Tag: q&a

Gera MX revela los giros de su vida en ‘No Teníamos Nada, Pero Éramos Felices’ y ‘Ahora Tengo Todo Menos a Ti’ en una experiencia única para Spotify

August 25, 2022

La escena del hip-hop mexicano cada vez cobra más relevancia y Gera MX se ha convertido en uno de los artistas más representativos del género. Hoy, el rapero de 28 años de edad, lanza No Teníamos Nada, Pero Éramos Felices y Ahora Tengo Todo Menos a Ti en una playlist multimedia que narra los giros que ha dado su vida, disponible sólo en Spotify.

El álbum doble es el octavo trabajo de estudio de Gera MX, quien inició su carrera con No Me Mates Antes De Hoy en 2015, seguido de No Veo, No Siento y Precipicio en 2017. El también fundador del sello Rich Vagos, amplió su alcance con El Vicio y la Fama, álbum que incluye colaboraciones en exploración a otros géneros junto Grupo Codiciado hacia los corridos, Celso Piña, la leyenda de la cumbia regia, y Santa Fe Klan. El año pasado lanzó Los No Tan Tristes en colaboración con Nanpa Básico y Charles Ans, además de alcanzar el #4 del chart global de Spotify junto con Christian Nodal con “Botella tras Botella.”

El rapero nacido en Monterrey ha disparado sus streams en más de 200% en tan solo dos años y hoy cuenta con más de 9.5 millones de oyentes mensuales. En su nuevo épico álbum, que gira en torno al pasado y presente de Gera MX, cuenta con colaboraciones de Snow Tha Product, C-Kan, la estrella emergente del reggaetón colombiano Blessd, y el grupo de corridos tumbados Herencia de Patrones.

Ahora los fans de Gera MX podrán conocer de primera mano la inspiración detrás de canciones como como “Papá”, “El Santo Grial”, y “Dinero sobre Amor” en videos donde el rapero comparte un viaje introspectivo hacia las historias que inspiraron su obra más extensa y personal.

For the Record tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con Gera sobre el proceso creativo detrás de su último proyecto.

¿Por qué lanzas dos álbumes, en lugar de una sola pieza?

Decidimos hacerlo así porque creemos que representa una dualidad, el lado oscuro y el luminoso. Como el día y la noche, el yin y el yang. Si juntas los títulos de ambos álbumes es como decir “no tenía nada, ahora tengo todo”. Ahí está la historia de mi vida. Por eso decidí hacerlo en dos partes.

Las letras de las canciones las escribí hace cuatro o cinco años. Era algo muy personal que tenía guardado para mí. Hasta ahora, he publicado muchos álbumes y mucha música, pero este es más mío.

¿Cuál es la temática principal de No Teníamos Nada, Pero Éramos Felices y la de Ahora Tengo Todo Menos a Ti?

Para el primero todo gira en torno a recordar que no se necesita mucho para ser feliz. El segundo se trata de todo lo que hemos pasado después de una década rapeando, de sacar el pecho, agarrar el micrófono y demostrar quién soy en el escenario. A eso se refiere el título: ahora tengo todo, menos a ti.

¿Por qué es el álbum más íntimo que has hecho hasta ahora?

Porque cada parte del álbum, cada canción, cada vivencia, cada video es una pieza del rompecabezas que conforma la persona que soy. Eso compone a Gera MX en estos momentos: mi equipo, mis canciones, mis conciertos, mis seguidores, mi familia. Creo que si faltara una pieza, me descompensaría completamente. Igual pasa con la música, cada canción que está en el álbum es como una parte del esqueleto, un brazo, el cerebro, el corazón. Así son las canciones de este álbum.

¿Cuál es la canción que mejor te representa en este álbum?

“El Santo Grial” para mí es lo más puro que queda de Gera. Es el espacio donde me permití rapear como a mí me gusta rapear. Como cuando te dan un beat y no hay reglas, como cuando no piensas en una canción que tenga que llevar alguna estrategia detrás.

Esta canción simplemente es “El Santo Grial”: mi manera de expresar lo que siento, como fluyo, cómo veo el mundo. En la letra hablo sobre cómo pienso realmente, dejando de lado al personaje. En esa canción escribe más Gerardo que Gera MX.

“Precipicio” es una de las canciones más representativas del álbum del mismo nombre que lanzaste en 2017. ¿Qué le diría el Gera MX de esa época al de “El Santo Grial”?

El Gera de Precipicio al de “Santo Grial” le diría que nunca se rinda y que nunca deje de rapear. Que nunca pierda su esencia y mantenga su estilo, las ganas. También que siga cuidando a su familia y se mantenga firme.

¿Cuáles son las canciones del álbum que más te gustan?

Obviamente la de “Papá” y la de “Diana”. La primera porque es un homenaje, simboliza que recuerdo al viejo con mucho cariño. Y la segunda es un detrás de cámaras de todo lo que no le tocó ver a mi hermana cuando nuestro padre se fue a Estados Unidos y lo que tuvimos que hacer para salir a flote, lidiando con los problemas de un barrio peligroso.

Este álbum doble trata de los giros que ha dado tu vida. ¿Cómo está presente tu padre en esta historia?

Los giros de vida en los que me acompañó mi papá, prácticamente han sido todos. Me acompañó desde cachorro hasta que me convertí en lobo. No compartí tanto tiempo con él. Pero me llevé el instructivo rudo, el que me ha hecho ser quien soy y sé que me acompaña desde arriba en cada paso, en cada logro, en cada caída, en cada noche que pasamos haciendo música y compartiendo con todos.

Descubre lo nuevo de Gera MX y sumérgete en sus historias y el detrás de cámara en “No Teníamos Nada, Pero Éramos Felices” y “Ahora Tengo Todo Menos a Ti”

Spotify’s Biggest Playlist—RapCaviar—Now Has Its Own Video Podcast Hosted by Brandon ‘Jinx’ Jenkins

August 4, 2022

Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins lives, breathes, and sleeps hip-hop. He’s the host of several podcasts, including Spotify and Gimlet’s Mogul and the Ringer’s No Skips, which he hosts with New York Times bestselling author Shea Serrano. He’s also penning a book, launching a media magazine, and working on pre-production for several upcoming video projects. So he’s a natural choice for the brand-new RapCaviar Podcast, a video podcast that explores the essence of rap and takes Spotfiy’s top playlist, RapCaviar, in a bold new direction.

