Tag: q&a

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.

Podcasts Get Interactive With New Q&A and Polls Features

September 30, 2021

Historically, podcasting has been a one-way street: creators publish shows and their audiences listen. But podcasting has the power to be a community-building medium, and at Spotify, we believe there can be more to the story.

In order to achieve this community, creators and listeners need channels through which they can engage directly with the content and with each other. Today, just in time for International Podcast Day, Spotify and Anchor are powering new capabilities to help creators and listeners interact more deeply: Q&A and Polls.

These interactive enhancements will make it easier for listeners to engage with the people behind their favorite podcasts and for creators to hear from their fans and listeners—directly on Spotify. Q&A and Polls allow listeners to respond to short questions posed by the shows’ creators on podcast episode pages in the Spotify app. Starting today, these features are available to all Anchor creators and Spotify listeners in 160 markets around the world.

When we talked about this development at Stream On in February, we were testing Q&A and Polls with a select group of creators. Since then, thousands of creators have expressed interest in getting access to these features. In testing, we’ve seen creators use Q&A and Polls in a wide variety of ways: to get suggestions for future guests, to garner feedback on topic choice and format, and to create fun gamification that keeps listeners coming back to hear the hosts’ take on their responses.

“We have sought to create an engaged community of film lovers,” said Michael Tucker, host of Beyond The Screenplay. “All of the Spotify features have been absolutely incredible for bringing us closer to our audience. The Polls feature, in particular, is really helping us to shape the show’s future episodes.”

Here’s how it works:

If a creator has chosen to post a question or poll for a specific episode, listeners will be able to find the question at the bottom of the episode page from their Spotify mobile app (whether iOS or Android). Depending on whether the creator chose an open-ended Q&A or a Poll, listeners can follow the prompt to respond in-app.

After responding to a Poll, listeners will then get to see how the entire audience of respondents voted and how their answer stacked up. For Q&A, listener responses will be delivered privately to the creator. Creators can then choose and pin specific featured responses that will appear publicly below the question (displaying the respondent’s Spotify username). For details on how the features work for creators, check out Anchor’s blog post.

We believe the future of podcasting is interactive. For too long, podcasting has been hindered by one-directional technology and a lack of format innovation. By building interactive functionality directly into our creation platform, Anchor, we’re able to break this mold and power more unique uses for audio.

In addition to direct podcast interactivity such as Q&A and Polls, we’ve been rolling out a suite of products that create an all-in-one experience for audio creation and listening, from the Music + Talk content format, to the recently launched Podcast Subscriptions feature. Stay tuned as we continue to create tools to evolve how listeners engage with shows—and give creators greater control over their content.

Ready to dive right in and celebrate International Podcast Day? We’re making it simple to find the perfect show for you with our “Find the One” personalized quiz. Answer a handful of questions, and let us help you find your perfect podcast match.

Ahead of Fela Kuti’s Birthday, Author Nels Abbey and Nigerians Worldwide Capture Nigeria With Songs and Stories

September 27, 2021

Get ready to Fela-brate! Throughout October, Spotify Africa is taking part in Nigeria’s celebration month, which encompasses the birthday of acclaimed Nigerian artist and human rights activist Fela Kuti and Nigeria’s 61st Independence Day. The month-long festivities serve as a reminder of the artist’s leadership and activism in Nigeria and offer a time to reflect, rejoice, and remember. In the spirit of Felabration, Spotify teamed up with creators from across the country to explore Kuti’s influence and to unpack the many facets of being Nigerian.

First, it’s important to understand Kuti’s impact on the local and global music scene. In the late 1960s, he pioneered a new musical blend of highlife, funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and traditional Yoruba music into what’s called Afrobeat—a vibrant genre that continues to flourish today. To honor his legacy, in 1998, his daughter Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti started an annual music festival called Felabration in memory and celebration of her father.

To further the celebration, we partnered with HarperCollins Publishers on a playlist takeover by the acclaimed authors of Of This Our Country, a landmark collection of personal essays from a mix of 24 prize-winning and emerging Nigerian writers, to be published September 30. In their essays, authors Nels Abbey, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chigozie Obioma, and more share their memories and experiences of Nigeria.

Spotify worked with the authors to take over Black to the Future, a Spotify-curated playlist exploring Afro-futurism and the role Black creators around the world play within music that lasts until the end of October. As Nigeria celebrates their Independence Day, the authors of the anthology Of This Our Country explore the past, present, and future of Nigeria through its music. Featuring artists from political giants like Fela Kuti to social stalwarts like Davido, Black to the Future is a looking glass into the future through the past.

