Tag: Spain

No Es Chiste —Podcasts de comedia en español entretienen a audiencias en Chile, España y México

August 6, 2021

¿Quieres reírte un poco? No busques más y revisa la sección de ‘podcast’ en tu aplicación de Spotify. El género de comedia está experimentando un creciente aumento en Spotify, según Wrapped 2020, fue el segundo género más popular en la plataforma a nivel global. En algunos países como Chile, España y México el género ha llegado a alcanzar el primer lugar entre los más escuchados.  

Ya sea como standup, con guión o simplemente narraciones surreales, los podcast en español han brindado distracción y alegría durante el año pasado, y probablemente seguirán haciéndolo en el futuro. Exploramos algunos de estos hilarantes podcasts en español. 

Comedia A lo Largo de Chile 

Cada día hay más y más podcasts de comedia o creadores que apuntan a hacer que los chilenos sonrían en Spotify. En los podcasts los humoristas han encontrado una nueva vía para reflejar situaciones divertidas o embarazosas que contagian de risa a los oyentes. De esta forma, los podcasts de comedia se han convertido en el género más escuchado en el país, con más del 50% de los oyentes chilenos disfrutando de los los podcasts más divertidos de Spotify.

Según un reporte de Spotify, los chilenos consumen más de 89,000 horas de contenido de comedia cada día. Esta fascinación puede ser vista también en el crecimiento que ha tenido el género, el cual ha aumentado en un promedio de 842% año tras año desde 2017. Los oyentes tienden a tener un sesgo hacia el segmento más joven —las personas de menos de 30% representan el 57% de las escuchas del género.

“El crecimiento del género de comedia en Chile es realmente sorprendente,” dijo Javier Piñol Director de Spotify Studios para Latinoamérica y EEUU LatinX. “Hemos visto cómo las audiencias han crecido exponencialmente desde 2017 a la fecha y han consolidado el género como el más escuchado en el país. Desde Spotify siempre hemos buscado potenciar y darle visibilidad al talento que existe en el país llevando a los creadores a nuevas fronteras. La comedia realmente está teniendo un momento estelar en podcasting en Spotify.

Algunos de los podcasts que llevan a la comedia chilena a esas nuevas fronteras son: Tomás va a Morir, Weona que Creici, Con la ayuda de mis amikas, Tripulación Cohete, Palomoza contesta, Oye Ñaña, Clase básica, Mis últimas tres neuronas, Chimbamigos, y  Lucas y Socías, una vez más..

Riendo en España

A cientos de miles de kilómetros de distancia, los españoles tomaron los podcasts de comedia de una manera completamente nueva durante el último año y medio. El género de los podcasts de comedia, que es el más escuchado en España, ha visto crecer su consumo un 186% desde el inicio del confinamiento en 2020.

Este aumento sigue un interés constante en los podcasts de comedia en todos los grupos de edad. En España, atraen tanto a jóvenes de 18 a 24 años como a mayores de 55. Al género le siguen los shows de sociedad, cultura, entretenimiento, bienestar y estilo de vida.

“Después del estallido de la pandemia, muchos de nosotros nos refugiamos en los podcasts de comedia en busca de distracción y pasar un buen rato en compañía de audio”, dijo Eduardo Alonso, director de Studios para Europa del Este y del Sur en Spotify. Indudablemente continuará en el resto de 2021: solo de enero a junio, hemos observado que la escucha de podcasts de comedia sigue creciendo en más de un 28% en España.

Los aficionados a los podcasts de comedia en español pueden prestar especial atención a El bar de Los Broder Tolquin, un nuevo podcast original de Spotify protagonizado y dirigido por Raúl Cimas y Javier Coronas que salió en junio. El podcast surge de una historia de fondo habitual: en 2010, la policía española inició una investigación para desmantelar una banda peligrosa. Para ello, colocaron micrófonos ocultos en un modesto bar de Madrid. Casualmente, este era el mismo bar donde pasaban sus veladas los cómicos Javier Coronas, Raúl Cimas, El Pirata y un grupo muy pintoresco. Después de la investigación, salieron a la luz todas las conversaciones y chats sobrantes que se grabaron, lo que dio lugar al espectáculo cómico y totalmente surrealista.

Divirtiéndose en México 

La comedia también ha sido la categoría de podcast más popular en Spotify en México. Unas cuántas listas han copado consistentemente las cimas de los podcasts musicales, usualmente disputadas por “La Cotorrisa”, una entretenida y difusa conversación semanal con los amigos de toda la vida, Ricardo Pérez y Slobotzky, además de “Leyendas Legendarias”, una exploración de tipo sátira humorística de historias de crímenes de la vida real, conspiraciones, y actividades paranormales, presentado por José Antonio Badía y Eduardo Espinosa, en un estilo similar al americano “Last Podcast on The Left”. 