The RapCaviar Podcast will settle long-standing debates, challenge theories, and offer fresh takes on hip-hop topics, like who the best rapper is of Kendrick, Drake, and J. Cole; whether My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is Kanye West’s best album; and who the Godfather of the trap sound really is. Each week starting today, the RapCaviar Podcast host and a panel of guests will dive deep into a main theme.

For the Record caught up with Jinx to hear more about the podcast.

How did the RapCaviar Podcast come about?

The RapCaviar Podcast was something that had been floating around in the Spotify RapCaviar hallways for a minute. I’ve known [Spotify Creative Director/Head of Urban Music] Carl Cherry for years; I’ve been a fan of his work in the hip-hop space. And he had mentioned this idea about how to grow RapCaviar into these other extensions. It’s the most popular playlist in the world, and he wanted it to do more than just serve up artists and music and allow fans to play music. So they started thinking through the things they could build around it. And there have been several experiences born from this—live events, parties, panels. But I think this podcast is one new piece in the arsenal that’s angling toward one of the most important pieces of rap, period, which is the rap debate. And I was really happy that RapCaviar was like, “Hey, let’s get Jinx to do it.”

What are some of the topics you’re excited to cover?

We’ll cover everything from nostalgia to where we think this genre’s going and how it might change. Because in the last five years, let alone the last 10 to 20 years, it’s evolved tremendously. So we’re at a super interesting time right now because we had this whole crop of artists for the last decade who are not the new artists anymore. We’re watching Kendrick and J.Cole and Drake and everyone from that field get older, keep doing rap, keep making new music—or leave music. But we’re also embarking on this new era that still feels very much like hip-hop. There are questions of how much of it is rap. I’m interested in pushing the boundaries of what rap is and having some discussions with the new generation about what they think of the rap sphere and what’s happening.

How has rap changed and matured over your lifetime?

I remember getting my first stereo for Christmas and setting the radio station—I’m from New Jersey, so setting the radio station to Hot97—and I was lucky. I had the rap radio station and the dial never changed. But it has gone through stages. I remember working in the mall, in the shoe store, and we played hip-hop in our store because it was the sneaker store, but you wouldn’t hear rap anywhere else in the mall. I remember when you wouldn’t hear rap in television commercials.

Then I remember these big moments where I was watching a basketball game and would hear rap, not just in the arena but on the commercial. Or starting to hear it in the mall or see it referenced in pop culture outside the rap radio station and my friends. So for it to just keep getting bigger and bigger, and for the RapCaviar playlist to be the biggest playlist on the biggest streaming platform in the world says a lot about what the genre has done. And I feel super lucky to now be able to contribute to the same thing I’ve enjoyed all these years.

Whom do you hope to invite on as guests?

We’re going to have a mix of producers, DJs, rap photographers, writers, journalists, executives, fans, YouTubers—just the whole rap sphere, which we know is much bigger than artists and media talking heads. We want to expand this to where it’s not necessarily about your resume right now. It’s really more about the question, Do you love this thing? We want it to be democratized by multiple viewpoints and to let everyone know that all opinions and vantage points are welcome. You don’t have to be working at a record label right now or be working in hip-hop.

This is not just a podcast, but a video podcast. What excites you about this format?

Fans spend a lot of time experiencing rap visually, whether it’s images, music videos, or the artist’s going live on whatever platform. So I think it makes sense to meet them where they’re at. Rap is such a visual medium, you know: the way you see these people dress, what they look like, how they look when they’re saying the thing. Or even in the rap debate—there’s a moment in a rap conversation where people are sitting down talking, and then someone, to make their point, has to stand up or clap their hands. So much of hip-hop and its adjacent cultures are about emoting. And I think it’s big for Spotify to take that leap and bring the rap audience something to watch.

What’s your best hip-hop unpopular opinion?

Everyone thinks the South is the most important region in rap. I very much think it’s the West Coast. They make the best albums. They have the most coherent music, the best positioning of their projects. It bothers me so much that it’s not the East Coast, it’s not New York or New Jersey, but I truly think some of the best music is coming out of the West Coast. So it’s not a hot take, but it’s a hot take when you wear a Yankees hat every day.

Who are you aiming to reach with the RapCaviar Podcast?

There’s a piece of the RapCaviar playlist that’s for the initiated—it’s for the hyper-fans of rap music who have been following the changing tide of the genre over the years. But it’s also the playlist for the person who is not a hip-hop fan who wants to figure out what’s poppin’ right now. So I say that it’s “for the purist and it’s for the tourist.” The podcast, then, has the same context around the music. So if you really want to know what rap looks like and our feelings about the music you’re playing on the playlist, it’s for you. Tune in.

Tune in to the first episode of the RapCaviar Podcast below.

Heather McGhee Takes Listeners on a Journey of America’s Possibilities on ‘The Sum of Us’

July 27, 2022

heather mcghee smiles in front of a green pastoral background

Photo credit: Andreas Burgess

Imagine: In 1959, instead of allowing a swimming pool to be racially integrated, the city of Montgomery decided to drain it. In 2022, many would shake their heads at this past reality while relegating it in their minds to exactly that—the past. Yet this choice to restrict access for some, and therefore all, is still happening in America, especially at the policy level. This is something educator, activist, and author Heather McGhee has investigated throughout her career, and especially in her 2021 book The Sum of Us.

“The Sum of Us is the story of my journey across the country that I took in search of answers to why it seems like we can’t have nice things in America,” Heather explained to For the Record. “And by nice things, I mean universal childcare and paid family leave and clean air and clean water and good schools in every neighborhood. And what I discovered is that—more than any other single factor—racism in our politics and our policymaking that leads to a reluctance for people to come together across lines of race and find common solutions to our common problems is holding us back.”

Heather is bringing this conversation to her podcast of the same name. Debuting today on Spotify, The Sum of Us will take listeners deep into local issues from the perspective of the individuals on the ground. As Heather spotlights communities across the country, she aims to emphasize togetherness, positivity, and hope. In an unjust world where racism has costs for all Americans, The Sum of Us inspires listeners to take a more collective approach to racism through the power of human stories, empathy, and solidarity.

We sat down with Heather to learn more about her new podcast.

How and why did you decide to create a podcast of The Sum of Us?

At the end of my book, The Sum of Us, I talk about this idea of the “Solidarity Dividend” of gains that can be unlocked by us coming together across lines of race and rediscovering our collective power. It was an idea that I floated at the end of the book, and it resonated with so many readers. And frankly, it stayed in my mind as the country seemed to fall farther and farther apart—the political divisions, the fraying of the solidarity that we had seen at the beginning of the pandemic.

