Tag: products

Spotify Takes to the Stage: Connecting Artists With Concertgoers

March 8, 2023

S4A_FTR_Blog_MerchxTicketing

Today at Spotify Stream On, artists, songwriters, podcasters, and authors from around the world joined us for a day of news, networking, and inspiration—and a deeper look into how artists can better connect with their fans on our platform. And what better way to do that than helping fans experience their favorite artists IRL?

Over half of our listeners are unaware of when their favorite artists are in town. Of those users, one in three say they would have gone to the concert had they known about it. So in 2022, we worked with artists, venues, and ticketing partners to list over 840,000 concerts on our Live Events Feed, which is one of our most rapidly growing channels—and our users’ personal gig calendar. We even closed out 2022 by featuring personalized concert recommendations in the Wrapped hub for the first time—across more than 60 languages globally. All this goes further to help artists reach more fans of their music and help fans make sure they never miss a show. 

In 2023, we’re going to keep diving headfirst into concert discoverability.

For artists, this means more places to inform fans about their latest shows and tours. First, we’ll be integrating ticket offers into the “Now Playing” view so artists can grab a listener’s attention right when their music is resonating most. Additionally, artists can spotlight concert dates to the top of their profiles, and soon to their This Is playlists. With these new ticketing features, we’ll not only help artists better promote their shows, but also make sure that Spotify is our listeners’ go-to resource for finding concerts they love.

Fans can make sure they never miss another show with these concert integration opportunities right in the Spotify app:

Live Events Feed: Our main in-app concert destination lets you find concert listings based on your location and favorite artists. You can also adjust your location to browse concerts in other cities and countries, all personalized to your taste.

“Interested” button: Wherever you see a concert listing, you’ll be able to hit the “Interested” button and tag the events you want to attend. That way in the future, you can check in on your personal gig calendar in the Live Events Feed.

Fans First Emails: Make sure you’re following and streaming your favorite artists on Spotify for the chance to be recognized as a top listener—we send Fans First emails and notifications to those engaged users, putting them at the front of the line for special access to concert pre-sales and merch exclusives. 

Of course, no concert is complete without the merch table. While you can currently find your favorite artists’ merch on their profile pages and their album and single pages, we’re also going to start adding it to the “Now Playing” view so you can buy the merch after falling in love with their song.

Spotify’s New Experience Inspires Deeper Discovery and Connection

March 8, 2023

Spotify new Home Feed

Spotify has gone through updates and iterations throughout the years, but today, during Stream On, we unveiled our biggest evolution yet: a new, dynamic mobile interface built for deeper discovery and more meaningful connections between artists and fans. It gives listeners a more active role in the audio discovery process and gives creators more space to share their work. 

We’ve found that the next generation of listeners craves better ways to sample audio before fully diving in. So get ready for a more active experience with advanced recommendations, a spotlight on visual canvases, and a completely new and interactive design—all to make discovering new audio easier than ever before and help introduce users to their next favorite artist, podcast, or book. Together, these updates work to bring creators and fans closer than ever, and help each build lasting connections. 

“The world today pulls us in a million different directions,” said Co-President and Chief Product & Technology Officer Gustav Söderström. “So the most important thing we, at Spotify, can do for creators is to reduce the distance between their art and the people who love it . . . or who would love it as soon as they discovered it.” 

What to look out for in Spotify’s more visual, dynamic mobile experience: 

  • Music, Podcasts & Shows, and Audiobook previews on Home: Simply tap into the Music, Podcasts & Shows, or Audiobooks feed to explore visual and audio previews of playlists, albums, podcast episodes, and audiobooks personalized to you. Then, tap to save or share, go deeper into the artist or podcast pages, play from the start, or continue listening from where the preview ended.
  • New feeds for discovery in Search: Scroll up or down to explore short Canvas clips from tracks from some of your favorite genres. Then easily save the song to a playlist, follow the artist, or share it with friends—all from one place. You can also explore related genres using the hashtags within the feed for easy discovery of new favorites. You can even preview tracks on some of your favorite playlists like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, New Music Friday, and RapCaviar. 

Thanks to both of these new feeds of visual clips, you can scroll purposefully through music, podcast, and audiobook previews until you find something you like. And don’t worry—your Favorites aren’t going anywhere. Your shortcuts, or most recently played, will still appear at the top of your Home feed, so you can easily dive into whatever you were listening to last. We’re also adding previews to the top of your music, podcasts & shows, and audiobooks feeds for the first time.