La escena del stand-up comedy va en auge en México, y aunque la pandemia los ha obligado a retirarse de las presentaciones en vivo, durante el año pasado los fanáticos se volcaron hacia voces similares como Fran Hevia y Juan Carlos Escalante en “El Súper Show está Genial”. Para explorar más esta escena, el verano pasado Spotify lanzó “Toma 1”, un podcast original de conversaciones con algunos de los nombres más grandes del escenario, presentado por Raúl Campos, un reconocido productor de especiales de comedia. Durante 36 episodios, la serie otorga una visión única de lo que impulsa a los comediantes, desde las impresiones del maestro Paco de Miguel, hasta Ana Julia Yeyé (quien también fue destacada en el podcast original de Spotify “Coming Out Emociones Compartidas”.)

 Diviértete escuchando “Con la ayuda de mis amikas”, un podcast de comedia en español, donde dos presentadoras analizan las tendencias de la semana en internet, para ayudarse entre ellas con sus redes sociales. 

RADAR Artist Nathy Peluso Shares Her Approach to Bending and Blending Genres

July 7, 2021

Artist Nathy Peluso isn’t afraid to push a genre’s limits—or her own. The Barcelona-based singer, writer, and producer spent the first 10 years of her life in Argentina before moving to Spain. Now, she’s creating genre-blending songs inspired by music from all over the world.

The 26-year-old’s ability to jump between sounds, languages, accents, and even characters has gained the emerging artist global recognition and the title of Spotify U.S. RADAR artist. Through RADAR, Spotify’s global emerging-artist program, Nathy will be featured on the RADAR playlist, have the opportunity to record music for our Spotify Singles program, and star in a biographical mini-documentary, in addition to a full suite of on- and off-platform marketing, promotional, and editorial support.

Nathy’s sound ranges from lyrical hip-hop to pop-inspired anthems, and she has been celebrated for her debut album Calambre, as well as for songs like Latin Grammy-nominated “Corashe” and fan favorite “Business Woman.” She also made waves with her noteworthy collaboration “GATO MALO” on KAROL G’s recent album KG0516. The singer has become known for her versatility and knack for creating thought-provoking characters within her performances.

“Nathy Peluso’s creative output is bold, empowering, and eclectic,” shares Monica Herrera Damashek, Spotify’s Head of U.S. Latin Artist & Label Partnerships, North America. “Her music is uniquely modern and classic, mixing everything from Latin hip-hop and soul to tango and salsa, and her visual aesthetic and live performances are undeniable. She’s already developed a passionate fan base across Spain and Latin America that can’t wait to hear what’s next from Nathy, and we’re thrilled to support her continued growth internationally and in the U.S.”

Her nearly 4.7 million monthly listeners are eagerly awaiting her new single, “Mafiosa,” which debuts today. For the Record caught up with the performer to learn more about the single, her creative process, and her inspiration.

You’re known for creating bold, genre-bending music. How would you describe your sound to new listeners?

I like to push the limits when writing or composing. I don’t like to limit my music to one genre. I mix things that don’t typically go together but still sound fresh and different. I have lots of inspirations—salsa, hip-hop, R&B, rock and roll, Brazilian sounds, world music—and they all seduce me enormously. I learn so much when listening to music; I’m like a sponge that soaks all these different sounds up. Then I try to make new songs from all my inspirations.

I also enjoy fusing the organic sounds of musical instruments with more synthetic sounds. And I love working with my band and great musicians. For me, making music is about pushing myself and trying to constantly evolve. 

What are you looking forward to as Spotify’s latest RADAR U.S. artist?

I hope being a RADAR U.S. artist allows new audiences to discover my music and inspires more people in different countries and cultures to listen to my songs.

What should listeners expect from your new single, “Mafiosa”?

“Mafiosa” is a song that tells the story of a situation many women go through. It’s a message of female empowerment. When I wrote it, I tried to transmit internal power and security. I feel strong when I sing and dance to “Mafiosa.”

It’s also an homage to salsa, a genre that I love with all my heart. I hope people feel connected to salsa rhythms when they listen to this song and enjoy it as much as I do.

How does channeling a character in your music and music videos help you express yourself? Do you have a favorite character or persona you’ve created for a song?