And so I wanted to hit the road again and really just focus on this idea of people coming together in communities, across their differences, really rebuilding the kind of America that our people deserve. I brought this idea to the Obamas’ production company Higher Ground; the Pulitzer Award-winning Futuro studios, an incredible team of mostly producers and engineers and writers and editors of color; and Spotify. And they were all excited about it, too. So I’ve spent the last nine months on the road finding new stories of people coming together to win in their communities. And it’s left me feeling optimistic, and I hope listeners will feel the same.

You mention your theory of the Solidarity Dividend. Can you explain it for our readers?

Over the course of my journey, I chronicled the ways in which racism ultimately has a cost for everyone because it distorts our public policymaking, makes for bad economic decisions, and erodes the trust that we have in one another, which is necessary to support public goods and public solutions. And so the flip side of that is that, if we can come together across lines of race and see our own struggles in each other or have solidarity for each other’s struggles, then we can unlock what I call “Solidarity Dividends.” And these are the gains that can only come through collective action. And in a multiracial society can really only come through multiracial, collective action. And these are things like cleaner air and water, better-funded schools, higher-paying jobs. Each of the episodes in the Some of Us podcast tackles a different solidarity dividend, something that’s precious, that matters to us all, that people are able to accomplish by coming together.

What was the process of turning the book into a podcast like? What surprised you?

The entire process surprised me. I had no idea what I was getting into. You know, the first part was that I really tossed the book up in the air. The Sum of Us podcast is not an adaptation of the book The Sum of Us. It’s sort of a spinoff, a takeoff, another journey that’s guided by the same principles: the need to come together across lines of race, the way that racism has a cost for everyone and a real inquiry into what builds empathy and solidarity. Those themes are the same in the book and in the podcast, but the stories are mostly completely new and different. There are two locations that are in the book—Lewiston, Maine, and Kansas City, Missouri—that are also in the podcast. But I take totally different angles on those stories. In fact, in Lewiston, it’s an entirely different cast of characters. And the rest of what we cover are new stories that the incredible teams at Futuro and Higher Ground collaborated on and discovered and unearthed together. So it feels very different.

In the first episode, you share the example of Gary, a white man who, in 2016, professes to you on live TV that he wants to confront his racism and prejudices. You gave him some recommendations for where to begin. Do you think you would respond in the same way in 2022, keeping the events of the past two years in mind?

If someone like Gary had called in today and said, “I’m prejudiced and I want to change, so what can I do to become a better American?” to be honest, I don’t think my answer would change.

I think that the assumption might be that now in 2022, maybe a person like Gary should have already done the work. These issues have been alive. The history has been written, the books have been available. The causes have been there to join for centuries. So I totally understand the perspective that might say “you should have already done that work. You shouldn’t have had to call into a radio show or a television show with a Black woman and ask her how to become less prejudiced.” But for me, I think that the humility that it took to admit his prejudice and to ask for help is something that should always be rewarded and matched with kindness.

I think we take for granted sometimes how much work it takes to unlearn biases, to counter the dominant narratives that have supported racist systems. And so we often ask people to do it on their own—this sort of shopping cart approach to racial reconciliation in this country. And I don’t think it’s sufficient. So ideally, there would be a process that our country would go through at the national, state, local, community level. That would take us to a better place and that would teach the truth and that would create avenues for people to come together. Absent that collective effort. I do think it’s important for each one to teach one.

So many Americans are siloed politically. How do you hope to address that through the podcast?

It’s funny. I was just thinking about what the political kind of color is on the map of the places we visited, I think the vast majority of them are red or purple. I mean, Manhattan Beach, California, is probably the most typically liberal place that we went. And yet, as listeners will learn when they listen to the podcast, the story of Manhattan Beach is a lot more complicated than it seems.

I think we were intentional in choosing places that had good stories of people coming together against the odds. And to do that, you had to go to some places where there’s deep divisions and where the governments may not have been on the side of justice and progress. So it wasn’t an intentional effort to go to red places or purple places, but that’s where the most interesting stories of people coming together across lines of race ended up being.

You use humor and the meme-like question of “Why can’t we have nice things?” to address hard topics. How did you decide to orient the podcast in this way?

I think that’s just my personality. I’m a really serious person whose job is focused on the worst problems in American society. But I love to have fun. I love to throw parties. I love to laugh. I have a huge network of friends. I think that ultimately what we’re looking for is a world in which there’s lots of joy and laughter and connection. And so I try to bring that to the journey to get there.

Listen to The Sum of Us hosted by Heather McGhee starting today only on Spotify.

Hear more directly from Heather on Spotify: Mic Check.

Spotify’s RADAR Program Returns With RADAR US and Announces Zach Bryan as First Country Artist

May 17, 2022

Spotify’s RADAR US program, an extension of Spotify’s global artist development program, announces its first-ever RADAR US country artist, Zach Bryan. Since launching in 2020, Spotify’s RADAR program has remained committed in supporting artists on their paths to superstardom, helping rising talent at all stages of their development and strengthening their connection to audiences.

Zach has an enthusiastic fan base on Spotify, with his hit single “Heading South” helping put him on the map. His highly anticipated third album arrives May 20. Why, then, does he feel the same way about his career now as he did when he wrote music for fun on his days off in the military?

“I started writing songs, and I accidentally blew up. I’m so blessed and honored to be a musician because so many people aspire to be in the position I’m in their entire lives. And not a morning goes by that I don’t think about that,” Zach told For the Record. “But also, that switch has not happened yet. I’m still not sure what I want to do with the rest of my life.”

Just one year after he was honorably discharged from the United States Navy, and two years after he was featured on Spotify’s Indigo playlist, Zach is now Spotify’s first-ever RADAR US country artist.

“We saw that our listeners were responding to Zach early on with his stripped-down, salt-of-the-earth sound and honest lyrics. In 2020, he was one of our key artists for the launch of our Indigo playlist and has been a top performer there ever since,” said Rachel Whitney, Head of Editorial, Nashville. “It has been incredible to see his growth over the past two years. His talent is undeniable, and his new music has already begun to reach chart-topping status. This is just the beginning, and we’re so excited to introduce him to a broader fan base through our RADAR US program.”

As part of RADAR US, artists receive a mixture of Spotify’s best-in-class editorial; on-platform and out-of-home marketing support, like dedicated RADAR social content capturing the many sides of artists, including acoustic performances and short-form videos; a feature in the RADAR US playlist; and an opportunity to collaborate with Spotify on a number of Fans First experiences such as exclusive live rooms with top fans on Spotify Live.

For the Record caught up with Zach to learn more about his life as an emerging artist.

From your first experiences with a guitar to now, how has your approach to songwriting changed or stayed the same?

