7. Ray LaMontagne – You Are the Best Thing

8. Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up

9. Ellie Goulding – How Long Will I Love You

10. Ed Sheeran — Perfect Duet (Ed Sheeran & Beyoncé)

Listen to the top 50 on Spotify

Top 10 wedding playlist tracks globally in 2018:

1. Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud

2. Bruno Mars – Marry You

3. Ed Sheeran – Perfect

4. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

5. John Legend – All of Me

6. Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk

7. The Temptations – My Girl

8. Christina Perri – A Thousand Years

9. Train – Marry Me

10. Daryl Hall & John Oates – You Make My Dreams

Listen to the top 50 on Spotify