Each song I compose has a personality that moves me. I inhabit different characters through the sound, the movement, the aesthetics, the gestures . . . I build an imaginary world around each song where a character belongs. I studied dance and musical theater, and both disciplines are a key part of my artistic process. Building those characters and impersonations is a lot of fun for me, and I believe it strengthens my music and makes it different. 

I’ve enjoyed my many characters. I try to make them strong, since each of them is a statement in a way. I’m now enjoying the Mafiosa Nathy a lot. She’s risky, sexy, and fun. She empowers me!

This past year presented many unprecedented challenges. How has it changed the way you approach your music? Did it bring about new types of inspiration?

All distractions disappeared during lockdown, so I was able to focus on my music a lot. I finished my album in the middle of the pandemic! I must confess that having so much time at home alone made me a little obsessed and become a perfectionist with the details. But it was good to nail the album I was dreaming of. Overall, it was a different but good experience for me—I was really connected with my music, my inspirations, and myself. It made me see things from a different perspective.

What are some Spotify tools you’re using to connect with fans? 

Spotify is the platform I use the most to discover new music and to share my music. I’m constantly researching, making playlists, sharing songs, and analyzing my insights to understand my audiences better. 

What advice do you have for fellow emerging artists?

I would say: Stay true to the music you feel and that you like. Give yourself freedom to create, and work very hard. Don’t get overwhelmed or overshadowed by what the market wants, what is commercial or trendy in a specific moment, or what works for the algorithms. Push the limits, try new things, take risks, and enjoy the ride!

Check out the latest music from Nathy and start streaming her new single, “Mafiosa,” below.

Meet DORA, the RADAR Teen Rewriting What It Means to Be a Global Pop Star

December 22, 2020

Spanish singer-songwriter DORA has had a busy year—and that’s putting it lightly. At just 16, she’s already graced the cover of Vogue España and appeared on the soundtrack for Élite, a popular Netflix show. Now the Madrid-based artist can add another item to the list: she’s a part of Spotify’s global emerging-artist program, RADAR.

Launched in March 2020, the program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases through Spotify’s social channels, curated playlists, and tailored marketing initiatives.

DORA is the sole author behind many of her genre-bending tracks. She shifts between English and Spanish with ease, singing over tracks influenced in equal measure by 2000s bubblegum pop, moody indie rock, and pulsing EDM. Since the launch of RADAR, DORA has released three singles, some of which were even recorded in her school uniform: the twinkly discoteca-ready “Oxena,” acoustic-driven “Hoy,” and infectious English-language “Stay.” 

We sat down with the RADAR artist to learn more about how she got here—and where she’s planning on going next.

You’ve had a pretty meteoric rise in the past year. What’s it been like to see your career take off?

It’s a blessing to see my music reach a wider audience throughout the years, and seeing the different people that follow me into this journey is amazing. For me, it’s like watching my newborn baby getting older—I accompany my music’s steps. I put work into it, and my music gives me a lot of other beautiful things in exchange.

Spotify Listeners in 11 Markets Can Now Ask Alexa to Play Podcasts—Here’s How

December 16, 2020

Last year, we announced that U.S. listeners could ask their Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts. Starting today, listeners in 11 new markets—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India, Austria, and Ireland—can ask Alexa to do the same. 

Podcasts delight, entertain, inform, and inspire people across the world, and there’s always more to stream, for both Free and Premium listeners. Now with Alexa, you can get listening to any of the millions more on Spotify—just by using your voice.

Ready to get started? Setup is easy, and only takes a few moments:

  1. Go to the Amazon Alexa App.
  2. Open the menu, head to Settings, then Music & Podcasts.
  3. If Spotify is not connected, tap “Link New Service” and select Spotify.
  4. Link your Spotify account to your Alexa account.
  5. If you’re in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, or the UK, tap “Default Services,” and then select Spotify as the default podcast service.
  6. Say “Alexa, play [your podcast of choice] podcast on Spotify” and get listening!


Not sure what to start with? New podcasts from every market and in many languages are increasingly available on Spotify. Just check out a few that have come out in each of the markets where Alexa is available this year:

To learn more about playing podcasts on all your Alexa devices at home, head to the Amazon Alexa Explore Spotify page.

*Update February 4, 2021: Listeners in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update March 31, 2021: Listeners in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Sweden, Poland, and the Netherlands can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update April 28, 2021: Listeners in Belgium and Switzerland can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update May 26, 2021: Listeners in Singapore, Denmark, and Norway can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update June 16, 2021: Listeners in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update December 8, 2021: Listeners in Saudi Arabia and U.A.E can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite songs on Spotify. Users in U.A.E can also enjoy their favorite podcasts.