What’s interesting is that my approach to songwriting hasn’t changed even remotely, but my life experience has been amplified times 40. As a kid, you don’t have too much to sing about. But as an adult, things get a lot darker for everybody, and things also get a lot happier. When you grow up, everything grows up around you. So, I don’t think that my approach to songwriting is different. I think that the more I did it, the better I got at it. And the more life I lived, the more I had to write about. So it’s all part of the beautiful evolution of how most things go in life.

Which artists have inspired you the most?

So, I actually have some authors—Jack Kerouac and John Steinbeck. The way they described things in their books, it taught me how to describe everything. I read a lot growing up, and those were the two guys I always leaned on. Musically, I’d say Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell. But I also have a lot of other favorites, like John Vincent III and John Moreland out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those are simple guys; they’re guys who have guitars and just like to write.

How does it feel to see the growth of your music with Spotify?

Spotify has been really, really good to me in every phase of this process. It’s weird to watch the progression from the first record, when Spotify was first on my side, to now, when they’ve selected me to be their RADAR artist. I feel like I have someone in my corner. So it’s really, really incredible.

I’m also really thankful for the first fans who listened to my music because without them, I wouldn’t be here at all. I sometimes feel like I’m a vessel, like the experiences and words just come through me. They’re not from me, and that’s why making music is just so strange for me. It’s such a blessing to be the guy who gets to do it.

Any advice for fellow emerging artists?

Don’t settle. For anything. Ever, in life and in music. Go to where you’re most happy. Stay there. If your intentions are good and you don’t settle and you want to see the best in everyone around you, you can’t fail. A rising tide raises all ships. That’s how it should be.

What message do you have for your fans?

I love them so much. At the end of the day, for me, it’s all about that one person who hears the song. So, I just want them to know that I’m a human being, and I’m trying my best for the sake of them. We’re all living this life together and trying our absolute damnedest to be better people every day. That’s really important to me. The humanity of all of it is the most important thing.

Fans can catch Zach on a billboard in New York City starting May 17. Keep getting to know him and his fellow RADAR artists by listening to Spotify’s RADAR US playlist.

Turkish Artist Aleyna Tilki Makes a Splash as Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

May 17, 2022

Aleyna Tilki is breaking the mold as she makes a name for herself in the music industry. The edgy Turkish singer-songwriter started her singing career at 14 years old, and now, at the age of 22, she already has multiple hits and high-profile collaborations to her name. Add to that the fact that Aleyna is the first Turkish artist that Warner Music Group has signed for international projects, and it’s clear she’s a musical force to be reckoned with.

Aleyna’s signature vocals—whether she’s singing in her native Turkish or in English—and unique style help her fuse genres in her music. Early last year, she released the highly anticipated single, “Retrograde,” cocreated by an all-star team that included Diplo, Dua Lipa, and King Henry. In October of 2021, Aleyna continued to prove her success with the song “Real Love,” which was a collaboration with producer and DJ Dillon Francis. The track was a hit, debuting at number 24 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Now Aleyna continues to gain a global following as the EQUAL Ambassador of the Month for May. Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As a part of this month’s spotlight, Aleyna will have her song “Take It or Leave It” at the top of the EQUAL Global playlist, and the artist is featured on the playlist’s cover.

For the Record spoke with Aleyna to learn more about her creative process and some of the notable moments in her career.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Freddie Mercury, Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, and Michael Jackson.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

Your body is your area of freedom. Be free to explore it for your art. Being open about your body does not mean you are open to being abused by anyone.

One notable moment in my career so far is ____.

Being able to collaborate with great artists and big labels for my music, even though it’s really tough to break through globally from my country.

My creative process consists of ____.

Psychoanalysis. It helps me to go deeper into human psychology. But this is not about empathy, rather it’s about how it helps me to express myself in my art.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

By people accepting that everything is not about masculinity.

Some women artists I’m excited to watch are ____.

ROSALÍA, Doja Cat, GAYLE, Billie Eilish, and Jessie Ware.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” (of course).

Listen to music from Aleyna, as well as other strong women, on the EQUAL Global playlist.

Through Breakups and Heartbreaks, TOMORROW X TOGETHER Shares All the Feels in Its New Spotify Enhanced Album

May 9, 2022

K-Pop fans, Spotify has a treat for you. Today, South Korean boy band TOMORROW X TOGETHER is releasing its fourth mini album, minisode 2: Thursday’s Child, and Spotify listeners have access to an exclusive enhanced version of the album.

This new five-track album follows the story of the boy who fell in love in the band’s previous album series, The Chaos Chapter. In minisode 2: Thursday’s Child that boy experiences a breakup with his first love. Fans will experience three themes (hate, end, mess) as they listen to the group’s tracks, which feature a mix of hardcore rock, hip-hop, and R&B.

The enhanced album, available only on Spotify, includes never-before-seen content. Fans have access to new videos, storylines (which are personal written commentaries from the band on each track), and audio liners, where the band members give insight into the songs. The enhanced album also features videos of the individual members of the group talking about the fun they had and the memories they shared while creating the new music.

“We are thrilled to present this new, immersive content to MOA and all listeners on Spotify,” said TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s leader, SOOBIN. “We put tremendous effort into making our new album and collaborating with Spotify, so we hope you enjoy the special behind-the-scenes experience and feel a deeper connection through our exclusive, personally curated content.”

For the Record chatted with members of TOMORROW X TOGETHER to learn more about their new album.

What can fans expect in the new album, minisode 2: Thursday’s Child?

SOOBIN: Through this new EP, we showcase a side of ourselves that we’ve never shown before. We tried to express how one could be corrupted and changed by his first heartbreak. The lead single “Good Boy Gone Bad” has some fantastic choreography that’s sure to make a lasting impression in your minds, so be sure to check it out!

In what ways does the enhanced album share more about the intent behind your new music for fans and new listeners worldwide?

SOOBIN: I hope our fans, MOA [Moments of Alwaysness], will be able to dive deeper into the EP as they listen to the behind-the-scenes stories and the episodes that we reveal for the first time.

YEONJUN: We all had a great time discussing the album in such depth. In the process, I’ve definitely grown more attached to every song.

BEOMGYU: We had a heart-to-heart talk on each of the tracks from the album, and I hope our MOA will love it too. Also, I really enjoyed thinking back to the emotions I had while working on and recording each song.

TAEHYUN: It’s some great content. We go into detail about how each member tackled the recording process. Listening to how each song came to be definitely makes me appreciate them more.