  • DJ: Speaking of great recommendations . . . these announcements also follow the recent Beta launch of DJ, a new personalized AI guide for Premium users in the U.S. and Canada that knows you and your music taste so well that it can choose what to play for you. We’ve already seen so much love for DJ—both on platform and across social media—and we’re not even out to 100% of users yet. On days when users tune in, fans spend 25% of their listening time with the DJ—and they keep coming back for more, with more than half of first-time listeners coming back to listen to DJ the very next day.* 
  • Smart Shuffle: This new experience keeps listening sessions fresh with personalized recommendations that perfectly match the vibe of an original user-generated playlist. It breathes new life into carefully curated user-generated playlists, shuffling tracks and adding new, perfectly tailored suggestions.
  • Autoplay for Podcasts: Just like with music, we’re now serving Autoplay for Podcasts. When a podcast ends, another relevant episode that fits your taste will automatically play. 

We’re constantly innovating our app experience so we can connect even more artists with listeners. And with these latest updates, you’re primed to discover more music, podcasts, and audiobooks easier than ever before. 

*Results are based on eligible users (Premium users in the U.S. and Canada on mobile) and collected from February 22 – March 1.

Smart Shuffle Breathes New Life Into Your Spotify Playlists

March 8, 2023

Our users love creating playlists to reflect key moments in their lives or soundtrack moments that matter. These often become a listener’s most-streamed playlist for the first several months after creation. But over time they stream these playlists less frequently in favor of new music or mixes.

Today at Stream On, we announced Spotify’s new play mode: Smart Shuffle. This new experience keeps listening sessions fresh with personalized recommendations that perfectly match the vibe of an original playlist. It breathes new life into carefully curated playlists, shuffling tracks and adding new, perfectly tailored suggestions. As a bonus, Smart Shuffle is also available for your Liked Songs playlist.

How Premium Subscribers can use Smart Shuffle

  • Ready for a playlist refresh? Use the Shuffle button to activate the feature. As soon as you turn it on, you’ll be able to start listening to your playlist mixed with new recommendations that match the vibe.  
  • You’re in control of what you listen to. If you want to go back to listening to the playlist as you made it, simply tap the Smart Shuffle button again. A fresh mix will be waiting for you next time. 
  • Recognize the tracks we’re recommending with a sparkle (✨) symbol next to a track. For a playlist with more than 15 songs, we’ll recommend one song for every three tracks.
  • If you love what you’re listening to, save it in your playlist! But if a recommendation missed the mark, just tap the minus button on the Now Playing View so we can take note of it for next time.

Smart Shuffle builds on the song recommendation benefits of Enhance, which we launched in 2021. Enhance allows users to discover music while keeping their own track lists fresh. With Smart Shuffle, we’ve taken those capabilities a step further by creating a new experience to keep those listening sessions evergreen. As a result, Smart Shuffle will replace Enhance and will roll out to Premium users globally across iOS and Android devices starting today.

How Free Listeners can use Smart Shuffle

Free users can start getting in on the magic too. Smart Shuffle will now be the default play mode on mobile devices for Free users in Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, and Vietnam. Smart Shuffle delivers tailored recommendations that match the vibe of what users are currently listening to—whether that’s a Spotify playlist, album, or artist page. 

Users can identify our recommendations with the sparkle (✨) next to the artist’s name, along with a banner on the Now Playing Bar that offers up more details about why we recommended a specific song or artist. With this new feature rolling out on Free, listeners are bound to discover unexpected gems based on their favorite music. 

As we continue to iterate and evolve our Free listening experience around the world, we will continue to explore bringing this feature to even more users. 

*Update as of October 19, 2023: This article was updated to include “How Free Listeners Can Use Smart Shuffle” 

*Update as of January 25, 2024: Smart Shuffle for Premium users is now available on even more playlists including Collaborative Playlists and playlists created by your squad.

Behind the Scenes of Spotify’s New AI DJ

March 8, 2023

Your very own DJ from Spotify

Since launching Spotify’s brand-new AI DJ in beta a few weeks back, Premium listeners across the U.S. and Canada have had the chance to experience our personalization capabilities in a whole new way. We’ve already seen so much love for DJ—both on-platform and across social media—and we’re not even out to 100% of users yet. On days when users tune in, fans spend 25% of their listening time with DJ, and they keep coming back for more, with more than half of first-time listeners coming back to listen to DJ the very next day.* 

 

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Today at Stream On, Spotify Co-President and Chief R&D Officer Gustav Söderström and Spotify Head of Cultural Partnerships Xavier “X” Jernigan, whose voice is the first model for DJ, got the chance to highlight the new feature even further. With DJ, we’re reimagining how listeners hear and discover the music they love as the tool transforms Spotify from a music tool into a living, breathing, interactive music experience. 

What went into building DJ? For the Record connected with some of the minds behind the new feature, including VP of Personalization Ziad Sultan, Head of Product Design for Personalization Emily Galloway, Product Director Zeena Qureshi, and Head of Global Hits J.J. Italiano, to better understand the synergy between the humans and technology that brought DJ to life. 