*Update May 25, 2022: Listeners in Ecuador, Hong Kong, South Africa, Taiwan, and Thailand can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite music and podcasts.

Explore the Mysterious Life of a Former King in Spotify’s New Podcast, ‘XREY’

May 20, 2020

In June 2014, King Juan Carlos de Borbón I of Spain suddenly abdicated the throne after 50 years of rule, creating mystery and intrigue for his country and the world. Though we may never truly know what went on behind closed doors, a new Spanish-language podcast, XREY—the first exclusive podcast to come out of Spotify in Spain—promises to shed light on the story.

The 10-episode show features more than 40 interview subjects who help us get to know the bewildering King. The podcast was written and directed by investigative journalist Álvaro de Cózar and produced by Toni Garrido, who has a history in both radio and TV. This isn’t the first time the pair have worked together. They also created a podcast called V., las cloacas del estado (“V., the sewers of the state”), which looks at Spanish history through the eyes of an undercover agent.

We chatted with the cocreators about their latest podcast to learn more about unraveling the mystery that followed King Juan Carlos I.

Why should listeners who aren’t familiar with the Spanish monarchy check out XREY?

Álvaro de Cózar: I think it will give listeners an overview, a sort of bigger picture, of a well-known character in history. People were conflicted on how they felt about Juan Carlos. That’s why we’re doing an “x-ray” of him. I think that, by asking ourselves who King Juan Carlos is, we are able to answer quite a few things about who we are and who we have been in this country.

What about King Juan Carlos’s story made you want to create this podcast?

Álvaro: The King interested me from the moment he abdicated—it was shrouded in so much mystery that I became curious. But, I never really considered carrying out any sort of project until I talked to Toni about it. What we’ve tried to do is answer a very basic question: Who is Juan Carlos I?

Toni Garrido: By telling his story, we are telling the story of Spain. His contradictions, his dilemmas, his weaknesses, his strengths, his past—how is it possible that we don’t really know much about this man who reigned for so long? 

Why do you think a podcast was the best medium through which to tell this story? 

Toni: For us, the podcast is a genre in itself; it is a concrete way of telling a story. Thanks to the sound, we can travel, recreate, and deepen our understanding. When someone presses “start” for a podcast, it shows curiosity, interest, and desire to learn a new world.

How does music play a role in XREY?

Toni: Music was essential. Ale Acosta, one of the best producers in the country, helped us convey the story’s atmosphere while enhancing these extraordinary moments in history. And I recommend you listen carefully to the main tune; it hides a big secret. And the closing song from Javier Limón—it’s a great song that is sure to be a success. In addition to the music, Yago Mendivil did some exceptional sound design.

You spoke to dozens of people during your investigation—who were you most excited to interview?

Álvaro: I would say Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba. He was a man who knew both his country and Spanish politics. While he’s been accused of many things, I sincerely believe that he was someone who built bridges and was in permanent contact with his adversary. He played an essential role in King Juan Carlos’s abdication. It was a blow when we learned that he had died so suddenly [in May 2019]. Rubalcaba appears in episode 2 of XREY, and we decided to publish the full interview because it is the last one he gave to a media outlet. It’s a very interesting testimony to complete the podcast.

Has your perception of King Juan Carlos changed during the process of creating the podcast?

Álvaro: I previously only considered him linked to key historical events: the struggle for power, the arrival of democracy, the “23-F” coup attempt of February 23, 1981—and then the sailing boats, the photos, the smiles. What I discovered after the podcast is that he is a much more complex character from a psychological point of view, which makes for very interesting—and sometimes very contradictory—baggage. He’s a character who had everything and then destroyed it in only a few years. That self-destruction could be due to clumsiness or impunity, but I believed that there was something else. 

Intrigued? Catch up on your Spanish history and learn the secrets of King Juan Carlos de Borbón I in the podcast below.

How Música Urbana is Redrawing Spain’s Musical Map

September 25, 2019

On a recent summer night in Barcelona, more than 10,000 fans sang along to Bad Bunny’s every word as the Puerto Rican star paced the stage. Their adulation was hardly surprising; the reggaeton heavyweight is one of the genre’s most popular artists. The venue, however, was less expected: This was Sónar, the long-running, avant-garde electronic-music festival, where names like Kraftwerk and Four Tet are more customary headliners. The rising rapper and pop star’s rapturous reception even here only underscored the extent to which urban music, known locally as música urbana, has taken over Spain.