To build the tracklist, each writer handpicked a song to include that speaks to their idea of Nigeria. Writer Oyin Akande chose the modern hit “Gbona” by singer-songwriter Burna Boy, sharing, “Burna Boy always gets me dancing, but this song speaks directly to the culture of gbedu.” Gbedu is a large traditional Yoruba drum often used in Fela’s songs, and the word has since evolved to describe Afrobeat music.

But many of the authors stuck with classics. Poet Inua Ellams explained that his choice, “Ja Funmi” by beloved jùjú singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist King Sunny Ade, evokes precious memories. “It takes me back to parties and gatherings in my youth; my sisters and I running between the adults as they grooved slowly, tipsy, and carefree,” Inua shared.

It’s not easy to pin down or define Nigeria in an essay or a song, but together the words and rhythms paint a rich picture. To get a sneak peek at the far-reaching collection and takeover playlist, For the Record spoke with British-Nigerian satirist and author of Think Like a White Man, Nels Abbey, about his essay in the upcoming collection, the role of music in his writing, and the unique force that was Fela Kuti.

Of This Our Country’s summary reads, “To define Nigeria is to tell a half-truth. Many have tried, but most have concluded that it is impossible to capture the true scope and significance of Africa’s most populous nation through words or images.” Why did you want to take on the challenge?

Nigeria is hard to capture because we all have unique relationships with her. I was eager to offer some insight into my relationship with Nigeria, what she means to me, and how she shaped my life—for better and for worse.

I want readers to obtain a front-row observation of the dashed hopes and dreams and realized fears and tears as well as the dramedy that was Nigeria, from my viewpoint, during the last year of the Babangida era and the entire Abacha era.

How would you describe your relationship to Nigeria? How has it evolved over the years?

I would describe my relationship with Nigeria as: 40% unconditional love, 25% “I miss home; I cannot wait to go back!”, and 20% “Why am I doing this to myself again? Home is London, not Nigeria! I cannot wait to leave!’’ The final 15% is where there is room for evolution . . . and perhaps even the occasional revolution.

Like all deep relationships, my beautifully complicated relationship with Nigeria evolves and revolves.

Did you listen to any music when writing? Do any particular songs help you work or fuel your creative process?

I am a metaphor- and simile-heavy writer, so I occasionally listen to music to get me in the mood to write or to inspire thought. Flavour N’abania, old-school Ice Cube, Nas, Talib Kweli, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Project Pat, JAY-Z, DaVido, Burna Boy, and, of course, Fela Kuti are some of my go-to people to help me write.

What is your relationship to Fela Kuti? Did his music influence your point of view or your relationship with Nigeria?

Fela Kuti was a thinking person’s musician. He was so deep and always ahead of his time. Much of what he said on records remains true till this very day. But beyond a source of information and absolutely fantastic music, he was a source of pride and inspiration. Fela’s music breeds bravery and determination.

Why did you choose the song “Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am” by Fela Kuti for the Black to the Future playlist? What does the song mean to you?

It is a perfectly Nigerian song. It speaks to the reality of Nigerian life. Everything can be going perfectly well and then . . . BOOM! It all comes crashing down. And when it does, things somehow manage to get worse. But through it all we still find a way to laugh and smile. Our humanity always shines through.

How would you describe Nigerian music and artists’ influence on the global music scene?

Nigerian music is the rejected stone that became the cornerstone of popular music. The influence is so vast that to take Nigerian music away you have an entirely different landscape. Fela Kuti, Sade Adu, Labi Siffre, Akinyele, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Majek Fashek, Don Jazzy, Ayinla Kollington, King Sunny Ade, WizKid, Tiwa Savage, Iyanya, Obesere (local children at my school in Abeokuta used to pay me 50 kobo a pop for what they clearly considered to be the sheer hilarity of hearing me sing Obesere’s songs in my English accent)—the list is endless. Nigerian music is world-beating for great reason—it is essential.

Start the Felabration early and listen to the official Of This Our Country takeover of the playlist Black to the Future now through the end of October. Stay tuned for the release of the collection on September 30, and more celebratory news to come.

Tune in for the Newest Pop Culture, Music, and Playlist-Inspired Shows on Spotify Greenroom

September 13, 2021

Spotify Greenroom is now available to listeners in over 135 markets around the world, and with it, the innovative new live shows listeners can’t get enough of. From conversations around sports from The Ringer to discussions around music from artists like Pop Smoke, Greenroom has a little bit of something for everyone—and that’s even more true starting this week.

Starting Monday, we’re unveiling five new shows on Spotify Greenroom. Each is unique, with an original set of hosts and featuring a variety of topics, but each is steeped in pop culture expertise, whether that’s movies, television, news, or music.