Spotify boasts years of expertise in personalization. How did we leverage this to create DJ?

Ziad Sultan: Personalization is at the heart of what we do. When we ask our listeners what they like most about Spotify, more than 81% cite our personalization. That’s because we have a bit of a secret sauce: We combine state-of-the-art technology with human passion and expertise.

We applied that same recipe to DJ. The result is a delightful music-listening experience that is deeply personalized to each individual listener, yet at a scale that the world has not really seen. Never before has listening felt so completely personal to each and every user. And it’s made possible by a powerful combination of three things: Spotify’s personalization technology, generative AI in the hands of the world’s best music curators, and a stunningly realistic AI voice that brings it all to life. 

Can you tell us more about how you designed the experience? 

Emily Galloway: DJ is an entirely new way to listen, and a brand-new format, so there wasn’t a formula to follow when we were making decisions. We had to answer some core experiential questions like: “How do we take you on a journey with both familiar and unfamiliar music?” “How do we evoke feelings of nostalgia?” and “What does it mean to give context to music listening?” But most importantly was, “How might we help fans and creators form a deeper, more meaningful connection?” I’m really proud of where we’ve landed—making personalization and AI more human than ever.

We know listeners are excited as well—they feel something different. We continue to see connection and discovery as the main themes of DJ. We found that when listeners hear commentary alongside personal music recommendations, they’re more willing to try something new, to listen to a song they may have otherwise skipped. For Spotify, that brings us closer to our goal of deepening artist and fan connections.  

Why did you decide to use a human-like AI powered voice for this experience?

Zeena Qureshi: We know that human voice helps people form connections, and the same is true when it comes to DJ. We found that having the voice sound human is key for users to foster a deeper connection with DJ, as human voice provides familiarity and instant context. By incorporating voice traits such as pacing, projection, emotion, and emphasis, it results in a DJ that’s emotional and highly realistic. 

Last year, Spotify acquired Sonantic and its unique patented algorithms, making all this possible. Sonantic is now Spotify’s dynamic AI voice platform that creates compelling, nuanced, and stunningly realistic voices from text. 

How does DJ leverage the expertise of our music editors? 

J.J. Italiano: DJ is built from human editorial expertise married with cutting-edge technology—that is Spotify’s superpower. The editorial team, which consists of hundreds of experts across the globe who know music and culture inside and out, can now harness this power to help tell artists’ stories and better contextualize their songs. To help arm DJ with knowledge and expertise, we created a Writers’ Room with music experts, culture experts, data curators, scriptwriters, and generative AI. Adding in this context gives the listener a deeper connection and experience when hearing an artist or song—and I’m very excited to bring it to listeners!

Ziad Sultan: Putting generative AI technology in the hands of our music experts allows them to scale their expertise like never before. Taking a Writers’ Room approach allows us to ensure that the commentary is accurate, relevant, and enriching to the product experience. We’re very excited about this approach that builds on our years of experience combining human expertise with world-class technology. That’s how DJ is able to deepen the connection between fans and their favorite artists, as well as help them discover new ones.

Ready to dive in? Learn where to find your DJ in your own Spotify app. 

*Results are based on eligible users (Premium users in the U.S. and Canada on mobile) and collected from February 22 to March 1.

Preview Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks on Spotify Home

March 8, 2023

Preview on Home

There’s so much to listen to on Spotify, and so little time. We know you don’t want to spend precious hours on titles and tracks you might not enjoy. Beginning today, when you open up Home on the Spotify app, you’ll find personalized, curated previews of the songs, podcasts, and audiobooks you might enjoy. Quickly dive into what speaks (or sings) to you, or save it for later when you need that perfect soundtrack. 

As shared during Stream On, previews make for a whole new way to sample and discover whatever you might be in the mood for, all on your Home screen. And they build on the dedicated feeds for Music, Podcasts & Shows, and Audiobooks that we introduced last year. 

Our data shows that more listeners become committed fans after previewing what they’re about to listen to, making this feature simply the latest update in our larger mission to create even deeper connections between artists and fans. 


The music feed

The music feed contains personalized recommendations for singles, albums, and playlists. At the top of the feed, you’ll see some selected mixes you might like. (If you’re a Premium user in the U.S. and Canada, you’ll also see DJ.) When available, animated song canvases will accompany audio previews, providing you with a peak into an artist’s creative world. 

The Podcasts & Shows feed

Just like music, the podcast feed contains personalized recommendations for new and familiar episodes and shows. At the top of the feed, you’ll have quick access to your shows. Automatically generated previews will showcase what’s in store. For podcasts, real-time transcriptions allow you to easily preview an episode or chapter even with the sound off. Video podcast previews let you watch and listen to the conversation.