HUENINGKAI: I have so much love for this EP, especially with all the effort and passion we all put into it. It’s our first unit track, so the producer and YEONJUN and I talked a lot about how we want this track to feel. I hope our intentions are delivered to you successfully.

What messages do you want people to take from your music?

SOOBIN: Through music, we always strive to give voice to what many people feel and experience throughout their lives. We pursue music that many people can empathize with and relate to. We would like to be remembered as artists who are not confined by genre. We want to become artists who linger on in your minds even as time goes by.

What figures have most influenced your music and your artwork?

SOOBIN: I watched a lot of shows that deal with love and heartbreak. I took these works as inspiration to delve into and understand these emotions with more depth.

HUENINGKAI: Since I was a child, I have admired my dad. And I have been inspired by many artists, like Bruno Mars and Christopher, since I was a trainee.

YEONJUN: For this album, I was inspired by Post Malone’s music.

BEOMGYU: I referenced some TV shows as well, but I also think all people go through heartbreak or farewell in one form or another, whatever that may be. While working on this album, I tried to think back and put myself in those shoes.

TAEHYUN: I was inspired by The Weeknd’s albums and by a friend who had recently been through a breakup.

As you look to TOMORROW (the future), what are your goals as a group TOGETHER?

As a group, we still want to meet and enjoy being with MOA from all over the world.

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Start streaming TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s minisode 2: Thursday’s Child, the enhanced album, below:

In ‘Looking for Esther’ One Woman Searches for Answers to Her Past

April 25, 2022

the cover art for the podcast looking for esther

Esther Robertson wasn’t born an “Esther.” In fact, the Scottish woman had three different names before she was three years old. This is just one of the unusual circumstances surrounding Esther’s adoption—and readoption—in the 1960s. Now, in a new Spotify Original podcast, Looking for Esther, she’s ready to discover the truth about her past.

The idea for the series was born out of Spotify’s 2019 Sound Up program, in which Esther was a participant. During the intensive, weeklong U.K. program, Spotify provides education, mentorship, and support to train the next generation of underrepresented voices in podcasting. Esther used this time to polish the idea for her podcast, learn from other successful podcasters, and even acquire hands-on experience with the equipment that would help bring her voice to life.

Over the last two years, Esther and Gayle Anderson, the series writer, executive producer, and Esther’s partner, have been on a search for the answers that make up Esther’s past. What they found is detailed in the eight-episode series. “What a journey it’s been working with Esther Robertson on bringing her remarkable story to life,” shared Natalie Tulloch, Sound Up Global Lead. “Our longstanding Sound Up program is all about supporting underrepresented voices in podcasting—whether in front of or behind the mic. We are so excited that the world finally gets to listen to her remarkable story.”

For the Record had the opportunity to chat with Esther about her personal journey and the challenges she faced along the way.

What prompted you to embark on this journey to discover more about your past?

A cancer diagnosis in 2018. I was told that I had stage four ovarian cancer. It was a huge shock and it gave me time to reflect on my life. I found I had a few regrets and one of my biggest regrets was not finding my birth mother. I’d made a few attempts to trace her over the years, but every time I tried, it opened up another can of worms. I suppose I was too afraid to follow it through. But this time it was different. The way I see it is, if you can face up to cancer, you can face up to pretty much anything. I’m currently in remission, by the way, and loving life.

Considering how much time had elapsed since your adoption, what challenges did you face as you searched for answers?

I had a bag full of old social work notes that I’d been given when I was in my early twenties and pretty much nothing else. I didn’t even have any pictures of me as a baby and I still don’t. Gayle and I had to basically become private investigators to try to piece the jigsaw together. This was made even more challenging as a lot of it was done during COVID restrictions. We contacted the social work department, the Church of Scotland, the Moving Image Archive of the National Library of Scotland, and hundreds of other people and organisations. I reconnected, too, with my siblings, the Robertsons, and also my Uncle Eddie Lindenberg. They were all really helpful and were able to shed light on a lot of things—but not by any means everything.

What made you want to document your story in a podcast format?

Because I feel that it’s a very powerful medium and this is a very powerful story. The immediacy of it would allow listeners to join me on my journey, share my happiness and my disappointments along the way. They’d get a sense of the urgency of this real-time search for my mum. I’m a huge podcast fan and listen to hundreds of them. I was working on an outline for a podcast series for my story when I happened to read a tweet about Sound Up U.K. in 2019. The rest, as they say, is history!

The series writer and executive producer is your partner, Gayle Anderson. What was it like working on this project with someone you’re so close with?

I’m not going to lie, we both found it extremely challenging at times. We’ve been together over 13 years. Getting through the cancer diagnosis and treatment had made our relationship stronger, but we did need to draw on those reserves to get us through making the podcast series. To keep it real and demonstrate just how much stress we were under, we even use a phone conversation of one of our rows in an episode. I’d accidentally recorded and we just decided to put it in. We’re totally fine now, of course, and we have zero regrets about doing it. We’re both very, very proud of what we’ve managed to produce.

What advice do you have for anyone else who’s been in a similar situation and feels they either don’t belong or have unknowns about their past?

My advice would be, don’t be afraid to face up to the truth. It’s better to know than not to know. A sense of identity is vital. Without it, life can feel so rootless, so transient. Be yourself and speak your truth. And remember, it’s never too late to begin your journey.

If you could rewrite the adoption or foster care systems, what are some of the changes you would make to help kids today have easier access to their histories?

Huge changes have already been made. We talk to social workers in the podcast to find out if what happened to me in Scotland in the early 1960s could happen now, and we’re pleased to report that it definitely couldn’t. There’s a whole system of checks and balances to ensure that everyone understands the child’s circumstances and identifies the right solution for them. If that’s adoption then that’s absolutely great, but prospective adopters now require a real understanding of the impact adoption might have on a child. The preparation prospective adopters go through is really thorough. These days, many adopted children also receive “later life letters.” These are written by social workers to a child who’s being adopted to help the child make sense of their past. But they’re kept and read later in the child’s life when they’re old enough to process it all. What a wonderful idea!

Can you tell us about your experience with the Sound Up program? What part of it did you find the most valuable?

It was a week of intense podcast boot camp—but I loved it. My cohort was full of creative, talented, and super supportive women. There was a real feeling of camaraderie. Hearing their personal stories and listening to their pitches was incredibly inspiring.

Learning to pitch was invaluable. Things like, how to get your idea across clearly and concisely, how to make it stand out, and how to make it memorable. We received lots of advice on this from established podcasters such as Tolly T from The Receipts and Chantelle Miller from the Island Girls Rock Podcast. How to use the Zoom H5 recording equipment that was supplied was incredibly important too—we recorded all of Looking For Esther on it. I left the week exhausted but with renewed confidence and determination to make Looking For Esther happen.