The numbers bear out too. No matter how you parse the data, música urbana—an umbrella category comprising reggaeton, trap, hip-hop, R&B, and their offshoots—comes out on top. Among música urbana’s individual subgenres, reggaeton caps the list, followed by trap and hip-hop. Taking all of those categories together, música urbana has grown by 44% in the last two years and is currently the most-streamed genre in Spain.

Partly, these numbers reflect changing demographics in Spain—and, more importantly, changing attitudes. Federica Tremolada, our Managing Director, Southern & Eastern Europe, feels Spanish teenagers today “are used to having classmates from Ecuador or Colombia and hearing different accents from across Latin America. They are more used to sounds like reggaeton.” 

Música urbana has traditionally been driven by artists from the Americas—particularly Panama and Puerto Rico, widely considered the twin birthplaces of reggaeton, and Colombia, home to artists like J Balvin, Karol G, Maluma, and the Puerto Rican transplant Nicky Jam. But Spain is gradually emerging as a source of música urbana in its own right. Rosalía’s reggaeton collaboration with J Balvin, “Con Altura,” might be the most visible evidence of the phenomenon, with more 250 million streams to date, but in many ways it’s just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, música urbana by Spanish artists has seen 80% growth in worldwide popularity over the past two years.

Little by little, Spanish artists are beginning to carve out their own lanes within a genre traditionally dominated by Latin American musicians. The Madrid-based trap artist C. Tangana—one of Spanish música urbana’s biggest stars, with over 5 million monthly listeners—brings an unmistakably Madrileño attitude that sets him apart. Granada’s DELLAFUENTE draws upon his flamenco roots in music that fuses reggaeton, trap, and tropical.

And while there is no distinctive Spanish sound, says Federica, the fact that the worldwide música urbana scene is a big melting pot works in Spanish artists’ favor. “Listening to an urban song from Puerto Rico, Colombia, or Argentina, you can’t really tell the difference other than the accent and the slang they use,” says Federica. “I wouldn’t say there’s a sound to each region, the way there was maybe five years ago.” And the more that urbano artists collaborate internationally, the more exposure they get.

For example, Rels B has done collaborations with Latin American artists and worked with Latin American producers. Tangana has put out songs with Paloma Mami and Becky G. Maikel Delacalle worked with Sky, a super-popular Colombian producer who works with J Balvin. Those collaborations have helped Latin American artists find an audience in Spain, and Spanish artists to reach Latin American fans. 

The big question now is: What comes next? As música urbana connects Spanish-speaking audiences around the globe, it seems inevitable that Spanish artists themselves will continue to put their own unique stamp on the music—whether that means DELLAFUENTE collaborating with groundbreaking flamenco artist Lin Cortés or indie group Cupido releasing a remix of the hit single “Autoestima” featuring Lola Indigo and Alizzz.

With the Iberian urban scene growing at a fast clip, these are some of the Spanish música urbana artists to listen for: 

C. Tangana

Since emerging a decade ago, the Madrid rapper’s hypnotic delivery, futuristic beats, and savvy taste-making have placed him at the forefront of the Spanish scene.

Rels B

The Mallorcan rapper is the rare Spanish música urbana musician for whom Spain isn’t his No. 1 streaming market—it’s Mexico.

Lola Indigo

This Operación Triunfo contestant has parlayed collaborations with Mala Rodríguez, Maikel Delacalle, Lalo Ebratt, and Don Patricio into an effortless balancing act between pop and música urbana.

Maikel Delacalle

On both his solo tracks and collabs with Rels B, Cazzu, and Fuego, this Tenerife-born singer brings a serious dose of R&B smoothness to Spanish urbano.

DELLAFUENTE

Granada’s DELLAFUENTE represents his native Andalusia by weaving elements of flamenco into his music.

Mala Rodríguez

The Seville-bred musician represented one of the first generations of Spanish rappers back in the early 2000s, and her recent collabs with DELLAFUENTE and Lola Indigo prove she’s still a force to be reckoned with.

Alizzz

This Barcelona producer graduated from early releases on Diplo’s Mad Decent offshoot, Jeffree’s, to become Spain’s premier beatmaker, with dozens of records under his belt for the likes of C. Tangana, DELLAFUENTE, Becky G, Aitana, and even a pre-fame Rosalía on the C. Tangana collaboration Antes de Morirme.

Bad Gyal

The Barcelona artist is heavily influenced by Jamaica’s dancehall scene and is leading a wave of women making a major impact in the reggaeton and neo-perreo scenes, including Ms Nina, La Zowi, and Bea Pelea.

Interested in exploring more? Check out De Tranquis, Radar Urbano, and Leyendas Urbanas.