One of the shows in particular are inspired by one of Spotify’s most popular playlists, Lorem. Lorem comes to listeners as LOREM Life, a mix of culture and discussions on music, art, the environment, sustainability, fashion, and space. It’s hosted by beloved Gen Z influencers Dev Lemons and Max Motley, who will engage artists and influencers alike.

Read on for a little bit about each show from the hosts themselves, then check out what’s coming to Greenroom this week.

LOREM Life – Hosted by Max Motley and Dev Lemons

Wednesday, September 15, 9 PM ET

Greenroom offers a unique way to engage with music and playlists in particular. Why are you excited to use the platform in this way?

Max: I’m excited about the platform because I think it offers a cool opportunity to have a conversation. Usually when talking about music it’s very one directional and hard to actually host a discourse about it. I think Greenroom will provide a unique space for music fans to connect, converse, and celebrate music.

Dev: I’m super excited about this opportunity because I feel that Greenroom will be a fun, casual space for everyone to engage in conversation about music, fashion, and pop culture. I’m honored to represent the Lorem playlist, since it’s always full of fantastic artists. I’m especially excited to cohost a show with Max since we always have such great conversations offline as well! Having a show together on Greenroom will be a really candid, engaging experience for everyone.

What are the key differences you’ve noticed between Spotify Greenroom and Twitch or TikTok?

Max: I guess one of the obvious differences would be that TikTok and Twitch have video, but one feature of Greenroom that is really cool is the opportunity to talk directly with fans in the room. The opportunity for users to have their voices heard instead of being limited to comments I think provides a really cool space where conversation isn’t so one-sided.

Dev: Since you don’t have to show your face on Greenroom, the pressure of worrying about your appearance is taken off the table. Not only for the hosts, but for the viewers who will want to join in on the convo.

How has the transition been from being a social media personality to a live-audio host?

Max: I think the jump hasn’t been as drastic as one might think. Making video content for over a year, I’ve gotten really comfortable behind the camera and talking music. I also come from a background of college radio, which I’m sure will come in handy. In the end I’m really excited about the opportunity, especially to be doing it with my close friend Dev and about the Lorem community, which I am super passionate about.

Dev: I actually got my start in entertainment as an actress in my high school’s theater club, so I have strong roots in live entertainment. I love doing prerecorded stuff for social media since I have more control over what the end product is, but I’m really looking forward to the candidness of hosting a live show. It’ll allow room for fun, off-the-cuff moments that we may have never thought of if this show were scripted. I’m excited to feed off Max and the guests’ energies!

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Hooked on live audio? Here’s a list of all the new shows coming out this week.

MONDAY, SEPT. 13

A Gay In The Life – 8 PM ET

Newlyweds, actor Garrett Clayton and writer and educator Blake Knight, host a weekly live-audio talk show that provides a safe space for conversation about the LGBTQIA+ experience, educating listeners about queer news and issues, current events, history, and culture.

Take A Seat – 10 PM ET

Every week Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam of the Watch What Crappens podcast will dive into a new pop culture fascination they’ve been obsessing about. Fans will be an integral part of the show by sharing their own pop culture fascinations and asking questions to these Bravo aficionados. Ben and Ronnie will recap some of their favorite reality shows that they aren’t able to cover on their podcast.

The Movie Buff – 11 PM ET

Every week, film buff and comedian Jon Gabrus reviews and breaks down the latest movie everyone is talking about. He’ll banter and debate with listeners on their hot takes and might even roast a few of them along the way.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 14

Most Necessary: Live – 9 PM ET

Most Necessary: Live is the official voice of generation next. Artists added to the popular Most Necessary playlist are often unsigned and given their first look. Host B.Dot brings the playlist to life on Spotify Greenroom’s signature hip-hop show, discussing who’s coming up in hip-hop and what’s happening before these artists go mainstream. Guests join to debate what’s trending and involve artists and fans alike to dive deep into the week’s playlist.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15

LOREM Life – 9 PM ET

The LOREM listener is a dynamic, tuned-in, insatiable fan of culture and community. We’ll feed them a mix of culture and music discussion they want to hear about—from music and art to the environment and sustainability to fashion and space. Hosted by beloved Gen Z influencers Dev Lemons & Max Motley, both with large followings on TikTok and other digital platforms, artists and influencers alike will join in to speak to this core audience and indulge in the LOREM life.

Bonus: Tonight, September 13 at 9 PM ET – Deuxmoi’s show Deux Me After Dark will be recapping all of the red carpet looks and gossip from this year’s Met Gala with guest Hillary Kerr, cofounder of Who What Wear. Sign up for Greenroom to tune in and follow your favorite shows here.