Now that you’ve wrapped this podcast, what are you looking forward to working on next?

First of all, this has been super emotional so I’m planning a looooooong break. Gayle and I are off to Turkey for six whole weeks in early June. We can’t wait. I’m hoping that my next project could be to trace my birth father. All I know is that he was an African American Air Force man called Bob Hubbard who was based in Scotland in 1960-1961. I do a shout-out for information on the podcast and I’m hoping it leads somewhere. I still very much need to find out about my paternal heritage.

Join Esther on her journey by streaming the first episode of her podcast below:

La Nueva Cara del Folklore Mexicano, Silvana Estrada, Lanza un Cover de Manu Chao y una Nueva Versión de “Tristeza” para Spotify Singles

April 20, 2022

La voz de Silvana Estrada cautiva primero por una cualidad física y termina atrapando por su dulzura y profundidad. La cantautora mexicana de apenas 24 años se ha convertido en una de las artistas más prometedoras de la canción popular latinoamericana, siguiendo los pasos de mujeres como Natalia Lafourcade.

Silvana creció en el exuberante estado de Veracruz, México, en una familia de músicos e instrumentistas. Desde muy joven, estuvo rodeada de guitarras, violas y violonchelos que su familia labraba minuciosamente. Criada cantando son jarocho mexicano y música coral barroca, y luego educada en jazz, Silvana es una artista con un estilo personal y un estilo de composición íntimo.

Como multiinstrumentista, Silvana toca con mayor frecuencia el cuatro venezolano, un instrumento delicado que se sincroniza con las variaciones de su voz.

En 2020, Silvana se convirtió en la primera artista mexicana de RADAR, el programa global de Spotify que apoya a los artistas emergentes. Hoy tiene más de 600,000 oyentes mensuales en la plataforma.

Luego que Marchita, un álbum íntimo que narra la historia de un primer amor y una dolorosa ruptura, recibiera elogios de la crítica y una entusiasta recepción de sus fanáticos, Silvana grabó un par de canciones para Spotify Singles en la Ciudad de México. La primera cara es una nueva versión de su tema “Tristeza” y el anverso es “Clandestina”, una versión del clásico del rock alternativo de Manu Chao.

For the Record habló con Silvana sobre este nuevo lanzamiento, su proceso como autora y lo que la inspira como artista.

¿Por qué elegiste “Tristeza” de tu álbum Marchita y en qué se diferencia esta versión?

Lo que más me gusta de “Tristeza” es el juego entre la melancolía de la canción y la intención de la melodía, que me parece más alegre y vivaz. Ese contraste me pareció agradable de explorar en una versión para Spotify Singles, algo más orgánico ya la vez nostálgico que la versión del álbum. También es una canción que en los conciertos se vuelve una plegaria contra la tristeza, así que quise darle esa intimidad de cuando cierras los ojos y deseas algo con mucha fuerza.

¿Por qué elegiste hacer “Clandestina” y cuál era la intención que querías imprimir en esta versión?

Para mí “Clandestino”, la versión original de Manu Chao, es una canción icónica y siempre vigente en nuestra cultura latinoamericana. Estas palabras que cuentan la historia de un migrante me tocaron el corazón. Naturalmente cambié la letra; sin pensar dije ‘clandestina’ y así cantando la canción supe que me había encontrado dentro de ella. La migración es un tema que siempre me ha conmovido el alma. Ese acto está lleno de esperanza y fuerza, dejando la tierra amada en busca de un futuro mejor.

Hacer esta versión significó tomar un himno atemporal y encontrar mi lugar en él, darle mi visión que creo que es la de muchísimas mujeres mexicanas y latinas que cruzan fronteras y se descubren en esa soledad tan dura y tan hermosa de la que habla Manu Chau, “sola voy con mi pena, sola va mi condena”.

Marchita es un álbum introspectivo con sabor nostálgico. ¿Qué te inspiró a escribirlo?

Marchita es un viaje interior, un viaje que comenzó con el proceso de un duelo amoroso. Nació del dolor y del deseo de comprender las dificultades del alma y salió a la luz ya la curación de las heridas. Para cuando apareció la pandemia ya tenía todas las canciones de Marchita hechas, entonces no podría decir que influyó en el proceso. Sin embargo, puedo decir que en la cuarentena todo lo relacionado con Marchita tomó mucho más peso en mi vida. Fue como volver a enfrentarme a esa soledad que ya había experimentado al escribir el disco pero ahora con todas esas canciones alumbrando mi camino.

Nos gustaría saber más sobre tu proceso creativo. ¿Cómo empiezas a escribir una canción?

Mis procesos siempre son desordenados. A veces empiezo con una melodía ya veces con un poema. Tengo que profundizar mucho en las ideas para poder darles dimensión y convertirlas en canciones. Me ayuda mucho leer y siempre llevo una libreta donde escribo lo que se me ocurre.

¿Cómo influyó en tu forma de abordar la escritura crecer en una familia de instrumentistas y músicos en Coatepec, Veracruz?

Creo que crecer en un ambiente musical y artístico me dio sobre todo libertad. La libertad de saber que mi instinto es lo más importante aunque a veces me equivoque y la libertad de encontrar espacio para jugar sin miedo dentro de la disciplina que también se necesita generar constantemente.

¿Quiénes son las cantantes femeninas que te inspiran y han influido en tu música? ¿Cuáles son los autores que más admiras?

Las cantantes a las que recurro cuando me siento perdida son Mercedes Sosa, Soledad Bravo, Ella Fitzgerald y Billie Holiday. Mi autora favorita de todos los tiempos es Violeta Parra; Ella es una inspiración.

Escucha los Spotify Singles de Silvana Estrada aquí.

Spotify and FC Barcelona Announce a First-of-Its-Kind Partnership To Bring Music and Football Together

March 15, 2022

It’s official: Spotify and FC Barcelona are pleased to announce a long-term partnership, which officially kicks off in July 2022, where Spotify will become the Main Partner of the Club and the Official Audio Streaming Partner. Our brand will appear on the front of both men’s and women’s team shirts and training shirts beginning in the 2022-2023 season. Spotify and FC Barcelona will work together to create opportunities for the iconic shirt to be a space that celebrates artists from across the world. Spotify will also become Title Partner of the Stadium with the historic Camp Nou stadium rebranded Spotify Camp Nou.