The audiobooks feed

The audiobooks feed contains personalized audiobook recommendations. At the top, you’ll have quick access to your purchased or saved audiobooks. And to give you a taste big enough to help you make the perfect call on a purchase, the audio preview may be up to five minutes long.

After previewing, you can: 

  • Save, download, or share with just one tap: Simply tap the Plus (+) icon to save your recommendations to Your Episodes or Your Library. Then, download or queue by tapping the three dots at the bottom of the preview. 
  • Play from the start: Press Play to listen to a track, album, playlist, or episode from the start. For podcasts, tap “continue listening” to play the rest of the preview from where it began.
  • Dive even deeper: Tapping a recommendation will take you to the playlist, album, or single to explore even more related audio. 

Spotify is the first platform to enable truly seamless previews across music, podcasts, and audiobooks—and they’re now beginning to roll out to Premium and Free users globally across iOS and Android. Music and podcast previews are available in all markets where podcasts are available globally. Audiobooks previews are currently available in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Stream On Returns March 8, 2023

January 12, 2023

On March 8, Stream On is back! 


During our inaugural Stream On in 2021, Spotify pulled back the curtain to demonstrate how we connect creators and fans and empower creators to live off of their art. We shared company announcements—like how we’re reaching new audiences in markets around the world—unveiled new creator tools, showcased product updates, and touted podcast exclusives.

This year’s Stream On will build on our vertical-defining creator tools, features, and programming in an event streamed live from the Arts District in Los Angeles. We want creators across the world and across disciplines—whether that’s music, podcast, audiobooks, you name it—to experience the event as it happens, so you’re invited to watch the event virtually on For the Record.

During Stream On, we’ll share how Spotify is unlocking new possibilities for more creators than ever before so they can better connect with and build a truly global audience. We’ll also share the latest developments and tools to help more creators chart their pathways to success, get discovered by new audiences, build an engaged community, and connect with fans worldwide. 

So save the date for March 8, bookmark For the Record, follow @Spotify and @SpotifyNews on social media, and stay tuned for much more to come as we create the future together. 

New Gear, Gadgets, or Upgrades You Can Use With Spotify

November 9, 2022

At Spotify, we know it’s important to be able to listen to your favorite music and podcasts wherever and whenever. We’re serious about making sure you can do just that as part of our core ubiquity strategy. That’s why we’ve worked to make Spotify available on over 2,000 devices from plenty of brands. We’re always adding new ones, so get to know some of our latest additions. 

Access Spotify and your recommendations via Ambient mode for the Amazon Fire TV QLED Omni Series

Ambient mode for Amazon Fire TV

Sometimes, bigger is better—users who’ve been listening to their favorites from the big screen on the Amazon Fire TV QLED Omni Series know that. With the all-new Ambient Experience, your Fire TV Omni QLED Series TV proactively shows helpful information throughout the day and provides hands-free access to your favorite music and Spotify recommendations. Beyond that, you can flick through albums, songs, and playlists using the remote control, or via Spotify Connect on your phone or tablet. Or you can switch between the two for a totally seamless experience.

DJ from your wrist with the new Spotify experience on Apple Watch

Spotify on Apple Watch

Starting today, we’re rolling out a new and improved listening experience for Spotify users on Apple Watch. This means you’ll be able to more easily browse and choose your favorite music and podcasts in Your Library, as well as more quickly download music to listen offline from the watch itself. There’s also a new sleek design with larger artwork, animations, and added functionality—like swiping to like a song. It’s also super easy to spot new episodes marked with a blue dot, so you’ll never miss fresh episodes from your favorite creators.

Make sure to update to the latest version.

Upgrade your travel with our new delta experience

Delta planes

Spotify and Delta are ready to make your next flight soar. We’ve had an existing partnership with Delta, but now we’re taking our relationship to new heights by putting our own spin on the boarding process: We’re curating the music that plays overhead as you find your seat. The playlist will update monthly to include Delta customers’ favorites, so even frequent flyers will experience a fresh music rotation.

Rock your shades with Spotify Tap™ on Ray-Ban Stories

Spotify Tap on RayBans stories

On the go? Then you know the drill: You turn on your phone’s Bluetooth, place it in your pocket, shove the buds in your ear, juggle your coffee to the other hand, and finally, reach back into your pocket to grab your phone again to open up your Spotify app and press play. We knew there had to be an easier way—and there is: Spotify Tap™.

For those who are already rocking a pair of Ray-Ban Stories, we recently added Spotify Tap™ for you to easily enjoy your favorite tunes without having to take out your phone. Simply tap and hold on the side of your glasses to play Spotify. And if you want to hear something different, tap and hold again and Spotify will recommend something new.

Find even more gear and gadgets that integrate with Spotify.