Additionally, Spotify will use the partnership to shine a spotlight on artists from all over the world. This will bring the worlds of music and football together, giving a global stage to players and artists at Spotify Camp Nou.

The partnership plans are subject to the ratification of the Barcelona Members Assembly, which will take place in early April.

For the Record spoke with Spotify’s Chief Freemium Business Officer, Alex Norström, to offer more insight into what fans can expect from this unique deal.

Why did Spotify decide to partner with FC Barcelona?

That’s a great question. Why do Spotify and FC Barcelona make sense together? Why do music and football make sense together? There are a lot of answers from different perspectives—the business perspective, the brand perspective, the marketing perspective. All of which are important.

But for Spotify the answer is very simple: It’s about connecting fans with artists of every kind—players and artists, music and sports. Barcelona fans and audio lovers on Spotify will come together to form a massive, globally connected community bridging the worlds of music and football. The vision for the partnership is to create a new platform to help artists interact with Barcelona’s global community of fans.

As we look to grow the Spotify brand worldwide, there are few partners that have this sort of scale and global reach. Being able to connect music and football fans from Barcelona to Mumbai, Jakarta to Rio de Janeiro, is really a unique opportunity.

Can you talk about how the partnership took shape?

Our vision for the partnership is this: Spotify and FC Barcelona want to bring the worlds of music and football together, giving a global stage to players and artists at Spotify Camp Nou and building new opportunities to connect with fans.

Spotify has never undertaken a partnership at this scale before, but we realized that the magic is approaching ambitious projects at this scale. We’ve always used our marketing as a platform for artists, so it’s adding another huge stage, literally a stadium, to help artists interact with fans around the world. Barça’s games attract a huge, global viewership per season and we’re looking forward to working with them to connect artists to this audience.

When visiting the stadium and walking down the hallowed corridors of Camp Nou with its breathtaking scale and unmatched legacy, I felt the power, emotion, and aura of the players, the managers, and the fans who call Camp Nou home. It’s a privilege for Spotify to support and become a part of the FC Barcelona family and history.

We also love that FC Barcelona is committed to equality and supporting and cultivating diverse talent. These are values to which Spotify is equally committed. So the easiest part of assembling this partnership is supporting both the men’s and women’s team. We’re now proud partners of FC Barcelona, the women, the men, the institution.

What’s the vision for how this partnership will come to life? What can music fans and fans of FC Barcelona expect?

We plan to bring this partnership to life in two key ways. First, Camp Nou will become Spotify Camp Nou. Already the home of FC Barcelona fans, Spotify Camp Nou will also put a spotlight on artists and other creators.

Spotify is working with Barça to leverage our access to in-stadium elements to amplify artists and enable discovery. For example, using the dynamic digital displays to showcase and geo-target relevant artists to Barça’s global TV audience. While viewers in Europe may see a message about one artist, TV viewers in India could be served a different and locally relevant message.

Second, as shirt sponsor, Spotify will work to create a new platform to amplify artist voices. We think this can be more than just a Spotify logo on a shirt. The question we’ve asked is: How can Spotify work with FC Barcelona to make the shirt a bigger platform with more opportunities for artists?

If you think about how we’ve used our marketing platforms in the past, which regularly spotlight new and female artists through our EQUAL and RADAR programs, you can get a sense of the approach we’ll be thinking about for the partnership. We are excited to see what we can dream up together.

There are also other exciting pieces to this partnership that we’re considering, and we’ll share more later this year.

Could you share more on the benefits you see for artists and fans?

Spotify has always used its investment in marketing to amplify and champion artists. So we’re taking that same approach and applying it to this partnership.

More fans engaging with our platform means more opportunities for creators to live off of their art, and FC Barcelona’s massive global fan base will help fuel that growth. And for fans—both music and Barça fans—we’ll be creating more interactive and exciting experiences to connect with the artists they love.

FC Barcelona has legions of young fans across the world—in fact, most of Barça’s fans are under the age of 30, which is a hugely important audience for Spotify. Those fans also reside in some of Spotify’s fastest-growing markets, including India, Latin America, and Indonesia.

Against that backdrop, Spotify will be able to amplify the work of artists to new potential fans and supporters.

Celebrate today’s news by following FC Barcelona’s official profile on Spotify. To get further details on our partnership check out the release here.

Avril Lavigne Is Back With a New Album and Is Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

March 14, 2022

At just 17 years old, Avril Lavigne found success with hits like “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi,” which sharpened traditional pop across a punk edge. Along with a series of Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist, the young Canadian singer-songwriter amassed an impressive following of fans who loved her personal lyrics and signature style.

Following her debut album, Let Go, Avril released five more albums that showed off a range of musical styles and themes. Fast-forward to 2022 and Avril is back with a new album and the distinction of Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month. EQUAL is Spotify’s global music program aiming to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying the work of women creators around the world. Avril’s known for writing and singing songs that bring female empowerment front and center, which makes her role as March’s EQUAL Ambassador a perfect fit.

Listeners can find Avril on the cover of the EQUAL Global playlist, which also includes the latest single, “Bite Me,” from her new album, Love Sux.

For the Record caught up with Avril and asked a few rapid-fire questions about her music.

The artists who have inspired me the most are __.

Alanis Morissette, The Chicks, and Shania Twain.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is __.

Believe in yourself, don’t be scared to say no, and trust your gut.

One notable moment in my career so far is __.

Playing live shows internationally and standing in front of a room full of people singing every lyric to my songs. It’s the most unbelievable feeling.

My creative process consists of __.

My feelings and guitar.

Some up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are __.

phem and WILLOW.

My girl-power anthem right now is __.

“Wannabe” by the Spice Girls.

Ready to listen to Avril’s latest music, as well as other women artists around the world? Blast Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist here.

The Dinner Table and PRESENTE—Spotify’s Newest Editorial Communities—Amplify Black and Latinx Podcasters 365 Days a Year

March 9, 2022

Podcasting is becoming an increasingly accessible medium that anyone can use to tell their story. But as with any form of media, more has to be done to propel the voices of marginalized communities onto the mic. One way Spotify is doing this is through programs like Sound Up, which empowers and equips burgeoning podcasters with tools and resources. Another way is through the amplification of existing podcasts from podcasters of color—so that important topics and stories can find their audiences, and audiences find them. That’s where Spotify’s Podcast Editorial team comes in.

Over the past year, the Podcast Editorial team has been curating homes for podcast themes like True Crime Scene, theLINER, and Play Your Part, which can be found from the podcast homepage and Search on the Spotify app. But the two latest pages take our responsibility to a new level. They’re podcast editorial communities that focus on and serve Black and Latinx audiences by putting content from and for these communities front and center, 365 days a year.

These two new community pages are The Dinner Table, curated by Black Culture Editor Bianca Garwood, and PRESENTE, curated by U.S. Latinx Culture Editor Barbara Gonzalez. Though these curations may be new, the topics covered on each podcast are not—and the goal of the editors is to use the power of the platform to turn the volume up on these stories.

In an interview with For the Record, Bianca and Barbara each spoke about the thinking behind their new podcast editorial communities.

What inspired the creation of The Dinner Table and PRESENTE?

Bianca: As a Black person, I’ve noticed that it has become an unfortunate norm to consume news and updates that show other Black folk in compromising positions. We’re constantly demanding folks to see our humanity. And this is our reality. And those voices need to be heard, but it’s also important to talk about the full spectrum and to highlight the fullness of Black lives, independent of our plight.

You know, there’s joy in Blackness, there’s peace in Blackness. There’s love in Blackness, there’s healing in Blackness, and that’s the point of The Dinner Table. We’re serving wellness with a side of laughter. Ultimately this ladders up to Podcast Editorial’s approach of counteracting the doom and leaning into inspirational and aspirational podcasts.

Barbara: So in terms of PRESENTE, of how we came to be, I think it’s really in the name. That’s why I always love starting there. The word PRESENTE translates to “present” in Spanish and Portuguese, and it’s used as a call and response in Latinx spaces to pay respect to who’s in the room. So, when we say “presente,” really we yell it—that’s why it’s in all caps—we’re making ourselves known, we’re bringing each and every single identity that we hold to the space. And we’re also bearing witness to every other person in the room doing the same. And that’s really the spirit.

Latinidad is not a monolith. We consist of so many different races, sexualities, gender expressions, regional cultures, and so many more identities. So, as long as your perspective isn’t invalidating another person in the community’s identity, your voice deserves to be heard in PRESENTE.

What approach have you each taken to curating content for these communities?

Bianca: The Dinner Table name and concept itself came about from personal experience. Growing up, my mom was one of 11. So holidays and family functions were full of people, food, and laughter—my grandmother’s house was always packed to the brim. And if I wasn’t eating at the table, I was doing homework at the table. I was getting my hair done at the table. The table in itself was kind of a nucleus to many of my cultural experiences during my childhood and formative years. For many Black families, the dinner table is a centerpiece, you know, and in many of our homes it reflects joy, community, and laughter.

On the flip side, in terms of wellness, I also wanted to take the opportunity to highlight conversations that often aren’t had at the dinner table, but should be. You can find these under “Well As Hell” with topics like food and its effects on mental health, belief systems outside of the construct of Christianity, positive effects of cannabis, Black womanhood outside of social norms, healing the inner child, and Black mental health. All these conversations that are sometimes swept under the rug—I thought this would be a great opportunity to delve deep and highlight Black joy but also highlight the wellness in that as well.

Barbara: There are a few different branches that I’ll be highlighting on PRESENTE. One of the franchises is titled Let’s Unpack That. We know that while certain generations may have beliefs about certain things in our culture, and may have passed these somewhat harmful beliefs down to us unintentionally—those might not necessarily resonate with generations today. So Let’s Unpack That will include cultural conversations about current events, social movements, and cultural norms—basically, how I always describe it is “anything that’s a conversation on Twitter.”

So whether it’s the 50 millionth time that we’re discussing whether we should be called “Latinx” or “Latine,” or we’re talking about another instance of anti-Blackness or anti-Asian sentiment in our community, this is the place where we highlight creators having those conversations.

Another really great franchise that we have is Subculture Spotlight. That’s speaking to what I mentioned about Latinidad is not a monolith; we have so many ways of being Latino. So we’ll be diving into specific nationalities, religions, and different neighborhoods in the United States that are historically, predominantly Latinx.

So one that I published for our launch is about Dominicans in the United States. Some things I would love to explore in the future are different podcasts about Venezuelan migration and Nuyorican legends. And then [re]PRESENTE is a franchise highlighting different things in Latinx culture in terms of representation across pop culture, history, and politics.

Why are these community pages important?

Bianca: I think these pages are important because they give users an all-access pass to content that they are aligned with or inspired by. It’s thoughtfully curated with them in mind, you know. It gives folks access to content at their fingertips.

Barbara: This ties into our team’s belief that hearing the community should be something that we do in all of our work. Podcast creators, listeners, and people featured in these episodes are part of this unique community that we want to make sure that we’re constantly feeding. And I think it’s particularly important for Latinx and Black communities to have their own spaces because creators from those communities haven’t historically gotten the same support. We need to be working overtime to make sure they know that we’re here trying to support these creators.

This is Spotify’s way of saying, “We see you, we’re loving everything that you’re doing, keep having these conversations because we want to be able to support you in every single way that we can.”

Start getting to know PRESENTE with the first guest curation from Kat Lazo, co-host of The Get Up.

Show Your Favorite Podcasters You Love Them With Spotify’s New Star Ratings for Podcasts

December 16, 2021

With more than 3.2 million podcasts on Spotify, we know it can be daunting for listeners to find a new show they love. That’s why we’ve prioritized podcast discovery through features like Podcast Charts and personalized recommendations. And once listeners find a new show that looks promising, we want to make sure they have all the information they need to hit play—including a sense of how other listeners have enjoyed it.

So starting today, we’re beginning to roll out ratings for podcasts: a star rating system that improves podcast discoverability by highlighting shows’ popularity. Podcast ratings give listeners an opportunity to support their favorite podcast shows and enable a two-way feedback loop between creator and listener.

How—and why—it works

After listening to a show, fans will have the opportunity to give it a rating using a 1–5 star system. The average rating will be publicly displayed on the podcast’s show page on Spotify, along with the total number of ratings the show has received.

By introducing ratings, we’re making it easier for listeners to decide when to try out a new podcast that might be their next favorite. Because podcast ratings will serve as the first chance to draw new listeners in, they have the potential to build instant interest.

Ratings also give creators a big-picture view of how they’re doing, which they can then use productively by asking for more specific feedback—via Q&As on Spotify and in off-platform social conversations. We recommend that creators start building their ratings by letting their audiences know to rate them on Spotify. (Check out Anchor’s blog for more on how to take advantage of this new feature!)

We know listeners all over the world love podcasts, so this new rating feature will be available in nearly all markets where podcasts are on Spotify. It will start to roll out to users over the coming days—so be on the lookout.

Stream On 2023

Time to Play Fair

Spotify Loud & Clear

Spotify x FC Barcelona